The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 10

by Homer

BOOK X.

 

ARGUMENT.

Ulysses continues his narrative, relating his arrival at the island of Æolus, who gave him the winds bound up in a skin; which his companions untied, while he was asleep, having mistaken it for gold; and hence his ships were driven by the winds back to Æolus, who rejected him as an impious person. He then tells of his arrival amongst the Læstrygonians, who destroyed all his fleet, except his own ship with its crew. Thence he came to the island of Circe, who transformed half his sailors into swine; but, by the assistance of Mercury, he compelled the goddess to restore them to their former shape. After spending a whole year with Circe, by her advice, he prepares to go to the infernal regions.

"And we arrived at the Æolian island, and here dwelt Æolus, son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods, in a floating^[1] island; but around the whole of it there is a brazen wall, not to be broken;^[2] and a smooth rock runs up it; and twelve children of him are born in his palace; six daughters, and six sons in full vigour. There he gave his daughters^[3] to be wives to his sons. They always banquet near their dear father and their good mother; and near them lie many dainties. And the sweet-odoured dwelling sounds around the hall during the days, and at nights they sleep again near their chaste wives, on tapestry, and on compact beds: and we came indeed to their city and beautiful houses. And he entertained me during a whole month, and inquired every thing, of Ilium, and the ships of the Argives, and the return of the Grecians; and I told him all things rightly. But when at length I asked for a journey, and desired him to send me, he did not at all refuse, but prepared an escort, and having skinned a bladder of an ox of nine years old, he gave it me, in which he bound the ways of the blustering^[4] winds; for the son of Saturn made him the keeper of the winds, both to still and to raise whichever he wishes. And he bound it in the hollow ship with a shining silver rope, that not even a little breath might escape. But for me he sent forward the blast of the west wind to blow, that it might waft both my ships and ourselves. Nor was he destined^[5] to accomplish it; for we perished by our own infatuation.

"For nine days however we sailed both nights and day; but on the tenth our paternal fields now appeared, and we at length beheld those who were kindling fires, being near at hand. Then sweet sleep came upon me wearied; for I always guided the rudder of the ship; nor did I give it up to any other of my companions, that we might more quickly reach our paternal land. But my companions spoke to one another with words, and said that I was taking gold and silver home, presents from magnanimous Æolus, son of Hippotas. And thus some one would speak, looking to another who was near:

"'O gods, how beloved is he, and how honoured by all men, to whosever city and land he comes. He brings much beautiful property in booty from Troy, but we, having accomplished the same journey, are returning home, having empty hands. And now Æolus, gratifying him on account of his friendship, has given him these things: but come, let us quickly see what these things are, how much gold and silver is in the skin.'

"Thus they spoke; and the evil counsel of my companions prevailed, they loosed the skin, and all the winds rushed out. The storm immediately snatching them bore them mourning into the sea, from their paternal land: but I waking, meditated in my blameless mind, whether, falling from the ship, I should perish in the sea, or should endure it in silence, and still be amongst the living. But I endured it, and remained; and I lay, having covered myself in the ship: but they were again borne by the evil tempest of the wind to the Æolian island: and my companions mourned. There we went on shore, and drew water; and my companions immediately took supper near the swift ships. But when we had tasted of both meat and drink, then I, having chosen both a herald and companion, went to the illustrious house of Æolus; but him I found feasting near his wife and his children. But when we came

to the house, we sat down at the door on the threshold; and they were astonished in their mind, and inquired:

"'How didst thou come, O Ulysses? what evil deity has pressed upon thee? certainly we sent thee away carefully, that thou mightest come to thy country, and house, and wherever is agreeable to thee.'

"Thus they spoke; but I addressed them, sorrowing in my heart. 'Both evil companions have injured me, and in addition to these, unhappy sleep; but cure me, O friends, for the power is with you.'

"Thus I spoke soothing them with mild words; but they became dumb; and their father answered me in discourse: 'Away with thee quickly from the island, thou vilest of the living! for it is not lawful for me to receive or escort away that man, who indeed is hated by the blessed gods. Away; since thou art come hither, hated by the gods.'

