s: god of the stranger, who fareth in the company of reverend


s: 'So I spake, and anon he answered out of his pitiless


s: heart: "Thou art witless, my stranger, or thou hast come


s: from afar, who biddest me either to fear or shun the gods.


s: For the Cyclopes pay no heed to Zeus, lord of the aegis,


s: nor to the blessed gods, for verily we are better men than


s: they. Nor would I, to shun the enmity of Zeus, spare either


s: thee or thy company, unless my spirit bade me. But tell me


s: where thou didst stay thy well-wrought ship on thy coming?


s: Was it perchance at the far end of the island, or hard by,


s: 'So he spake tempting me, but he cheated me not, who knew


s: full much, and I answered him again with words of guile:


s: '"As for my ship, Poseidon, the shaker of the earth, brake


s: it to pieces, for he cast it upon the rocks at the border


s: of your country, and brought it nigh the headland, and a


s: wind bare it thither from the sea. But I with these my men


s: 'So I spake, and out of his pitiless heart he answered me


s: not a word, but sprang up, and laid his hands upon my


s: fellows, and clutching two together dashed them, as they


s: had been whelps, to the earth, and the brain flowed forth


s: upon the ground, and the earth was wet. Then cut he them up


s: piecemeal, and made ready his supper. So he ate even as a


s: mountain-bred lion, and ceased not, devouring entrails and


s: flesh and bones with their marrow. And we wept and raised


s: our hands to Zeus, beholding the cruel deeds; and we were


s: at our wits' end. And after the Cyclops had filled his huge


s: maw with human flesh and the milk he drank thereafter, he


s: lay within the cave, stretched out among his sheep.


s: 'So I took counsel in my great heart, whether I should draw


s: near, and pluck my sharp sword from my thigh, and stab him


s: in the breast, where the midriff holds the liver, feeling


s: for the place with my hand. But my second thought withheld


s: me, for so should we too have perished even there with


s: utter doom. For we should not have prevailed to roll away


s: with our hands from the lofty door the heavy stone which he


s: set there. So for that time we made moan, awaiting the


s: 'Now when early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, again


s: he kindled the fire and milked his goodly flocks all


s: orderly, and beneath each ewe set her lamb. Anon when he


s: had done all his work busily, again he seized yet other two


s: men and made ready his mid-day meal. And after the meal,


s: lightly he moved away the great door-stone, and drave his


s: fat flocks forth from the cave, and afterwards he set it in


s: his place again, as one might set the lid on a quiver. Then


s: with a loud whoop, the Cyclops turned his fat flocks


s: towards the hills; but I was left devising evil in the deep


s: of my heart, if in any wise I might avenge me, and Athene


s: 'And this was the counsel that showed best in my sight.


s: There lay by a sheep-fold a great club of the Cyclops, a


s: club of olive wood, yet green, which he had cut to carry


s: with him when it should be seasoned. Now when we saw it we


s: likened it in size to the mast of a black ship of twenty


s: oars, a wide merchant vessel that traverses the great sea


s: gulf, so huge it was to view in bulk and length. I stood


s: thereby and cut off from it a portion as it were a fathom's


s: length, and set it by my fellows, and bade them fine it


s: down, and they made it even, while I stood by and sharpened


s: it to a point, and straightway I took it and hardened it in


s: the bright fire. Then I laid it well away, and hid it


s: beneath the dung, which was scattered in great heaps in the


s: depths of the cave. And I bade my company cast lots among


s: them, which of them should risk the adventure with me, and


s: lift the bar and turn it about in his eye, when sweet sleep


s: came upon him. And the lot fell upon those four whom I


s: myself would have been fain to choose, and I appointed


s: myself to be the fifth among them. In the evening he came


s: shepherding his flocks of goodly fleece, and presently he


s: drave his fat flocks into the cave each and all, nor left


s: he any without in the deep court-yard, whether through some


s: foreboding, or perchance that the god so bade him do.


s: Thereafter he lifted the huge door-stone and set it in the


s: mouth of the cave, and sitting down he milked the ewes and


s: bleating goats, all orderly, and beneath each ewe he placed


s: her young. Now when he had done all his work busily, again


s: he seized yet other two and made ready his supper. Then I


s: stood by the Cyclops and spake to him, holding in my hands


s: '"Cyclops, take and drink wine after thy feast of man's


s: meat, that thou mayest know what manner of drink this was


s: that our ship held. And lo, I was bringing it thee as a


s: drink offering, if haply thou mayest take pity and send me


s: on my way home, but thy mad rage is past all sufferance. O


s: hard of heart, how may another of the many men there be


s: come ever to thee again, seeing that thy deeds have been


s: 'So I spake, and he took the cup and drank it off, and


s: found great delight in drinking the sweet draught, and


s: '"Give it me again of thy grace, and tell me thy name


s: straightway, that I may give thee a stranger's gift,


s: wherein thou mayest be glad. Yea for the earth, the


s: grain-giver, bears for the Cyclopes the mighty clusters of


s: the juice of the grape, and the rain of Zeus gives them


s: increase, but this is a rill of very nectar and ambrosia."


s: 'So he spake, and again I handed him the dark wine. Thrice


s: I bare and gave it him, and thrice in his folly he drank it


s: to the lees. Now when the wine had got about the wits of


s: the Cyclops, then did I speak to him with soft words:


s: '"Cyclops, thou askest me my renowned name, and I will


s: declare it unto thee, and do thou grant me a stranger's


s: gift, as thou didst promise. Noman is my name, and Noman


s: they call me, my father and my mother and all my fellows."


s: 'So I spake, and straightway he answered me out of his


s: '"Noman will I eat last in the number of his fellows, and


s: the others before him: that shall be thy gift."


s: 'Therewith he sank backwards and fell with face upturned,


s: and there he lay with his great neck bent round, and sleep,


s: that conquers all men, overcame him. And the wine and the


s: fragments of men's flesh issued forth from his mouth, and


s: he vomited, being heavy with wine. Then I thrust in that


s: stake under the deep ashes, until it should grow hot, and I


s: spake to my companions comfortable words, lest any should


s: hang back from me in fear. But when that bar of olive wood


s: was just about to catch fire in the flame, green though it


s: was, and began to glow terribly, even then I came nigh, and


s: drew it from the coals, and my fellows gathered about me,


s: and some god breathed great courage into us. For their part


s: they seized the bar of olive wood, that was sharpened at


s: the point, and thrust it into his eye, while I from my


s: place aloft turned it about, as when a man bores a ship's


s: beam with a drill while his fellows below spin it with a


s: strap, which they hold at either end, and the auger runs


s: round continually. Even so did we seize the fiery-pointed


s: brand and whirled it round in his eye, and the blood flowed


s: about the heated bar. And the breath of the flame singed


s: his eyelids and brows all about, as the ball of the eye


s: burnt away, and the roots thereof crackled in the flame.


s: And as when a smith dips an axe or adze in chill water with


s: a great hissing, when he would temper it--for hereby anon


s: comes the strength of iron--even so did his eye hiss round


s: the stake of olive. And he raised a great and terrible cry,


s: that the rock rang around, and we fled away in fear, while


s: he plucked forth from his eye the brand bedabbled in much


s: blood. Then maddened with pain he cast it from him with his


s: hands, and called with a loud voice on the Cyclopes, who


s: dwelt about him in the caves along the windy heights. And


s: they heard the cry and flocked together from every side,


s: and gathering round the cave asked him what ailed him:


s: '"What hath so distressed thee, Polyphemus, that thou


s: criest thus aloud through the immortal night, and makest us


s: sleepless? Surely no mortal driveth off thy flocks against


s: thy will: surely none slayeth thyself by force or craft?"


s: 'And the strong Polyphemus spake to them again from out the


s: cave: "My friends, Noman is slaying me by guile, nor at all


s: 'And they answered and spake winged words: "If then no man


s: is violently handling thee in thy solitude, it can in no


s: wise be that thou shouldest escape the sickness sent by


s: mighty Zeus. Nay, pray thou to thy father, the lord


s: 'On this wise they spake and departed; and my heart within


s: me laughed to see how my name and cunning counsel had


s: beguiled them. But the Cyclops, groaning and travailing in


s: pain, groped with his hands, and lifted away the stone from


s: the door of the cave, and himself sat in the entry, with


s: arms outstretched to catch, if he might, any one that was


s: going forth with his sheep, so witless, methinks, did he


s: hope to find me. But I advised me how all might be for the


s: very best, if perchance I might find a way of escape from


s: death for my companions and myself, and I wove all manner


s: of craft and counsel, as a man will for his life, seeing


s: that great mischief was nigh. And this was the counsel that


s: showed best in my sight. The rams of the flock were well


s: nurtured and thick of fleece, great and goodly, with wool


s: dark as the violet. Quietly I lashed them together with


s: twisted withies, whereon the Cyclops slept, that lawless


s: monster. Three together I took: now the middle one of the


s: three would bear each a man, but the other twain went on


s: either side, saving my fellows. Thus every three sheep bare


s: their man. But as for me I laid hold of the back of a young


s: ram who was far the best and the goodliest of all the


s: flock, and curled beneath his shaggy belly there I lay, and


s: so clung face upward, grasping the wondrous fleece with a


s: steadfast heart. So for that time making moan we awaited


s: 'So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then


s: did the rams of the flock hasten forth to pasture, but the


s: ewes bleated unmilked about the pens, for their udders were


s: swollen to bursting. Then their lord, sore stricken with


s: pain, felt along the backs of all the sheep as they stood


s: up before him, and guessed not in his folly how that my men


s: were bound beneath the breasts of his thick-fleeced flocks.


s: Last of all the sheep came forth the ram, cumbered with his


s: wool, and the weight of me and my cunning. And the strong


s: Polyphemus laid his hands on him and spake to him saying:


s: '"Dear ram, wherefore, I pray thee, art thou the last of


s: all the flocks to go forth from the cave, who of old wast


s: not wont to lag behind the sheep, but wert ever the


s: foremost to pluck the tender blossom of the pasture, faring


s: with long strides, and wert still the first to come to the


s: streams of the rivers, and first did long to return to the


s: homestead in the evening? But now art thou the very last.


s: Surely thou art sorrowing for the eye of thy lord, which an


s: evil man blinded, with his accursed fellows, when he had


s: subdued my wits with wine, even Noman, whom I say hath not


s: yet escaped destruction. Ah, if thou couldst feel as I, and


s: be endued with speech, to tell me where he shifts about to


s: shun my wrath; then should he be smitten, and his brains be


s: dashed against the floor here and there about the cave, and


s: my heart be lightened of the sorrows which Noman, nothing


s: 'Therewith he sent the ram forth from him, and when we had


s: gone but a little way from the cave and from the yard,


s: first I loosed myself from under the ram and then I set my


s: fellows free. And swiftly we drave on those stiff-shanked


s: sheep, so rich in fat, and often turned to look about, till


s: we came to the ship. And a glad sight to our fellows were


s: we that had fled from death, but the others they would have


s: bemoaned with tears; howbeit I suffered it not, but with


s: frowning brows forbade each man to weep. Rather I bade them


s: to cast on board the many sheep with goodly fleece, and to


s: sail over the salt sea water. So they embarked forthwith,


s: and sate upon the benches, and sitting orderly smote the


s: grey sea water with their oars. But when I had not gone so


s: far, but that a man's shout might be heard, then I spoke


s: '"Cyclops, so thou wert not to eat the company of a


s: weakling by main might in thy hollow cave! Thine evil deeds


s: were very sure to find thee out, thou cruel man, who hadst


s: no shame to eat thy guests within thy gates, wherefore Zeus


s: hath requited thee, and the other gods."


s: 'So I spake, and he was mightily angered at heart, and he


s: brake off the peak of a great hill and threw it at us, and


s: it fell in front of the dark-prowed ship. {*} And the sea


s: heaved beneath the fall of the rock, and the backward flow


s: of the wave bare the ship quickly to the dry land, with the


s: wash from the deep sea, and drave it to the shore. Then I


s: caught up a long pole in my hands, and thrust the ship from


s: off the land, and roused my company, and with a motion of


s: the head bade them dash in with their oars, that so we


s: might escape our evil plight. So they bent to their oars


s: and rowed on. But when we had now made twice the distance


s: over the brine, I would fain have spoken to the Cyclops,


s: but my company stayed me on every side with soft words,


s: {* We have omitted line 483, as required by the sense. It


s: '"Foolhardy that thou art, why wouldst thou rouse a wild


s: man to wrath, who even now hath cast so mighty a throw


s: towards the deep and brought our ship back to land, yea and


s: we thought that we had perished {*} even there? If he had


s: heard any of us utter sound or speech he would have crushed


s: our heads and our ship timbers with a cast of a rugged


s: do we think that the aorist infinitive after a verb of


s: saying can bear a future sense. The aorist infinitive after


s: favour; the infinitive there is in fact a noun in the


s: 'So spake they, but they prevailed not on my lordly spirit,


s: and I answered him again from out an angry heart:


s: '"Cyclops, if any one of mortal men shall ask thee of the


s: unsightly blinding of thine eye, say that it was Odysseus


s: that blinded it, the waster of cities, son of Laertes,


s: 'So I spake, and with a moan he answered me, saying:


s: '"Lo now, in very truth the ancient oracles have come upon


s: me. There lived here a soothsayer, a noble man and a


s: mighty, Telemus, son of Eurymus, who surpassed all men in


s: soothsaying, and waxed old as a seer among the Cyclopes. He


s: told me that all these things should come to pass in the


s: aftertime, even that I should lose my eyesight at the hand


s: of Odysseus. But I ever looked for some tall and goodly man


s: to come hither, clad in great might, but behold now one


s: that is a dwarf, a man of no worth and a weakling, hath


s: blinded me of my eye after subduing me with wine. Nay come


s: hither, Odysseus, that I may set by thee a stranger's


s: cheer, and speed thy parting hence, that so the


s: Earth-shaker may vouchsafe it thee, for his son am I, and


s: he avows him for my father. And he himself will heal me, if


s: it be his will; and none other of the blessed gods or of


s: 'Even so he spake, but I answered him, and said: "Would god


s: that I were as sure to rob thee of soul and life, and send


s: thee within the house of Hades, as I am that not even the


s: 'So I spake, and then he prayed to the lord Poseidon


s: stretching forth his hands to the starry heaven: "Hear me,


s: Poseidon, girdler of the earth, god of the dark hair, if


s: indeed I be thine, and thou avowest thee my sire,--grant


s: that he may never come to his home, even Odysseus, waster


s: of cities, the son of Laertes, whose dwelling is in Ithaca;


s: yet if he is ordained to see his friends and come unto his


s: well-builded house, and his own country, late may he come


s: in evil case, with the loss of all his company, in the ship


s: of strangers, and find sorrows in his house."


s: 'So he spake in prayer, and the god of the dark locks heard


s: him. And once again he lifted a stone, far greater than the


s: first, and with one swing he hurled it, and he put forth a


s: measureless strength, and cast it but a little space behind


s: the dark-prowed ship, and all but struck the end of the


s: rudder. And the sea heaved beneath the fall of the rock,


s: but the wave bare on the ship and drave it to the further


s: 'But when he had now reached that island, where all our


s: other decked ships abode together, and our company were


s: gathered sorrowing, expecting us evermore, on our coming


s: thither we ran our ship ashore upon the sand, and ourselves


s: too stept forth upon the sea beach. Next we took forth the


s: sheep of the Cyclops from out the hollow ship, and divided


s: them, that none through me might go lacking his proper


s: share. But the ram for me alone my goodly-greaved company


s: chose out, in the dividing of the sheep, and on the shore I


s: offered him up to Zeus, even to the son of Cronos, who


s: dwells in the dark clouds, and is lord of all, and I burnt


s: the slices of the thighs. But he heeded not the sacrifice,


s: but was devising how my decked ships and my dear company


s: might perish utterly. Thus for that time we sat the


s: livelong day, until the going down of the sun, feasting on


s: abundant flesh and sweet wine. And when the sun had sunk


s: and darkness had come on, then we laid us to rest upon the


s: sea beach. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the


s: rosy-fingered, I called to my company, and commanded them


s: that they should themselves climb the ship and loose the


s: hawsers. So they soon embarked and sat upon the benches,


s: and sitting orderly smote the grey sea water with their


s: 'Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as men


s: saved from death, albeit we had lost our dear companions.


s: Odysseus, his entertainment by Aeolus, of whom he received


s: a fair wind for the present, and all the rest of the winds


s: tied up in a bag; which his men untying, flew out, and


s: carried him back to Aeolus, who refused to receive him. His


s: adventure at Laestrygonia with Antiphates, where of twelve


s: ships he lost eleven, men and all. How he went thence to


s: the Isle of Aea, where half of his men were turned by Circe


s: into swine, and how he went himself, and by the help of


s: Hermes recovered them and stayed with Circe a year.


s: 'Then we came to the isle Aeolian, where dwelt Aeolus, son


s: of Hippotas, dear too the deathless gods, in a floating


s: island, and all about it is a wall of bronze unbroken, and


s: the cliff runs up sheer from the sea. His twelve children


s: to abide there in his halls, six daughters and six lusty


s: sons; and, behold, he gave his daughters to his sons to


s: wife. And they feast evermore by their dear father and


s: their kind mother, and dainties innumerable lie ready to


s: their hands. And the house is full of the savour of


s: feasting, and the noise thereof rings round, yea in the


s: courtyard, by day, and in the night they sleep each one by


s: his chaste wife in coverlets and on jointed bedsteads. So


s: then we came to their city and their goodly dwelling, and


s: the king entreated me kindly for a whole month, and sought


s: out each thing, Ilios and the ships of the Argives, and the


s: return of the Achaeans. So I told him all the tale in order


s: duly. But when I in turn took the word and asked of my


s: journey, and bade him send me on my way, he too denied me


s: not, but furnished an escort. He gave me a wallet, made of


s: the hide of an ox of nine seasons old, which he let flay,


s: and therein he bound the ways of all the noisy winds; for


s: him the son of Cronos made keeper of the winds, either to


s: lull or to rouse what blasts he will. And he made it fast


s: in the hold of the ship with a shining silver thong, that


s: not the faintest breath might escape. Then he sent forth


s: the blast of the West Wind to blow for me, to bear our


s: ships and ourselves upon our way; but this he was never to


s: bring to pass, for we were undone through our own


s: 'For nine whole days we sailed by night and day


s: continually, and now on the tenth day my native land came


s: in sight, and already we were so near that we beheld the


s: folk tending the beacon fires. Then over me there came


s: sweet slumber in my weariness, for all the time I was


s: holding the sheet, nor gave it to any of my company, that


s: so we might come quicker to our own country. Meanwhile my


s: company held converse together, and said that I was


s: bringing home for myself gold and silver, gifts from Aeolus


s: the high-hearted son of Hippotas. And thus would they speak


s: '"Lo now, how beloved he is and highly esteemed among all


s: men, to the city and land of whomsoever he may come. Many


s: are the goodly treasures he taketh with him out of the


s: spoil from Troy, while we who have fulfilled like


s: journeying with him return homeward bringing with us but


s: empty hands. And now Aeolus hath given unto him these


s: things freely in his love. Nay come, let us quickly see


s: what they are, even what wealth of gold and silver is in


s: 'So they spake, and the evil counsel of my company


s: prevailed. They loosed the wallet, and all the winds brake


s: forth. And the violent blast seized my men, and bare them


s: towards the high seas weeping, away from their own country;


s: but as for me, I awoke and communed with my great heart,


s: whether I should cast myself from the ship and perish in


s: the deep, or endure in silence and abide yet among the


s: living. Howbeit I hardened my heart to endure, and muffling


s: my head I lay still in the ship. But the vessels were


s: driven by the evil storm-wind back to the isle Aeolian, and


s: 'There we stepped ashore and drew water, and my company


s: presently took their midday meal by the swift ships. Now


s: when we had tasted bread and wine, I took with me a herald


s: and one of my company, and went to the famous dwelling of


s: Aeolus: and I found him feasting with his wife and


s: children. So we went in and sat by the pillars of the door


s: on the threshold, and they all marvelled and asked us:


s: '"How hast thou come hither, Odysseus? What evil god


s: assailed thee? Surely we sent thee on thy way with all


s: diligence, that thou mightest get thee to thine own country


s: and thy home, and whithersoever thou wouldest."