"Thus having spoken, he sent me away from the house mourning heavily. And from thence we sailed onward, sorrowing in our heart. But the mind of the men was wearied by the difficult rowing, through our own folly; since there no longer appeared an escort.

"For six days however we sailed both night and day; but on the seventh we came to the lofty city of Lamos, spacious^[6] Læstrigonia, where a shepherd on going in calls a shepherd, but he going out listens. There a man who has no sleep would receive double pay, the one for feeding herds, the other for pasturing white sheep: for the ways^[7] of night and of day are near. There when we came to the famous haven, around which there was a lofty rock, continual on both sides; and prominent shores opposite to one another project at the mouth: but the entrance is narrow: there indeed they all kept their ships, rowed on both sides, within. They indeed were bound within the hollow haven, near one another; for in it the wave was never raised, neither large nor small; for there was a white calm around. But I alone kept my black ship out, there at the extreme part, having bound the cables from the rock.

"And I stood, ascending a rugged promontory; there indeed appeared neither the works of oxen nor of men, but we saw the smoke only rushing forth from the earth. Then I sent forward my companions to go on and inquire what men they were, eating food upon the earth, choosing two men, giving them a herald as a third. But they, having disembarked, went the smooth way, by which waggons carried wood to the city from the lofty mountains. And they met a damsel before the city, carrying water, the strong daughter of the Læstrygonian Antiphates. She went down to the fair-flowing fountain Artacia; for they carried water from thence to the city. But they standing near addressed her, and inquired of her, who was their king, and over whom he ruled. But she immediately showed the lofty-roofed house of her sire. And when they entered the illustrious dwelling, they found the mistress as mighty as the summit of a mountain, and they shuddered at her. But she quickly called illustrious Antiphates, her husband, from the forum, who indeed devised miserable destruction for them: immediately snatching up one of my companions, he prepared his meal; but the two rushing away in flight came to the ships. But he made a clamour through the city; and the strong Læstrygonians came rushing one after another in great numbers, not like unto men, but giants; who pelted them with weighty stones from the rocks: and soon an evil sound arose at the ships of the men who perished, and of the ships broken at the same time. And sticking them through like fish, they carried away their sad feast. Whilst they destroyed those within the deep haven, in the mean time I, having drawn my sharp sword from my thigh, with it cut the cables of the azure-prowed ship. And quickly exhorting my companions, I ordered them to throw themselves upon their oars, that we might escape from evil. And they all turned up the sea [with their oars] together, dreading destruction. And my ship gladly fled the lofty rocks into the sea; but the others perished there together. But from thence we sailed onward, sorrowing in our heart, glad [at our escape] from death, [but sorry at] having lost our dear companions.^[8] And we came to the island Ææa; but fair-haired Circe, a clever goddess, possessing human speech, dwelt there, own sister to all-wise^[9] Æætas; and both were born from the Sun who gives light to mortals, and from a mother Perse, whom Ocean begot as his daughter. But there we were led up on the shore silently in the ship to the ship-receiving haven; and some god conducted us. There then disembarking, we lay two days and two nights, consuming our mind with labour and grief together.

"But when at length the fair-haired morn produced the third day, then I, taking my spear and sharp sword, quickly went up from the ship to a place of look-out, if by any means I could perceive the works of men, and could hear their voice. And I stood, having ascended a rugged promontory. And there appeared to me smoke from the wide-wayed earth, in the palace of Circe, through the dense thickets and wood. And then I meditated in my soul and in my mind to go and inquire, when I beheld the black smoke. But thus, on considering, it seemed to me to be better that I should, first going to the swift ship and the shore of the sea, give a supper to my companions, and send them on to inquire. But when I was now coming near to the ship rowed on both sides, then some one of the gods pitied me, who was alone, who sent a large lofty-horned stag into my very path: it came down to the river from the pasture in the wood, to drink (for already the strength of the sun seized hold of him): but I struck him, as he was going out, at the spine in the middle of the back: and the brazen spear passed right through him; and he fell moaning in the dust, and life fled away. But I stepping upon him, drew the brazen spear out of the wound; again reclining it on the earth, I left it: but I drew twigs and osiers, and having woven a well-twisted cable on both sides as long as an ell, I bound together the feet of the terrible monster.^[10] And I went to the black ship, carrying it across my neck, leaning upon my spear, since it was by no means possible to carry it on my shoulder with one hand, for it was a very large beast: and I threw it down before the ship; and I aroused my companions with mild words, standing near each man:

"'O my friends, we shall not yet go down to the house of Pluto, although grieving, before the fated day comes upon [us]. But come, whilst there is meat and drink in the swift ship, let us be mindful of food, nor be wasted with hunger.'

"Thus I spoke; and they quickly obeyed my words; and having uncovered the stag near the shore of the sea, they admired it; for it was a very large beast. But when they were delighted, beholding it with their eyes, having washed their hands they get ready a most glorious banquet. Thus then during the whole day, until the setting sun, we sat feasting upon abundance of flesh and sweet wine. But when the sun set and darkness came on, then we slept on the shore of the sea. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then I, having made an assembly, spoke amongst all:

"'Hear my words, O companions, although suffering evil things. O my friends, since we know not where is the west, nor where the morning, nor where the sun that gives light to mortals descends beneath the earth, nor where he rises up again; yet let us quickly consider, if there is still any counsel remaining; but I do not think that there is. For, having ascended a rugged promontory, I beheld the island, around which the boundless sea forms a crown;^[11] but it lies low: and I saw smoke in the middle with mine eyes through the dense thickets and the wood.'

"Thus I spoke; but their dear heart was broken, when they remembered the deeds of the Læstrygonian Antiphates, and the violence of the strong-hearted^[12] cannibal Cyclops. And they wept piercingly, shedding the warm tear. But there was not any advantage to them wailing. And I numbered all my well-greaved companions into two parties, and I gave a chieftain to both. I commanded one party, and godlike Eurylochus the other. And we quickly shook lots in a brazen helmet, and the lot of magnanimous Eurylochus leaped out. And he hastened to go, and with him two and twenty companions weeping; and they left us mourning behind. And they found the house of Circe built in the woods with polished stones, in a lofty situation. And around her were mountain wolves, and lions, which she herself had tamed, since she had given [them] evil drugs. Nor did they rush against the men, but they stood up fawning around them with their long tails. As when dogs fawn about their master when coming from a feast, for he always brings things soothing to their mind. So the strong-hoofed wolves and lions fawned^[13] around them; but they were afraid when they beheld the terrible monsters. And they stood in the gates of the fair-haired goddess: and they heard Circe within singing with a beautiful voice, busied over a large immortal web: such as are the slender, graceful, and illustrious works of goddesses. But Polites, the chief of men, began speaking to them, who was the most familiar of my companions, and the most prudent:

"'O my friends, some one indeed within is going over the great web and singing beautifully, (and all the pavement sounds around,) either a goddess or woman; but let us quickly shout out.'

"Thus then he spoke; and they calling shouted out. And she immediately coming out opened the shining doors and calls them; but they all followed together through their ignorance: but Eurylochus remained, thinking that it was a stratagem. And leading them in, she made them sit down on benches and thrones. And she mixed cheese and meal and pale honey with Pramnian wine for them; but she mingled grievous drugs in the food, that they might altogether forget their paternal land. But when she had given it and they drank it off, immediately then striking them with a rod, she shut them up in styes. But they had the heads, and voice, and hairs, and body of swine; but their understanding was firm, as before. Thus they weeping were shut up: but Circe threw near them mast and acorn, and cornel fruit to eat, such things as ground-wallowing swine always eat. But Eurylochus immediately came to the swift black ship, to tell the news of his companions, and of their bitter fate. Nor was he able to speak out any word, although desirous, afflicted at heart with great grief: and his eyes were filled with tears, and his mind thought of mourning. But when we all marvelled, inquiring of him, then he related the destruction of his other companions.