s: 'Even so they said, but I spake among them heavy at heart:


s: "My evil company hath been my bane, and sleep thereto


s: remorseless. Come, my friends, do ye heal the harm, for


s: 'So I spake, beseeching them in soft words, but they held


s: their peace. And the father answered, saying: "Get thee


s: forth from the island straightway, thou that art the most


s: reprobate of living men. Far be it from me to help or to


s: further that man whom the blessed gods abhor! Get thee


s: forth, for lo, thy coming marks thee hated by the deathless


s: 'Therewith he sent me forth from the house making heavy


s: moan. Thence we sailed onwards stricken at heart. And the


s: spirit of the men was spent beneath the grievous rowing by


s: reason of our vain endeavour, for there was no more any


s: sign of a wafting wind. So for the space of six days we


s: sailed by night and day continually, and on the seventh we


s: came to the steep stronghold of Lamos, Telepylos of the


s: Laestrygons, where herdsman hails herdsman as he drives in


s: his flock, and the other who drives forth answers the call.


s: There might a sleepless man have earned a double wage, the


s: one as neat-herd, the other shepherding white flocks: so


s: near are the outgoings of the night and of the day.


s: Thither when he had come to the fair haven, whereabout on


s: both sides goes one steep cliff unbroken and jutting


s: headlands over against each other stretch forth at the


s: mouth of the harbour, and strait is the entrance; thereinto


s: all the others steered their curved ships. Now the vessels


s: were bound within the hollow harbour each hard by other,


s: for no wave ever swelled within it, great or small, but


s: there was a bright calm all around. But I alone moored my


s: dark ship without the harbour, at the uttermost point


s: thereof, and made fast the hawser to a rock. And I went up


s: a craggy hill, a place of out-look, and stood thereon:


s: thence there was no sign of the labour of men or oxen, only


s: we saw the smoke curling upward from the land. Then I sent


s: forth certain of my company to go and search out what


s: manner of men they were who here live upon the earth by


s: bread, choosing out two of my company and sending a third


s: with them as herald. Now when they had gone ashore, they


s: went along a level road whereby wains were wont to draw


s: down wood from the high hills to the town. And without the


s: town they fell in with a damsel drawing water, the noble


s: daughter of Laestrygonian Antiphates. She had come down to


s: the clear-flowing spring Artacia, for thence it was custom


s: to draw water to the town. So they stood by her and spake


s: unto her, and asked who was king of that land, and who they


s: were he ruled over. Then at once she showed them the


s: high-roofed hall of her father. Now when they had entered


s: the renowned house, they found his wife therein: she was


s: huge of bulk as a mountain peak and was loathly in their


s: sight. Straightway she called the renowned Antiphates, her


s: lord, from the assembly-place, and he contrived a pitiful


s: destruction for my men. Forthwith he clutched up one of my


s: company and made ready his midday meal, but the other twain


s: sprang up and came in flight to the ships. Then he raised


s: the war cry through the town, and the valiant Laestrygons


s: at the sound thereof, flocked together from every side, a


s: host past number, not like men but like the Giants. They


s: cast at us from the cliffs with great rocks, each of them a


s: man's burden, and anon there arose from the fleet an evil


s: din of men dying and ships shattered withal. And like folk


s: spearing fishes they bare home their hideous meal. While as


s: yet they were slaying my friends within the deep harbour, I


s: drew my sharp sword from my thigh, and with it cut the


s: hawsers of my dark-prowed ship. Quickly then I called to my


s: company, and bade them dash in with the oars, that we might


s: clean escape this evil plight. And all with one accord they


s: tossed the sea water with the oar-blade, in dread of death,


s: and to my delight my barque flew forth to the high seas


s: away from the beetling rocks, but those other ships were


s: 'Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as men


s: saved from death, albeit we had lost our dear companions.


s: And we came to the isle Aeaean, where dwelt Circe of the


s: braided tresses, an awful goddess of mortal speech, own


s: sister to the wizard Aeetes. Both were begotten of Helios,


s: who gives light to all men, and their mother was Perse,


s: daughter of Oceanus. There on the shore we put in with our


s: ship into the sheltering haven silently, and some god was


s: our guide. Then we stept ashore, and for two days and two


s: nights lay there, consuming our own hearts for weariness


s: and pain. But when now the fair-tressed Dawn had brought


s: the full light of the third day, then did I seize my spear


s: and my sharp sword, and quickly departing from the ship I


s: went up unto a place of wide prospect, if haply I might see


s: any sign of the labour of men and hear the sound of their


s: speech. So I went up a craggy hill, a place of out-look,


s: and I saw the smoke rising from the broad-wayed earth in


s: the halls of Circe, through the thick coppice and the


s: woodland. Then I mused in my mind and heart whether I


s: should go and make discovery, for that I had seen the smoke


s: and flame. And as I thought thereon this seemed to me the


s: better counsel, to go first to the swift ship and to the


s: sea-banks, and give my company their midday meal, and then


s: send them to make search. But as I came and drew nigh to


s: the curved ship, some god even then took pity on me in my


s: loneliness, and sent a tall antlered stag across my very


s: path. He was coming down from his pasture in the woodland


s: to the river to drink, for verily the might of the sun was


s: sore upon him. And as he came up from out of the stream, I


s: smote him on the spine in the middle of the back, and the


s: brazen shaft went clean through him, and with a moan he


s: fell in the dust, and his life passed from him. Then I set


s: my foot on him and drew forth the brazen shaft from the


s: wound, and laid it hard by upon the ground and let it lie.


s: Next I broke withies and willow twigs, and wove me a rope a


s: fathom in length, well twisted from end to end, and bound


s: together the feet of the huge beast, and went to the black


s: ship bearing him across my neck, and leaning on a spear,


s: for it was in no wise possible to carry him on my shoulder


s: with the one hand, for he was a mighty quarry. And I threw


s: him down before the ship and roused my company with soft


s: '"Friends, for all our sorrows we shall not yet a while go


s: down to the house of Hades, ere the coming of the day of


s: destiny; go to then, while as yet there is meat and drink


s: in the swift ship, let us take thought thereof, that we be


s: 'Even so I spake, and they speedily hearkened to my words.


s: They unmuffled their heads, and there on the shore of the


s: unharvested sea gazed at the stag, for he was a mighty


s: quarry. But after they had delighted their eyes with the


s: sight of him, they washed their hands and got ready the


s: glorious feast. So for that time we sat the livelong day


s: till the going down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh


s: and sweet wine. But when the sun sank and darkness had come


s: on, then we laid us to rest upon the sea beach. So soon as


s: early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, I called a


s: gathering of my men and spake in the ears of them all:


s: '"Hear my works, my fellows, despite your evil case. My


s: friends, lo, now we know not where is the place of darkness


s: or of dawning, nor where the Sun, that gives light to men,


s: goes beneath the earth, nor where he rises; therefore let


s: us advise us speedily if any counsel yet may be: as for me,


s: I deem there is none. For I went up a craggy hill, a place


s: of out-look, and saw the island crowned about with the


s: circle of the endless sea, the isle itself lying low; and


s: in the midst thereof mine eyes beheld the smoke through the


s: 'Even so I spake, but their spirit within them was broken,


s: as they remembered the deeds of Antiphates the


s: Laestrygonian, and all the evil violence of the haughty


s: Cyclops, the man-eater. So they wept aloud shedding big


s: tears. Howbeit no avail came of their weeping.


s: 'Then I numbered my goodly-greaved company in two bands,


s: and appointed a leader for each, and I myself took the


s: command of the one part, and godlike Eurylochus of the


s: other. And anon we shook the lots in a brazen-fitted


s: helmet, and out leapt the lot of proud Eurylochus. So he


s: went on his way, and with him two and twenty of my


s: fellowship all weeping; and we were left behind making


s: lament. In the forest glades they found the halls of Circe


s: builded, of polished stone, in a place with wide prospect.


s: And all around the palace mountain-bred wolves and lions


s: were roaming, whom she herself had bewitched with evil


s: drugs that she gave them. Yet the beasts did not set on my


s: men, but lo, they ramped about them and fawned on them,


s: wagging their long tails. And as when dogs fawn about their


s: lord when he comes from the feast, for he always brings


s: them the fragments that soothe their mood, even so the


s: strong-clawed wolves and the lions fawned around them; but


s: they were affrighted when they saw the strange and terrible


s: creatures. So they stood at the outer gate of the


s: fair-tressed goddess, and within they heard Circe singing


s: in a sweet voice, as she fared to and fro before the great


s: web imperishable, such as is the handiwork of goddesses,


s: fine of woof and full of grace and splendour. Then Polites,


s: a leader of men, the dearest to me and the trustiest of all


s: '"Friends, forasmuch as there is one within that fares to


s: and fro before a mighty web singing a sweet song, so that


s: all the floor of the hall makes echo, a goddess she is or a


s: woman; come quickly and cry aloud to her."


s: 'He spake the word and they cried aloud and called to her.


s: And straightway she came forth and opened the shining doors


s: and bade them in, and all went with her in their


s: heedlessness. But Eurylochus tarried behind, for he guessed


s: that there was some treason. So she led them in and set


s: them upon chairs and high seats, and made them a mess of


s: cheese and barley-meal and yellow honey with Pramnian wine,


s: and mixed harmful drugs with the food to make them utterly


s: forget their own country. Now when she had given them the


s: cup and they had drunk it off, presently she smote them


s: with a wand, and in the styes of the swine she penned them.