"'We went, as thou didst command, through the thickets, illustrious Ulysses; we found in the dells a beautiful house built [with polished stones, in a conspicuous place]. And there some one, either goddess or woman, going over the great web, sang piercingly: but they calling shouted out: and she immediately coming out, opened the shining doors, and invited them; and they all followed together through their ignorance; but I remained, thinking that it was some deceit. And they all vanished together, nor did any one of them appear without; but sitting down I watched a long time.'

"Thus he spoke; but I girt my silver-hilted sword around my shoulders, large, of brass; and my bow around me. And I immediately commanded him to lead the same way. But he laying hold of my knees with both his hands entreated me, [and lamenting addressed to me winged words]:

"'Do not take me there against my will, O thou nourished of Jove, but leave me here. For I know that neither thou thyself wilt come back, nor wilt thou bring any other of thy companions: but let us quickly fly with these; for yet we may escape the evil day.'

"Thus he spoke; but I answering addressed him: 'O Eurylochus, do thou then remain here in this place eating and drinking near the hollow black ship: but I will go, for strong necessity comes upon me.'

"Thus having spoken, I went up from the ship and the sea. But when I was just going near the sacred dells, about to reach the great dwelling of Circe skilled in many drugs, there golden-wanded Mercury met me as I was coming to the house, like unto a young man having the first down on his cheek, whose youth is most graceful; and he laid hold of my hand, and spoke and addressed me:

"'Where thus, wretched one, art thou going alone, to no purpose, through the wolds,^[14] being unacquainted with the place? but those thy companions are shut up in Circe's house, like swine possessing many hiding-places. Whether dost thou come hither to loose them? I do not think that thou wilt thyself return, but thou wilt remain there where the others do. But come now, I will free thee and preserve thee from evils: take this excellent drug, and keeping it, go to the house of Circe, the power of which will ward off the evil day from you. And I will tell you all the cunning tricks of Circe. She will prepare a mixture for you, and will put drugs in the food. But not even thus will she be able to charm you; for the excellent drug which I will give you, will not permit it: but I will tell you every thing. When Circe strikes you with a long rod, then do thou draw thy sharp sword from thy thigh, and rush at Circe, as if desirous to kill her. But she crouching in fear will exhort thee to lie down: then do thou no longer refuse the bed of the goddess, that she may loose your companions and convey thee back thyself: but exhort her to swear a great oath of the blessed gods, that she will not plan any other evil harm for thee, nor make thee naked, weak, and unmanly.'

"Thus having spoken, the Argus-slayer gave me the remedy, pulling it out of the earth, and he showed me its nature. It was black in the root, and its flower was like unto milk; and the gods call it Molu; but it is difficult for mortal men to dig up; but the gods are able to do every thing. Then Mercury departed to great Olympus, through the woody island: but I went to the house of Circe; and my heart planned many things as I went. And I stood at the gate of the fair-haired goddess; there standing I called out, and the goddess heard my voice. She immediately coming out, opened the shining doors, and invited me: but I followed sorrowing in my heart. And leading me in, she made me sit down on a silver-studded throne, beautiful, variegated, and beneath my feet was a footstool. And she prepared a mixture for me in a golden cup, that I might drink; and she put the drug in it, meditating evil things in her mind. But when she gave it me, and I drank it off, she did not soothe me any more; striking me with a rod, she spoke and said, 'Go now to the stye, lie with thine other companions.'

"Thus she spoke; but I, having drawn my sharp sword from my thigh, rushed at Circe, as desiring to kill her. But she, crying out loudly, ran under, and laid hold of my knees, and lamenting addressed to me winged words:

"'Who art thou? from whence amongst men? where are thy city and parents? Astonishment possesses me, that thou wast not soothed, drinking these drugs. For not yet has any other man sustained these drugs, whoever shall have drunk them, and they shall have first passed his lips: [but thou hast some mind in thy breast which cannot be charmed.] Art thou Ulysses with many turns, whom the golden-wanded Argicide always told me would come, as he was returning from Troy in a swift black ship? But come now, place thy sword in the sheath, and then we will ascend my bed, that being mixed in the bed and in love, we may trust in one another.'

"Thus she spoke, but I answering addressed her: 'O Circe, how dost thou command me to be mild to thee, who hast made my companions swine in thy palace? But detaining me here, planning deceit dost thou command me to go to thy chamber, and to ascend thy bed, that thou mayest make me naked, weak, and unmanly? I would not be willing to ascend thy bed unless thou wouldst endure, O goddess, to swear a great oath to me, that thou wilt not devise any other evil harm against me.'

"Thus I spoke; and she immediately swore, as I commanded: but when she had sworn and confirmed the oath, then I ascended the beautiful bed of Circe.

"And four handmaidens, who are her servants in the house, were busy in the palace. But they indeed were sprung from the fountains and from the groves, and from the sacred rivers, which flow forth into the sea. One of them threw beautiful blankets up on the thrones, purple above, but under she put beautiful linen: another extended silver tables before the thrones, and set upon them golden dishes: a third mixed sweet honeyed wine in a silver bowl, and distributed golden cups: but the fourth carried water, and lighted a great fire under a large tripod; and the water was warmed. But when the water boiled in the shining brass, having put me in a bath, she washed me from the large tripod, pouring [water] pleasantly over my head and shoulders, until she took away from my limbs mind-destroying labour; but when she had both washed me and anointed me with rich oil, she threw a beautiful cloak and garment around me, and leading me in, seated me on a silver-studded throne, beautiful, variegated; and a footstool was under my feet. [But a handmaiden bringing water in a beautiful golden ewer, poured it over a silver cauldron, to wash in: and she spread a polished table near. But the venerable housekeeper bringing food placed it near me, putting on many dainties, gratifying us as well as she could from the stores at hand.] And she ordered me to eat, but it did not please my mind: but I sat thinking upon other things, and my mind brooded upon evils: but Circe, when she perceived me sitting down, and not stretching out my hands for food, but having violent grief in my mind, standing near, she spoke winged words:

"'Why thus, O Ulysses, dost thou sit down like unto one that is dumb, consuming thy mind? and dost not touch food, or drink? dost thou think of some other stratagem? It is no longer fit that thou shouldst fear; for I have already sworn a strong oath.'

"Thus she spoke; but I in answer addressed her: 'O Circe, what man, who is just, would endure to taste food and drink, before he had redeemed his companions, and beheld them with his eyes? But if indeed thou dost kindly command me to drink and to eat, loose them, that I may behold my beloved companions with my eyes.'

"Thus I spoke; and Circe went out from the palace, holding a rod in her hand, and she opened the gates of the stye, and drove them out, like unto swine of nine years old. They then stood opposite: but she going through them, anointed each with another drug. And the hairs flowed down from their limbs, which the pernicious poison, which venerable Circe gave them, had before produced: and they quickly became younger men than they were before, and much finer and mightier to behold. But they knew me, and each clung to me with their hands. And delightful mournings came upon all, and resounded greatly through the house: and even the goddess herself pitied us: and the divine one of goddesses standing near me addressed [me]:

"'O noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, now go to the swift ship, and to the shore of the sea: first of all draw ye your ship to the shore, and lay up your possessions and all your arms in caves: and do thou thyself come back, and bring thy beloved companions.'

"Thus she spoke; but my noble mind was persuaded; and I hastened to the swift ship, and the shore of the sea; then I found my beloved companions at the swift ship, lamenting miserably, shedding the warm tear. And as when field-dwelling calves all skip together opposite, around cows of the herd, when they come to the dung-heap, after they have been satisfied with pasture; nor did the stalls any longer contain them, but continually lowing, they run about their mothers; so they, when they beheld me with their eyes, weeping were poured around me: and their mind seemed to be in the same state as though they had come to their country and their city of rough Ithaca, where they were nurtured and were born. And lamenting, they addressed to me winged words: 'We so rejoice at thy return, O noble one, as if we had come to our paternal land, Ithaca: but come, relate the death of our other companions."