s: So they had the head and voice, the bristles and the shape


s: of swine, but their mind abode even as of old. Thus were


s: they penned there weeping, and Circe flung them acorns and


s: mast and fruit of the cornel tree to eat, whereon wallowing


s: 'Now Eurylochus came back to the swift black ship to bring


s: tidings of his fellows, and of their unseemly doom. Not a


s: word could he utter, for all his desire, so deeply smitten


s: was he to the heart with grief, and his eyes were filled


s: with tears and his soul was fain of lamentation. But when


s: we all had pressed him with our questions in amazement,


s: even then he told the fate of the remnant of our company.


s: '"We went, as thou didst command, through the coppice,


s: noble Odysseus: we found within the forest glades the fair


s: halls, builded of polished stone, in a place with wide


s: prospect. And there was one that fared before a mighty web


s: and sang a clear song, a goddess she was or a woman, and


s: they cried aloud and called to her. And straightway she


s: came forth, and opened the shining doors and bade them in,


s: and they all went with her in their heedlessness. But I


s: tarried behind, for I guessed that there was some treason.


s: Then they vanished away one and all, nor did any of them


s: appear again, though I sat long time watching."


s: 'So spake he, whereon I cast about my shoulder my


s: silver-studded sword, a great blade of bronze, and slung my


s: bow about me and bade him lead me again by the way that he


s: came. But he caught me with both hands, and by my knees he


s: besought me, and bewailing him spake to me winged words:


s: '"Lead me not thither against my will, oh fosterling of


s: Zeus, but leave me here! For well I know thou shalt thyself


s: return no more, nor bring any one of all thy fellowship;


s: nay, let us flee the swifter with those that be here, for


s: 'On this wise he spake, but I answered him, saying:


s: "Eurylochus, abide for thy part here in this place, eating


s: and drinking by the black hollow ship: but I will go forth,


s: 'With that I went up from the ship and the sea-shore. But


s: lo, when in my faring through the sacred glades I was now


s: drawing near to the great hall of the enchantress Circe,


s: then did Hermes, of the golden wand, meet me as I


s: approached the house, in the likeness of a young man with


s: the first down on his lip, the time when youth is most


s: gracious. So he clasped my hand and spake and hailed me:


s: '"Ah, hapless man, whither away again, all alone through


s: the wolds, thou that knowest not this country? And thy


s: company yonder in the hall of Circe are penned in the guise


s: of swine, in their deep lairs abiding. Is it in hope to


s: free them that thou art come hither? Nay, methinks, thou


s: thyself shalt never return but remain there with the


s: others. Come then, I will redeem thee from thy distress,


s: and bring deliverance. Lo, take this herb of virtue, and go


s: to the dwelling of Circe, that it may keep from thy head


s: the evil day. And I will tell thee all the magic sleight of


s: Circe. She will mix thee a potion and cast drugs into the


s: mess; but not even so shall she be able to enchant thee; so


s: helpful is this charmed herb that I shall give thee, and I


s: will tell thee all. When it shall be that Circe smites thee


s: with her long wand, even then draw thou thy sharp sword


s: from thy thigh, and spring on her, as one eager to slay


s: her. And she will shrink away and be instant with thee to


s: lie with her. Thenceforth disdain not thou the bed of the


s: goddess, that she may deliver thy company and kindly


s: entertain thee. But command her to swear a mighty oath by


s: the blessed gods, that she will plan nought else of


s: and unmanned, when she hath thee naked."


s: 'Therewith the slayer of Argos gave me the plant that he


s: had plucked from the ground, and he showed me the growth


s: thereof. It was black at the root, but the flower was like


s: to milk. Moly the gods call it, but it is hard for mortal


s: men to dig; howbeit with the gods all things are possible.


s: 'Then Hermes departed toward high Olympus, up through the


s: woodland isle, but as for me I held on my way to the house


s: of Circe, and my heart was darkly troubled as I went. So I


s: halted in the portals of the fair-tressed goddess; there I


s: stood and called aloud and the goddess heard my voice, who


s: presently came forth and opened the shining doors and bade


s: me in, and I went with her heavy at heart. So she led me in


s: and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly carven


s: chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet. And she


s: made me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink, and


s: she also put a charm therein, in the evil counsel of her


s: 'Now when she had given it and I had drunk it off and was


s: not bewitched, she smote me with her wand and spake and


s: '"Go thy way now to the stye, couch thee there with the


s: 'So spake she, but I drew my sharp sword from my thigh and


s: sprang upon Circe, as one eager to slay her. But with a


s: great cry she slipped under, and clasped my knees, and


s: bewailing herself spake to me winged words:


s: '"Who art thou of the sons of men, and whence? Where is thy


s: city? Where are they that begat thee? I marvel to see how


s: thou hast drunk of this charm, and wast nowise subdued.


s: Nay, for there lives no man else that is proof against this


s: charm, whoso hath drunk thereof, and once it hath passed


s: his lips. But thou hast, methinks, a mind within thee that


s: may not be enchanted. Verily thou art Odysseus, ready at


s: need, whom he of the golden wand, the slayer of Argos, full


s: often told me was to come hither, on his way from Troy with


s: his swift black ship. Nay come, put thy sword into the


s: sheath, and thereafter let us go up into my bed, that


s: meeting in love and sleep we may trust each the other."


s: 'So spake she, but I answered her, saying: "Nay, Circe, how


s: canst thou bid me be gentle to thee, who hast turned my


s: company into swine within thy halls, and holding me here


s: with a guileful heart requirest me to pass within thy


s: chamber and go up into thy bed, that so thou mayest make me


s: will I consent to go up into thy bed, except thou wilt


s: deign, goddess, to swear a mighty oath, that thou wilt plan


s: nought else of mischief to mine own hurt."


s: 'So I spake, and she straightway swore the oath not to harm


s: me, as I bade her. But when she had sworn and had done that


s: oath, then at last I went up into the beautiful bed of


s: 'Now all this while her handmaids busied them in the halls,


s: four maidens that are her serving women in the house. They


s: are born of the wells and of the woods and of the holy


s: rivers, that flow forward into the salt sea. Of these one


s: cast upon the chairs goodly coverlets of purple above, and


s: spread a linen cloth thereunder. And lo, another drew up


s: silver tables to the chairs, and thereon set for them


s: golden baskets. And a third mixed sweet honey-hearted wine


s: in a silver bowl, and set out cups of gold. And a fourth


s: bare water, and kindled a great fire beneath the mighty


s: cauldron. So the water waxed warm; but when it boiled in


s: the bright brazen vessel, she set me in a bath and bathed


s: me with water from out a great cauldron, pouring it over


s: head and shoulders, when she had mixed it to a pleasant


s: warmth, till from my limbs she took away the consuming


s: weariness. Now after she had bathed me and anointed me well


s: with olive oil, and cast about me a fair mantle and a


s: doublet, she led me into the halls and set me on a chair


s: with studs of silver, a goodly carven chair, and beneath


s: was a footstool for the feet. And a handmaid bare water for


s: the hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it forth over


s: a silver basin to wash withal; and to my side she drew a


s: polished table, and a grave dame bare wheaten bread and set


s: it by me, and laid on the board many dainties, giving


s: freely of such things as she had by her. And she bade me


s: eat, but my soul found no pleasure therein. I sat with


s: other thoughts, and my heart had a boding of ill.


s: 'Now when Circe saw that I sat thus, and that I put not


s: forth my hands to the meat, and that I was mightily


s: afflicted, she drew near to me and spake to me winged


s: '"Wherefore thus, Odysseus, dost thou sit there like a


s: speechless man, consuming thine own soul, and dost not


s: touch meat nor drink? Dost thou indeed deem there is some


s: further guile? Nay, thou hast no cause to fear, for already


s: I have sworn thee a strong oath not to harm thee."


s: 'So spake she, but I answered her, saying: "Oh, Circe, what


s: righteous man would have the heart to taste meat and drink


s: ere he had redeemed his company, and beheld them face to


s: face? But if in good faith thou biddest me eat and drink,


s: then let them go free, that mine eyes may behold my dear


s: 'So I spake, and Circe passed out through the hall with the


s: wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the stye, and


s: drave them forth in the shape of swine of nine seasons old.


s: There they stood before her, and she went through their


s: midst, and anointed each one of them with another charm.


s: And lo, from their limbs the bristles dropped away,


s: wherewith the venom had erewhile clothed them, that lady


s: Circe gave them. And they became men again, younger than


s: before they were, and goodlier far, and taller to behold.


s: And they all knew me again and each one took my hands, and


s: wistful was the lament that sank into their souls, and the


s: roof around rang wondrously. And even the goddess herself


s: 'Then standing nigh me the fair goddess spake unto me: "Son


s: of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,


s: depart now to thy swift ship and the sea-banks. And first


s: of all, draw ye up the ship ashore, and bestow the goods in


s: the caves and all the gear. And thyself return again, and


s: 'So spake she, and my lordly spirit consented thereto. So I


s: went on my way to the swift ship and the sea-banks, and


s: there I found my dear company on the swift ship lamenting


s: piteously, shedding big tears. And as when calves of the


s: homestead gather round the droves of kine that have


s: returned to the yard, when they have had their fill of


s: pasture, and all with one accord frisk before them, and the


s: folds may no more contain them, but with a ceaseless lowing


s: they skip about their dams, so flocked they all about me


s: weeping, when their eyes beheld me. Yea, and to their


s: spirit it was as though they had got to their dear country,


s: and the very city of rugged Ithaca, where they were born


s: 'Then making lament they spake to me winged words: "O


s: fosterling of Zeus, we were none otherwise glad at thy


s: returning, than if we had come to Ithaca, our own country.