"Thus they spoke; but I addressed them with words: 'First of all let us draw the ship to the shore, and let us lay up our possessions and all our arms in the caves: and do ye all together hasten to follow me, that ye may see your companions, drinking and eating in the sacred house of Circe: for they have abundance.'

"Thus I spoke; but they quickly obeyed my words: but Eurylochus alone detained all my companions, [and addressing them, spoke winged words]:

"'Ah wretched ones, where shall we go? why do ye long for these evils, to go down to the palace of Circe? who will make us all either swine, or wolves, or lions; who must guard her great house, even by necessity. So also the Cyclops did, when our companions came to his abode, and bold Ulysses followed with them: for they also perished through his infatuation.'

"Thus he spoke; but I meditated in my mind, drawing my long sword from my stout thigh, having cut off his head, to throw it to the ground, although he was very near to me in kindred;^[15] but my companions one with another restrained me with gentle words: 'O noble one, let us leave him, if thou desirest it, to remain here near the ship and to guard the ship. But do thou lead us to the sacred dwelling of Circe.'

"Thus having spoken, they went up from the ship and the sea. Nor was Eurylochus left at the hollow ship, but he followed; for he feared my terrible threat. But in the mean time Circe had carefully washed and anointed with rich oil my other companions in her house; and she threw woollen cloaks around them and garments; and we found them all banqueting in the palace. But when they beheld one another, and thought of all things, they wept mourning, and the house resounded with groans on all sides. And she, the divine one of goddesses, standing near me addressed [me]:

"'O noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, no more now excite fresh mourning; even I myself know both what griefs thou hast suffered in the fishy sea, and what harms hostile men have done to thee on the shore. But come, eat food and drink wine, until thou again receivest thy mind in thy breast, such as when first thou didst leave thy paternal land of rugged Ithaca: but now thou art wearied^[16] and spiritless, ever mindful of thy severe wanderings: nor is thy mind ever in joyfulness since thou hast suffered very many things.'

"Thus she spoke; but our noble mind was immediately persuaded. There we sat all the days for a full year, feasting upon abundance of flesh and sweet wine: but when it was now a year, and the seasons turned round, [the months waning, and the long days were brought round to a conclusion,] then my beloved companions calling me out, spoke:

"'Wretched one, now at length be mindful of thy paternal land, if it is foretold for thee to be saved, and reach thy lofty-roofed house, and thine own paternal land.'

["Thus they spoke; but my noble mind was persuaded. Thus then we sat during the whole day until sun-set, feasting upon abundance of flesh and sweet wine: but when the sun set and darkness came on, they slept in the shadowy palace.] But I, having ascended the beautiful bed of Circe, besought her at her knees; and the goddess heard my voice, and addressing her, I spoke winged words:

"'O Circe, perform for me the promise, which thou didst promise, that thou wouldst send me home; for my mind now urges me, and that of my other beloved companions, who waste away my dear heart, mourning around me, when thou indeed dost happen to be at a distance.'

"Thus I spoke; but she, the divine one of goddesses, immediately answered me: 'O noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, do not ye any longer remain in my house against your will. But ye must first perform another voyage, and come to the house of Pluto and awful Proserpine, to consult the soul of Theban Tiresias, a blind prophet, whose mind is firm; to him even when dead Proserpine has given understanding, alone to be prudent; but the rest flit^[17] about as shades.'

"Thus she spoke; but my dear heart was broken; and I sat down on the bed and wept, nor did my mind wish to live any longer and behold the light of the sun. But when I was satiated with weeping and rolling about, then answering her with words I addressed her:

"'O Circe, who will conduct me on this voyage? no one has yet come to Pluto's in a black ship.'

"Thus I spoke; but she, the divine one of goddesses, immediately answered me: 'O noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, let not the desire of a guide for thy ship be at all a care to thee: but having erected the mast, and spread out the white sails, sit down: and let the blast of the north wind carry it. But when thou shalt have passed through the ocean in thy ship, where is the easy-dug^[18] shore, and the groves of Proserpine, and tall poplars, and fruit-destroying willows, there draw up thy ship in the deep-eddying ocean, and do thou thyself go to the spacious house of Pluto. Here indeed both Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus,^[19] which is a stream from the water of Styx, flow into Acheron, and there is a rock, and the meeting of two loud-sounding rivers. There then, O hero, approaching near as I command thee, dig a trench, the width of a cubit each way: and pour around it libations to all the dead, first with mixed honey, then with sweet wine, again the third time with water:^[20] and sprinkle white meal over it. And entreat much the powerless heads of the dead [promising, that] when thou comest to Ithaca, thou wilt offer up in thy palace a barren heifer, whichever is the best, and wilt fill the pyre with excellent things; and that thou wilt sacrifice separately to Tiresias alone a sheep all-black, which excels amongst thy sheep. But when thou shalt have entreated the illustrious nations of the dead with prayers, then sacrifice a male sheep and a black female, turning towards Erebus, and do thou thyself be turned away at a distance, going towards the streams of the river; but there many souls of those gone dead will come. Then immediately exhort thy companions, and command them, having skinned the sheep which lie there slain with the unpitying brass, to burn them, and to invoke the gods, both mighty Pluto and dread Proserpine. And do thou, having drawn thy sharp sword from thy thigh, sit down, nor suffer the powerless heads of the dead to go near the blood, before thou inquirest of Tiresias. There the prophet will immediately come to thee, O leader of the people, who will tell to thee the voyage and the measures of the way, and thy return, how thou mayest go over the fishy sea.'

"Thus she spoke; and the golden-throned morn immediately came. And she put a cloak around me, and a tunic, as garments. But the Nymph herself put on a large white veil, slender and graceful, and around her loins she threw a girdle, beautiful, of gold; and she put a head-dress on her head. But I, going through the house, incited my companions with mild words, standing near each man: 'No longer now slumbering crop the flower of sweet sleep: but let us go; for now venerable Circe has counselled me.'

"Thus I spoke; and their noble mind was persuaded: nor even from thence did I lead away my companions unharmed, for there was a certain Elpenor, the youngest, not very courageous in war, nor proper in his understanding, who, heavy with wine, lay down, desiring coolness at a distance from his companions in the house of Circe: but having heard the noise and bustle of his companions moving, he rushed up on a sudden, and forgot in his mind to descend backwards, when he came to a long ladder; but he fell straight down from the roof; and his neck was broken from the vertebræ, and his soul went down to Hades. And I spoke words to them when they came:

"'Ye think perhaps that ye will come home to your dear paternal land, but Circe has showed to us another way, to the houses of Pluto and severe Proserpine, to consult the soul of Theban Tiresias.'

"Thus I spoke; but their dear heart was broken: and sitting down they wept there, and tore their hair. But there was not any advantage to them wailing.

"But when now we went sorrowing to the swift ship and the shore of the sea, shedding the warm tear; in the mean time Circe, going to the black ship, bound to it a male sheep, and a black female, easily escaping our notice; for who could see with his eyes a god who was unwilling, going either here or there?