s: Nay come, of our other companions tell us the tale of their


s: 'So spake they, but I answered them with soft words:


s: "Behold, let us first of all draw up the ship ashore, and


s: bestow our goods in the caves and all our gear. And do ye


s: bestir you, one and all, to go with me, that ye may see


s: your fellows in the sacred dwelling of Circe, eating and


s: drinking, for they have continual store."


s: 'So spake I, and at once they hearkened to my words, but


s: Eurylochus alone would have holden all my companions, and


s: uttering his voice he spake to them winged words:


s: '"Wretched men that we are! whither are we going? Why are


s: your hearts so set on sorrow that ye should go down to the


s: hall of Circe, who will surely change us all to swine, or


s: wolves, or lions, to guard her great house perforce,


s: according to the deeds that the Cyclops wrought, when


s: certain of our company went to his inmost fold, and with


s: them went Odysseus, ever hardy, for through the blindness


s: 'So spake he, but I mused in my heart whether to draw my


s: long hanger from my stout thigh, and therewith smite off


s: his head and bring it to the dust, albeit he was very near


s: of kin to me; but the men of my company stayed me on every


s: '"Prince of the seed of Zeus, as for this man, we will


s: suffer him, if thou wilt have it so, to abide here by the


s: ship and guard the ship; but as for us, be our guide to the


s: 'So they spake and went up from the ship and the sea. Nay,


s: nor yet was Eurylochus left by the hollow ship, but he went


s: with us, for he feared my terrible rebuke.


s: 'Meanwhile Circe bathed the rest of my company in her halls


s: with all care, and anointed them well with olive oil; and


s: cast thick mantles and doublets about them. And we found


s: them all feasting nobly in the halls. And when they saw and


s: knew each other face to face, they wept and mourned, and


s: the house rang around. Then she stood near me, that fair


s: '"Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many


s: devices, no more now wake this plenteous weeping: myself I


s: know of all the pains ye endured upon the teeming deep, and


s: the great despite done you by unkindly men upon the land.


s: Nay come, eat ye meat and drink wine, till your spirit


s: shall return to you again, as it was when first ye left


s: your own country of rugged Ithaca; but now are ye wasted


s: and wanting heart, mindful evermore of your sore wandering,


s: nor has your heart ever been merry, for very grievous hath


s: 'So spake she, and our lordly spirit consented thereto. So


s: there we sat day by day for the full circle of a year,


s: feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine. But when now a


s: year had gone, and the seasons returned as the months


s: waned, and the long days came in their course, then did my


s: '"Good sir, now is it high time to mind thee of thy native


s: land, if it is ordained that thou shalt be saved, and come


s: to thy lofty house and thine own country."


s: 'So spake they and my lordly spirit consented thereto. So


s: for that time we sat the livelong day till the going down


s: of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine. But


s: when the sun sank and darkness came on, they laid them to


s: 'But when I had gone up into the fair bed of Circe, I


s: besought her by her knees, and the goddess heard my speech,


s: and uttering my voice I spake to her winged words: "Circe,


s: fulfil for me the promise which thou madest me to send me


s: on my homeward way. Now is my spirit eager to be gone, and


s: the spirit of my company, that wear away my heart as they


s: mourn around me, when haply thou art gone from us."


s: 'So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon: "Son of


s: Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,


s: tarry ye now no longer in my house against your will; but


s: first must ye perform another journey, and reach the


s: dwelling of Hades and of dread Persephone to seek to the


s: spirit of Theban Teiresias, the blind soothsayer, whose


s: wits abide steadfast. To him Persephone hath given


s: judgment, even in death, that he alone should have


s: understanding; but the other souls sweep shadow-like


s: 'Thus spake she, but as for me, my heart was broken, and I


s: wept as I sat upon the bed, and my soul had no more care to


s: live and to see the sunlight. But when I had my fill of


s: weeping and grovelling, then at the last I answered and


s: spake unto her saying: "And who, Circe, will guide us on


s: this way? for no man ever yet sailed to hell in a black


s: nay, trouble not thyself for want of a guide, by thy ship


s: abiding, but set up the mast and spread abroad the white


s: sails and sit thee down; and the breeze of the North Wind


s: will bear thy vessel on her way. But when thou hast now


s: sailed in thy ship across the stream Oceanus, where is a


s: waste shore and the groves of Persephone, even tall poplar


s: trees and willows that shed their fruit before the season,


s: there beach thy ship by deep eddying Oceanus, but go


s: thyself to the dank house of Hades. Thereby into Acheron


s: flows Pyriphlegethon, and Cocytus, a branch of the water of


s: the Styx, and there is a rock, and the meeting of the two


s: roaring waters. So, hero, draw nigh thereto, as I command


s: thee, and dig a trench as it were a cubit in length and


s: breadth, and about it pour a drink-offering to all the


s: dead, first with mead and thereafter with sweet wine, and


s: for the third time with water, and sprinkle white meal


s: thereon; and entreat with many prayers the strengthless


s: heads of the dead, and promise that on thy return to Ithaca


s: thou wilt offer in thy halls a barren heifer, the best thou


s: hast, and will fill the pyre with treasure, and wilt


s: sacrifice apart, to Teiresias alone, a black ram without


s: spot, the fairest of your flock. But when thou hast with


s: prayers made supplication to the lordly races of the dead,


s: then offer up a ram and a black ewe, bending their heads


s: towards Erebus and thyself turn thy back, with thy face set


s: for the shore of the river. Then will many spirits come to


s: thee of the dead that be departed. Thereafter thou shalt


s: call to thy company and command them to flay the sheep


s: which even now lie slain by the pitiless sword, and to


s: consume them with fire, and to make prayer to the gods, to


s: mighty Hades and to dread Persephone. And thyself draw the


s: sharp sword from thy thigh and sit there, suffering not the


s: strengthless heads of the dead to draw nigh to the blood,


s: ere thou hast word of Teiresias. Then the seer will come to


s: thee quickly, leader of the people; he will surely declare


s: to thee the way and the measure of thy path, and as


s: touching thy returning, how thou mayst go over the teeming


s: 'So spake she, and anon came the golden throned Dawn. Then


s: she put on me a mantle and a doublet for raiment, and the


s: nymph clad herself in a great shining robe, light of woof


s: and gracious, and about her waist she cast a fair golden


s: girdle, and put a veil upon her head. But I passed through


s: the halls and roused my men with smooth words, standing by


s: '"Sleep ye now no more nor breathe sweet slumber; but let


s: us go on our way, for surely she hath shown me all, the


s: 'So spake I, and their lordly soul consented thereto. Yet


s: even thence I led not my company safe away. There was one,


s: Elpenor, the youngest of us all, not very valiant in war


s: neither steadfast in mind. He was lying apart from the rest


s: of my men on the housetop of Circe's sacred dwelling, very


s: fain of the cool air, as one heavy with wine. Now when he


s: heard the noise of the voices and of the feet of my fellows


s: as they moved to and fro, he leaped up of a sudden and


s: minded him not to descend again by the way of the tall


s: ladder, but fell right down from the roof, and his neck was


s: broken from the bones of the spine, and his spirit went


s: 'Then I spake among my men as they went on their way,


s: saying: "Ye deem now, I see, that ye are going to your own


s: dear country; but Circe hath showed us another way, even to


s: the dwelling of Hades and of dread Persephone, to seek to


s: 'Even so I spake, but their heart within them was broken,


s: and they sat them down even where they were, and made


s: lament and tore their hair. Howbeit no help came of their


s: 'But as we were now wending sorrowful to the swift ship and


s: the sea-banks, shedding big tears, Circe meanwhile had gone


s: her ways and made fast a ram and a black ewe by the dark


s: ship, lightly passing us by: who may behold a god against


s: Odysseus, his descent into hell, and discourses with the


s: 'Now when we had gone down to the ship and to the sea,


s: first of all we drew the ship unto the fair salt water and


s: placed the mast and sails in the black ship, and took those


s: sheep and put them therein, and ourselves too climbed on


s: board, sorrowing, and shedding big tears. And in the wake


s: of our dark-prowed ship she sent a favouring wind that


s: filled the sails, a kindly escort,--even Circe of the


s: braided tresses, a dread goddess of human speech. And we


s: set in order all the gear throughout the ship and sat us


s: down; and the wind and the helmsman guided our barque. And


s: all day long her sails were stretched in her seafaring; and


s: the sun sank and all the ways were darkened.


s: 'She came to the limits of the world, to the deep-flowing


s: Oceanus. There is the land and the city of the Cimmerians,


s: shrouded in mist and cloud, and never does the shining sun


s: look down on them with his rays, neither when he climbs up


s: the starry heavens, nor when again he turns earthward from


s: the firmament, but deadly night is outspread over miserable


s: mortals. Thither we came and ran the ship ashore and took


s: out the sheep; but for our part we held on our way along


s: the stream of Oceanus, till we came to the place which


s: 'There Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims, but I


s: drew my sharp sword from my thigh, and dug a pit, as it


s: were a cubit in length and breadth, and about it poured a


s: drink-offering to all the dead, first with mead and


s: thereafter with sweet wine, and for the third time with


s: water. And I sprinkled white meal thereon, and entreated


s: with many prayers the strengthless heads of the dead, and


s: promised that on my return to Ithaca I would offer in my


s: halls a barren heifer, the best I had, and fill the pyre


s: with treasure, and apart unto Teiresias alone sacrifice a


s: black ram without spot, the fairest of my flock. But when I


s: had besought the tribes of the dead with vows and prayers,


s: I took the sheep and cut their throats over the trench, and


s: the dark blood flowed forth, and lo, the spirits of the


s: dead that be departed gathered them from out of Erebus.