 

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1. Or "a circumnavigable island," which is preferred by Riccius and Ernesti. But cf. Hesych. v. πλωτή, Herod. ii. 126. Thiersch, Gk. Gr. p. 463, seems to prefer the common explanation. But a passage of Dionys. Piereg. 461, sqq., evidently imitated from Homer, favours Ernesti's interpretation, where he says that the Æolian Isles are called πλωταὶ, because μέσσον ἔχουσι περίπλοον ἀμφιέλικτον, which Eustathius there explains by ὅτι περιπλέονται. Cf. De Pinedo on Steph. Byz. p. 45. Quintus Calaber, iii. 696, sqq., and xiv. 473, sqq., deserves to be compared with Homer, whom he has imitated with some success.
2. Observe the force of ἄῤῥηκτος. Cf. Æsch. Prom. 6, ἐν ἀρρήκτοις πέδαις.
3. Figuratively, signifying the twelve winds, "quia venti facili commiscentur," as Riccius, p. 412, observes. It may be well to observe that some authors make Æolus the son of Jove, others of Neptune. Cf. Serv. on Æn. i. 56. Hyginus, Fab. 125, Poet. Astr. ii. 18, and Pliny, Hist. N. vii. 56, make him the son of Hellen.
4. The Scholiast explains βυκτάων, that blow constantly, or well-blowing, from the root BY (cf. Liddell and Scott). I think there is a sort of mixed sense, = densely filling the sails, ἀθρόως πνεόντων καὶ πληρούντων τὰ ἱστία. Schol. Ambros. Cf. Apoll. Rh. iii. 1327, βυκτάων ἀνέμων βρόμος. In a MS. Lexicon, quoted by Alberti on Hesych. p. 779, it is interpreted, "valde resonantium," like Virgil's "luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonantes," Æn. i. 57.
5. I cannot understand the difficulties raised about αὐτοὺς and ἀυτῶν (vs. 27) in this passage. The commentators, even Loewe, are any thing but clear on the subject. I think it simply amounts to this. In vs. 26, νῆάς τε καὶ αὐτούς means, "the ships, and us the sailors," the cognate substantive being supplied from νῆάς, as in Virg. Æn. i. 43, "Pallasne exurere classem Argivum, atque ipsos potuit submergere ponto." In vs. 27, αὐτῶν is loosely used, because Ulysses speaks of the conduct of the majority, not of himself.
6. Or, "having a large gate:" but the Scholiast, "large or extensive, having its gates far apart." See Loewe.
7. There is much difference of opinion respecting this passage: the Scholiast understands it "that the nightly and daily pastures are near the city." Chapman remarks, "some have understood, that the days in that region are long, and the nights short; so that Homer intends, that the equinoctial is there (for how else is the course of day and night near or equal?). But therefore the nights-man hath his double hire, being as long about his charge as the other; and the night being more dangerous. And if the day were so long, why should the nights-man be preferred in wages?" Cowper says, "It is supposed by Eustathius, that the pastures being infested by gadflies and other noxious insects in the day-time, they drove their sheep a-field in the morning, which by their wool were defended from them, and their cattle in the evening, when the insects had withdrawn." This latter interpretation seems the most probable, and has been followed by Riccius and Loewe.
8. Referring to ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ.
9. See Loewe on i. 52.
10. These words appear merely to refer to its magnitude.
11. i. e. encircles.
12. An epithet but indifferently chosen.
13. Literally, "wagged their tails." This is the proper meaning of σαίνειν. Cf. Blomf. on Æsch. Pers. 97. Dind.
14. For this rendering of ἄκριας I am indebted to the old prose translator.
15. Eurylochus had married Ktimene, sister of Ulysses.
16. Literally, parched, dry.
17. ἀΐσσω is properly used of the wandering, uncertain motion of ghosts. So Eur. Hec. 31.
18. I cannot profess myself satisfied with this interpretation of λάχεια, which was a doubtful word in the days of Eustathius. (See on Od. ix. 116.) Probably we should read ἐλάχεια in this passage also. Cf. intpp. Hesych. t. i. p. 1165, sq. t. ii. p. 435. Villois. on Apoll. Lex. s. v.
19. Milton, Par. Lost, ii. 577:
    "Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate;
    Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep;
    Cocytus, named of lamentation loud
    Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon,
    Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage."
    
    
20. On these lustrations to the dead, see my notes on Æsch. Pers. pp. 72, 83, ed. Bohn, and on Soph. Œd. Col. vs. 999, do.