s: Brides and youths unwed, and old men of many and evil days,


s: and tender maidens with grief yet fresh at heart; and many


s: there were, wounded with bronze-shod spears, men slain in


s: fight with their bloody mail about them. And these many


s: ghosts flocked together from every side about the trench


s: with a wondrous cry, and pale fear gat hold on me. Then did


s: I speak to my company and command them to flay the sheep


s: that lay slain by the pitiless sword, and to consume them


s: with fire, and to make prayer to the gods, to mighty Hades


s: and to dread Persephone, and myself I drew the sharp sword


s: from my thigh and sat there, suffering not the strengthless


s: heads of the dead to draw nigh to the blood, ere I had word


s: 'And first came the soul of Elpenor, my companion, that had


s: not yet been buried beneath the wide-wayed earth; for we


s: left the corpse behind us in the hall of Circe, unwept and


s: unburied, seeing that another task was instant on us. At


s: the sight of him I wept and had compassion on him, and


s: uttering my voice spake to him winged words: "Elpenor, how


s: hast thou come beneath the darkness and the shadow? Thou


s: hast come fleeter on foot than I in my black ship."


s: 'So spake I, and with a moan he answered me, saying: "Son


s: of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,


s: an evil doom of some god was my bane and wine out of


s: measure. When I laid me down on the house-top of Circe I


s: minded me not to descend again by the way of the tall


s: ladder, but fell right down from the roof, and my neck was


s: broken off from the bones of the spine, and my spirit went


s: down to the house of Hades. And now I pray thee in the name


s: of those whom we left, who are no more with us, thy wife,


s: and thy sire who cherished thee when as yet thou wert a


s: little one, and Telemachus, whom thou didst leave in thy


s: halls alone; forasmuch as I know that on thy way hence from


s: out the dwelling of Hades, thou wilt stay thy well-wrought


s: ship at the isle Aeaean, even then, my lord, I charge thee


s: to think on me. Leave me not unwept and unburied as thou


s: goest hence, nor turn thy back upon me, lest haply I bring


s: on thee the anger of the gods. Nay, burn me there with mine


s: armour, all that is mine, and pile me a barrow on the shore


s: of the grey sea, the grave of a luckless man, that even men


s: unborn may hear my story. Fulfil me this and plant upon the


s: barrow mine oar, wherewith I rowed in the days of my life,


s: 'Even so he spake, and I answered him saying: "All this,


s: luckless man, will I perform for thee and do."


s: 'Even so we twain were sitting holding sad discourse, I on


s: the one side, stretching forth my sword over the blood,


s: while on the other side the ghost of my friend told all his


s: 'Anon came up the soul of my mother dead, Anticleia, the


s: daughter of Autolycus the great-hearted, whom I left alive


s: when I departed for sacred Ilios. At the sight of her I


s: wept, and was moved with compassion, yet even so, for all


s: my sore grief, I suffered her not to draw nigh to the


s: 'Anon came the soul of Theban Teiresias, with a golden


s: sceptre in his hand, and he knew me and spake unto me: "Son


s: of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,


s: what seekest thou NOW, wretched man, wherefore hast thou


s: left the sunlight and come hither to behold the dead and a


s: land desolate of joy? Nay, hold off from the ditch and draw


s: back thy sharp sword, that I may drink of the blood and


s: 'So spake he and I put up my silver-studded sword into the


s: sheath, and when he had drunk the dark blood, even then did


s: the noble seer speak unto me, saying: "Thou art asking of


s: thy sweet returning, great Odysseus, but that will the god


s: make hard for thee; for methinks thou shalt not pass


s: unheeded by the Shaker of the Earth, who hath laid up wrath


s: in his heart against thee, for rage at the blinding of his


s: dear son. Yet even so, through many troubles, ye may come


s: home, if thou wilt restrain thy spirit and the spirit of


s: thy men so soon as thou shalt bring thy well-wrought ship


s: nigh to the isle Thrinacia, fleeing the sea of violet blue,


s: when ye find the herds of Helios grazing and his brave


s: flocks, of Helios who overseeth all and overheareth all


s: things. If thou doest these no hurt, being heedful of thy


s: return, so may ye yet reach Ithaca, albeit in evil case.


s: But if thou hurtest them, I foreshow ruin for thy ship and


s: for thy men, and even though thou shalt thyself escape,


s: late shalt thou return in evil plight, with the loss of all


s: thy company, on board the ship of strangers, and thou shalt


s: find sorrows in thy house, even proud men that devour thy


s: living, while they woo thy godlike wife and offer the gifts


s: of wooing. Yet I tell thee, on thy coming thou shalt avenge


s: their violence. But when thou hast slain the wooers in thy


s: halls, whether by guile, or openly with the edge of the


s: sword, thereafter go thy way, taking with thee a shapen


s: oar, till thou shalt come to such men as know not the sea,


s: neither eat meat savoured with salt; yea, nor have they


s: knowledge of ships of purple cheek, nor shapen oars which


s: serve for wings to ships. And I will give thee a most


s: manifest token, which cannot escape thee. In the day when


s: another wayfarer shall meet thee and say that thou hast a


s: winnowing fan on thy stout shoulder, even then make fast


s: thy shapen oar in the earth and do goodly sacrifice to the


s: lord Poseidon, even with a ram and a bull and a boar, the


s: mate of swine, and depart for home and offer holy hecatombs


s: to the deathless gods that keep the wide heaven, to each in


s: order due. And from the sea shall thine own death come, the


s: gentlest death that may be, which shall end thee foredone


s: with smooth old age, and the folk shall dwell happily


s: 'So spake he, and I answered him, saying: "Teiresias, all


s: these threads, methinks, the gods themselves have spun. But


s: come, declare me this and plainly tell me all. I see here


s: the spirit of my mother dead; lo, she sits in silence near


s: the blood, nor deigns to look her son in the face nor speak


s: to him! Tell me, prince, how may she know me again that I


s: 'So spake I, and anon he answered me, and said: "I will


s: tell thee an easy saying, and will put it in thy heart.


s: Whomsoever of the dead that be departed thou shalt suffer


s: to draw nigh to the blood, he shall tell thee sooth; but if


s: thou shalt grudge any, that one shall go to his own place


s: again." Therewith the spirit of the prince Teiresias went


s: back within the house of Hades, when he had told all his


s: oracles. But I abode there steadfastly, till my mother drew


s: nigh and drank the dark blood; and at once she knew me, and


s: bewailing herself spake to me winged words:


s: '"Dear child, how didst thou come beneath the darkness and


s: the shadow, thou that art a living man? Grievous is the


s: sight of these things to the living, for between us and you


s: are great rivers and dreadful streams; first, Oceanus,


s: which can no wise be crossed on foot, but only if one have


s: a well wrought ship. Art thou but now come hither with thy


s: ship and thy company in thy long wanderings from Troy? and


s: hast thou not yet reached Ithaca, nor seen thy wife in thy


s: 'Even so she spake, and I answered her, and said: "O my


s: mother, necessity was on me to come down to the house of


s: Hades to seek to the spirit of Theban Teiresias. For not


s: yet have I drawn near to the Achaean shore, nor yet have I


s: set foot on mine own country, but have been wandering


s: evermore in affliction, from the day that first I went with


s: goodly Agamemnon to Ilios of the fair steeds, to do battle


s: with the Trojans. But come, declare me this and plainly


s: tell it all. What doom overcame thee of death that lays men


s: at their length? Was it a slow disease, or did Artemis the


s: archer slay thee with the visitation of her gentle shafts?


s: And tell me of my father and my son, that I left behind me;


s: doth my honour yet abide with them, or hath another already


s: taken it, while they say that I shall come home no more?


s: And tell me of my wedded wife, of her counsel and her


s: purpose, doth she abide with her son and keep all secure,


s: or hath she already wedded the best of the Achaeans?"


s: 'Even so I spake, and anon my lady mother answered me: "Yea


s: verily, she abideth with steadfast spirit in thy halls; and


s: wearily for her the nights wane always and the days in


s: shedding of tears. But the fair honour that is thine no man


s: hath yet taken; but Telemachus sits at peace on his


s: demesne, and feasts at equal banquets, whereof it is meet


s: that a judge partake, for all men bid him to their house.


s: And thy father abides there in the field, and goes not down


s: to the town, nor lies he on bedding or rugs or shining


s: blankets, but all the winter he sleeps, where sleep the


s: thralls in the house, in the ashes by the fire, and is clad


s: in sorry raiment. But when the summer comes and the rich


s: harvest-tide, his beds of fallen leaves are strewn lowly


s: all about the knoll of his vineyard plot. There he lies


s: sorrowing and nurses his mighty grief, for long desire of


s: thy return, and old age withal comes heavy upon him. Yea


s: and even so did I too perish and meet my doom. It was not


s: the archer goddess of the keen sight, who slew me in my


s: halls with the visitation of her gentle shafts, nor did any


s: sickness come upon me, such as chiefly with a sad wasting


s: draws the spirit from the limbs; nay, it was my sore


s: longing for thee, and for thy counsels, great Odysseus, and


s: for thy loving-kindness, that reft me of sweet life."


s: 'So spake she, and I mused in my heart and would fain have


s: embraced the spirit of my mother dead. Thrice I sprang


s: towards her, and was minded to embrace her; thrice she


s: flitted from my hands as a shadow or even as a dream, and


s: sharp grief arose ever at my heart. And uttering my voice I


s: '"Mother mine, wherefore dost thou not abide me who am


s: eager to clasp thee, that even in Hades we twain may cast


s: our arms each about the other, and have our fill of chill


s: lament? Is this but a phantom that the high goddess


s: Persephone hath sent me, to the end that I may groan for


s: 'So spake I, and my lady mother answered me anon: "Ah me,


s: my child, of all men most ill-fated, Persephone, the


s: daughter of Zeus, doth in no wise deceive thee, but even on


s: this wise it is with mortals when they die. For the sinews


s: no more bind together the flesh and the bones, but the


s: great force of burning fire abolishes these, so soon as the


s: life hath left the white bones, and the spirit like a dream


s: flies forth and hovers near. But haste with all thine heart


s: toward the sunlight, and mark all this, that even hereafter


s: 'Thus we twain held discourse together; and lo, the women


s: came up, for the high goddess Persephone sent them forth,


s: all they that had been the wives and daughters of mighty


s: men. And they gathered and flocked about the black blood,


s: and I took counsel how I might question them each one. And


s: this was the counsel that showed best in my sight. I drew


s: my long hanger from my stalwart thigh, and suffered them


s: not all at one time to drink of the dark blood. So they


s: drew nigh one by one, and each declared her lineage, and I


s: 'Then verily did I first see Tyro, sprung of a noble sire,


s: who said that she was the child of noble Salmoneus, and


s: declared herself the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus. She


s: loved a river, the divine Enipeus, far the fairest of the


s: floods that run upon the earth, and she would resort to the


s: fair streams of Enipeus. And it came to pass that the


s: girdler of the world, the Earth-shaker, put on the shape of


s: the god, and lay by the lady at the mouths of the whirling


s: stream. Then the dark wave stood around them like a


s: hill-side bowed, and hid the god and the mortal woman. And


s: he undid her maiden girdle, and shed a slumber over her.


s: Now when the god had done the work of love, he clasped her


s: '"Woman, be glad in our love, and when the year comes round


s: thou shalt give birth to glorious children,--for not weak


s: are the embraces of the gods,--and do thou keep and cherish


s: them. And now go home and hold thy peace, and tell it not:


s: but behold, I am Poseidon, shaker of the earth."


s: 'Therewith he plunged beneath the heaving deep. And she


s: conceived and bare Pelias and Neleus, who both grew to be


s: mighty men, servants of Zeus. Pelias dwelt in wide Iolcos,


s: and was rich in flocks; and that other abode in sandy


s: Pylos. And the queen of women bare yet other sons to


s: Cretheus, even Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon, whose joy was


s: 'And after her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus, and her


s: boast was that she had slept even in the arms of Zeus, and


s: she bare two sons, Amphion and Zethus, who founded first


s: the place of seven-gated Thebes, and they made of it a


s: fenced city, for they might not dwell in spacious Thebes


s: 'Next to her I saw Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon, who lay in


s: the arms of mighty Zeus, and bare Heracles of the


s: lion-heart, steadfast in the fight. And I saw Megara,


s: daughter of Creon, haughty of heart, whom the strong and


s: 'And I saw the mother of Oedipodes, fair Epicaste, who


s: wrought a dread deed unwittingly, being wedded to her own


s: son, and he that had slain his own father wedded her, and


s: straightway the gods made these things known to men. Yet he


s: abode in pain in pleasant Thebes, ruling the Cadmaeans, by


s: reason of the deadly counsels of the gods. But she went


s: down to the house of Hades, the mighty warder; yea, she


s: tied a noose from the high beam aloft, being fast holden in


s: sorrow; while for him she left pains behind full many, even


s: all that the Avengers of a mother bring to pass.


s: 'And I saw lovely Chloris, whom Neleus wedded on a time for


s: her beauty, and brought gifts of wooing past number. She


s: was the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus, who


s: once ruled mightily in Minyan Orchomenus. And she was queen


s: of Pylos, and bare glorious children to her lord, Nestor


s: and Chromius, and princely Periclymenus, and stately Pero


s: too, the wonder of all men. All that dwelt around were her


s: wooers; but Neleus would not give her, save to him who


s: should drive off from Phylace the kine of mighty Iphicles,


s: with shambling gait and broad of brow, hard cattle to


s: drive. And none but the noble seer {*} took in hand to


s: drive them; but a grievous fate from the gods fettered him,


s: even hard bonds and the herdsmen of the wild. But when at


s: length the months and days were being fulfilled, as the


s: year returned upon his course, and the seasons came round,


s: then did mighty Iphicles set him free, when he had spoken


s: out all the oracles; and herein was the counsel of Zeus


s: 'And I saw Lede, the famous bed-fellow of Tyndareus, who


s: bare to Tyndareus two sons, hardy of heart, Castor tamer of


s: steeds, and Polydeuces the boxer. These twain yet live, but


s: the quickening earth is over them; and even in the nether


s: world they have honour at the hand of Zeus. And they


s: possess their life in turn, living one day and dying the


s: next, and they have gotten worship even as the gods.


s: 'And after her I beheld Iphimedeia, bed-fellow of Aloeus,


s: who said that she had lain with Poseidon, and she bare


s: children twain, but short of life were they, godlike Otus


s: and far-famed Ephialtes. Now these were the tallest men


s: that earth, the graingiver, ever reared, and far the


s: goodliest after the renowned Orion. At nine seasons old


s: they were of breadth nine cubits, and nine fathoms in


s: height. They it was who threatened to raise even against


s: the immortals in Olympus the din of stormy war. They strove


s: to pile Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa Pelion with the


s: trembling forest leaves, that there might be a pathway to


s: the sky. Yea, and they would have accomplished it, had they


s: reached the full measure of manhood. But the son of Zeus,


s: whom Leto of the fair locks bare, destroyed the twain, ere


s: the down had bloomed beneath their temples, and darkened


s: 'And Phaedra and Procris I saw, and fair Ariadne, the


s: daughter of wizard Minos, whom Theseus on a time was


s: bearing from Crete to the hill of sacred Athens, yet had he


s: no joy of her; for Artemis slew her ere that in sea-girt


s: Dia, by reason of the witness of Dionysus.


s: 'And Maera and Clymene I saw, and hateful Eriphyle, who


s: took fine gold for the price of her dear lord's life. But I


s: cannot tell or name all the wives and daughters of the


s: heroes that I saw; ere that, the immortal night would wane.


s: Nay, it is even now time to sleep, whether I go to the


s: swift ship to my company or abide here: and for my convoy


s: So spake he, and dead silence fell on all, and they were


s: spell-bound throughout the shadowy halls. Then Arete of the


s: white arms first spake among them: 'Phaeacians, what think


s: you of this man for comeliness and stature, and within for


s: wisdom of heart? Moreover he is my guest, though every one


s: of you hath his share in this honour. Wherefore haste not


s: to send him hence, and stint not these your gifts for one


s: that stands in such sore need of them; for ye have much


s: treasure stored in your halls by the grace of the gods.'


s: Then too spake among them the old man, lord Echeneus, that


s: was an elder among the Phaeacians: 'Friends, behold, the


s: speech of our wise queen is not wide of the mark, nor far


s: from our deeming, so hearken ye thereto. But on Alcinous


s: Then Alcinous made answer, and spake unto him: 'Yea, the


s: word that she hath spoken shall hold, if indeed I am yet to


s: live and bear rule among the Phaeacians, masters of the


s: oar. Howbeit let the stranger, for all his craving to


s: return, nevertheless endure to abide until the morrow, till


s: I make up the full measure of the gift; and men shall care


s: for his convoy, all men, but I in chief, for mine is the


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying: My lord


s: Alcinous, most notable of all the people, if ye bade me


s: tarry here even for a year, and would speed my convoy and


s: give me splendid gifts, even that I would choose; and


s: better would it be for me to come with a fuller hand to


s: mine own dear country, so should I get more love and


s: worship in the eyes of all men, whoso should see me after I


s: And Alcinous answered him, saying: 'Odysseus, in no wise do


s: we deem thee, we that look on thee, to be a knave or a


s: cheat, even as the dark earth rears many such broadcast,


s: fashioning lies whence none can even see his way therein.


s: But beauty crowns thy words, and wisdom is within thee; and


s: thy tale, as when a minstrel sings, thou hast told with


s: skill, the weary woes of all the Argives and of thine own


s: self. But come, declare me this and plainly tell it all.


s: Didst thou see any of thy godlike company who went up at


s: the same time with thee to Ilios and there met their doom?


s: Behold, the night is of great length, unspeakable, and the


s: time for sleep in the hall is not yet; tell me therefore of


s: those wondrous deeds. I could abide even till the bright


s: dawn, so long as thou couldst endure to rehearse me these


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying: 'My


s: lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, there is a


s: time for many words and there is a time for sleep. But if


s: thou art eager still to listen, I would not for my part


s: grudge to tell thee of other things more pitiful still,


s: even the woes of my comrades, those that perished


s: afterward, for they had escaped with their lives from the


s: dread war-cry of the Trojans, but perished in returning by


s: 'Now when holy Persephone had scattered this way and that


s: the spirits of the women folk, thereafter came the soul of


s: Agamemnon, son of Atreus, sorrowing; and round him others


s: were gathered, the ghosts of them who had died with him in


s: the house of Aegisthus and met their doom. And he knew me


s: straightway when he had drunk the dark blood, yea, and he


s: wept aloud, and shed big tears as he stretched forth his


s: hands in his longing to reach me. But it might not be, for


s: he had now no steadfast strength nor power at all in


s: moving, such as was aforetime in his supple limbs.


s: 'At the sight of him I wept and was moved with compassion,


s: and uttering my voice, spake to him winged words: "Most


s: renowned son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, say what


s: doom overcame thee of death that lays men at their length?


s: Did Poseidon smite thee in thy ships, raising the dolorous


s: blast of contrary winds, or did unfriendly men do thee hurt


s: upon the land, whilst thou wert cutting off their oxen and


s: fair flocks of sheep, or fighting to win a city and the


s: 'So spake I, and straightway he answered, and said unto me:


s: "Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many


s: devices, it was not Poseidon that smote me in my ships, and


s: raised the dolorous blast of contrary winds, nor did


s: unfriendly men do me hurt upon the land, but Aegisthus it


s: was that wrought me death and doom and slew me, with the


s: aid of my accursed wife, as one slays an ox at the stall,


s: after he had bidden me to his house, and entertained me at


s: a feast. Even so I died by a death most pitiful, and round


s: me my company likewise were slain without ceasing, like


s: swine with glittering tusks which are slaughtered in the


s: house of a rich and mighty man, whether at a wedding


s: banquet or a joint-feast or a rich clan-drinking. Ere now


s: hast thou been at the slaying of many a man, killed in


s: single fight or in strong battle, yet thou wouldst have


s: sorrowed the most at this sight, how we lay in the hall


s: round the mixing-bowl and the laden boards, and the floor


s: all ran with blood. And most pitiful of all that I heard


s: was the voice of the daughter of Priam, of Cassandra, whom


s: hard by me the crafty Clytemnestra slew. Then I strove to


s: raise my hands as I was dying upon the sword, but to earth


s: they fell. And that shameless one turned her back upon me,


s: and had not the heart to draw down my eyelids with her


s: fingers nor to close my mouth. So surely is there nought


s: more terrible and shameless than a woman who imagines such


s: evil in her heart, even as she too planned a foul deed,


s: fashioning death for her wedded lord. Verily I had thought


s: to come home most welcome to my children and my thralls;


s: but she, out of the depth of her evil knowledge, hath shed


s: shame on herself and on all womankind, which shall be for


s: 'Even so he spake, but I answered him, saying: "Lo now, in


s: very sooth, hath Zeus of the far-borne voice wreaked


s: wondrous hatred on the seed of Atreus through the counsels


s: of woman from of old. For Helen's sake so many of us


s: perished, and now Clytemnestra hath practised treason


s: against thee, while yet thou wast afar off."


s: 'Even so I spake, and anon he answered me, saying:


s: "Wherefore do thou too, never henceforth be soft even to


s: thy wife, neither show her all the counsel that thou


s: knowest, but a part declare and let part be hid. Yet shalt


s: not thou, Odysseus, find death at the hand of thy wife, for


s: she is very discreet and prudent in all her ways, the wise


s: Penelope, daughter of Icarius. Verily we left her a bride


s: new wed when we went to the war, and a child was at her


s: breast, who now, methinks, sits in the ranks of men, happy


s: in his lot, for his dear father shall behold him on his


s: coming, and he shall embrace his sire as is meet. But us


s: for my wife, she suffered me not so much as to have my fill


s: of gazing on my son; ere that she slew me, even her lord.


s: And yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder


s: it in thy heart. Put thy ship to land in secret, and not


s: openly, on the shore of thy dear country; for there is no


s: more faith in woman. But come, declare me this and plainly


s: tell it all, if haply ye hear of my son as yet living,


s: either, it may be, in Orchomenus or in sandy Pylos, or


s: perchance with Menelaus in wide Sparta, for goodly Orestes


s: 'Even so he spake, but I answered him, saying: "Son of


s: Atreus, wherefore dost thou ask me straitly of these


s: things? Nay I know not at all, whether he be alive or dead;


s: it is ill to speak words light as wind."


s: 'Thus we twain stood sorrowing, holding sad discourse,


s: while the big tears fell fast: and therewithal came the


s: soul of Achilles, son of Peleus, and of Patroclus and of


s: noble Antilochus and of Aias, who in face and form was


s: goodliest of all the Danaans, after the noble son of


s: Peleus. And the spirit of the son of Aeacus, fleet of foot,


s: knew me again, and making lament spake to me winged words:


s: '"Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many


s: devices, man overbold, what new deed and hardier than this


s: wilt thou devise in thy heart? How durst thou come down to


s: the house of Hades, where dwell the senseless dead, the


s: 'So he spake, but I answered him: "Achilles, son of Peleus,


s: mightiest far of the Achaeans, I am come hither to seek to


s: Teiresias, if he may tell me any counsel, how I may come to


s: rugged Ithaca. For not yet have I come nigh the Achaean


s: land, nor set foot on mine own soil, but am still in evil


s: case; while as for thee, Achilles, none other than thou


s: wast heretofore the most blessed of men, nor shall any be


s: hereafter. For of old, in the days of thy life, we Argives


s: gave thee one honour with the gods, and now thou art a


s: great prince here among the dead. Wherefore let not thy


s: 'Even so I spake, and he straightway answered me, and said:


s: "Nay, speak not comfortably to me of death, oh great


s: Odysseus. Rather would I live on ground {*} as the hireling


s: of another, with a landless man who had no great


s: livelihood, than bear sway among all the dead that be


s: departed. But come, tell me tidings of that lordly son of


s: mine--did he follow to the war to be a leader or not? And


s: tell me of noble Peleus, if thou hast heard aught,--is he


s: yet held in worship among the Myrmidons, or do they


s: dishonour him from Hellas to Phthia, for that old age binds


s: him hand and foot? For I am no longer his champion under


s: the sun, so mighty a man as once I was, when in wide Troy I


s: slew the best of the host, and succoured the Argives. Ah!


s: could I but come for an hour to my father's house as then I


s: was, so would I make my might and hands invincible, to be


s: hateful to many an one of those who do him despite and keep


s: {* [Greek] seems to mean 'upon the earth,' 'above ground,'


s: as opposed to the dead who are below, rather than 'bound to


s: the soil,' in which sense most commentators take it.}


s: 'Even so he spake, but I answered him saying: "As for noble


s: Peleus, verily I have heard nought of him; but concerning


s: thy dear son Neoptolemus, I will tell thee all the truth,


s: according to thy word. It was I that led him up out of


s: Scyros in my good hollow ship, in the wake of the


s: goodly-greaved Achaeans. Now oft as we took counsel around


s: Troy town, he was ever the first to speak, and no word


s: missed the mark; the godlike Nestor and I alone surpassed


s: him. But whensoever we Achaeans did battle on the plain of


s: Troy, he never tarried behind in the throng or the press of


s: men, but ran out far before us all, yielding to none in


s: that might of his. And many men he slew in warfare dread;


s: but I could not tell of all or name their names, even all


s: the host he slew in succouring the Argives; but, ah, how he


s: smote with the sword that son of Telephus, the hero


s: Eurypylus, and many Ceteians {*} of his company were slain


s: around him, by reason of a woman's bribe. He truly was the


s: comeliest man that ever I saw, next to goodly Memnon. And


s: again when we, the best of the Argives, were about to go


s: down into the horse which Epeus wrought, and the charge of


s: all was laid on me, both to open the door of our good


s: ambush and to shut the same, then did the other princes and


s: counsellors of the Danaans wipe away the tears, and the


s: limbs of each one trembled beneath him, but never once did


s: I see thy son's fair face wax pale, nor did he wipe the


s: tears from his cheeks: but he besought me often to let him


s: go forth from the horse, and kept handling his sword-hilt,


s: and his heavy bronze-shod spear, and he was set on mischief


s: against the Trojans. But after we had sacked the steep city


s: of Priam, he embarked unscathed with his share of the


s: spoil, and with a noble prize; he was not smitten with the


s: sharp spear, and got no wound in close fight: and many such


s: chances there be in war, for Ares rageth confusedly."


s: {* See Lenormant, Premieres Civilisations, vol. i. p.289.}


s: 'So I spake, and the spirit of the son of Aeacus, fleet of


s: foot, passed with great strides along the mead of asphodel,


s: rejoicing in that I had told him of his son's renown.


s: 'But lo, other spirits of the dead that be departed stood


s: sorrowing, and each one asked of those that were dear to


s: them. The soul of Aias, son of Telamon, alone stood apart


s: being still angry for the victory wherein I prevailed


s: against him, in the suit by the ships concerning the arms


s: of Achilles, that his lady mother had set for a prize; and


s: the sons of the Trojans made award and Pallas Athene. Would


s: that I had never prevailed and won such a prize! So goodly


s: a head hath the earth closed over, for the sake of those


s: arms, even over Aias, who in beauty and in feats of war was


s: of a mould above all the other Danaans, next to the noble


s: son of Peleus. To him then I spake softly, saying:


s: '"Aias, son of noble Telamon, so art thou not even in death


s: to forget thy wrath against me, by reason of those arms


s: accursed, which the gods set to be the bane of the Argives?


s: What a tower of strength fell in thy fall, and we Achaeans


s: cease not to sorrow for thee, even as for the life of


s: Achilles, son of Peleus! Nay, there is none other to blame,


s: but Zeus, who hath borne wondrous hate to the army of the


s: Danaan spearsmen, and laid on thee thy doom. Nay, come


s: hither, my lord, that thou mayest hear my word and my


s: speech; master thy wrath and thy proud spirit."


s: 'So I spake, but he answered me not a word and passed to


s: Erebus after the other spirits of the dead that be


s: departed. Even then, despite his anger, would he have


s: spoken to me or I to him, but my heart within me was minded


s: to see the spirits of those others that were departed.


s: 'There then I saw Minos, glorious son of Zeus, wielding a


s: golden sceptre, giving sentence from his throne to the


s: dead, while they sat and stood around the prince, asking


s: his dooms through the wide-gated house of Hades.


s: 'And after him I marked the mighty Orion driving the wild


s: beasts together over the mead of asphodel, the very beasts


s: that himself had slain on the lonely hills, with a strong


s: mace all of bronze in his hands, {*} that is ever unbroken.


s: {* [Greek] in strict grammar agrees with [Greek] in 574,


s: but this merely by attraction, for in sense it refers not


s: 'And I saw Tityos, son of renowned Earth, lying on a


s: levelled ground, and he covered nine roods as he lay, and


s: vultures twain beset him one on either side, and gnawed at


s: his liver, piercing even to the caul, but he drave them not


s: away with his hands. For he had dealt violently with Leto,


s: the famous bedfellow of Zeus, as she went up to Pytho


s: 'Moreover I beheld Tantalus in grievous torment, standing


s: in a mere and the water came nigh unto his chin. And he


s: stood straining as one athirst, but he might not attain to


s: the water to drink of it. For often as that old man stooped


s: down in his eagerness to drink, so often the water was


s: swallowed up and it vanished away, and the black earth


s: still showed at his feet, for some god parched it evermore.


s: And tall trees flowering shed their fruit overhead, pears


s: and pomegranates and apple trees with bright fruit, and


s: sweet figs and olives in their bloom, whereat when that old


s: man reached out his hands to clutch them, the wind would


s: 'Yea and I beheld Sisyphus in strong torment, grasping a


s: monstrous stone with both his hands. He was pressing


s: thereat with hands and feet, and trying to roll the stone


s: upward toward the brow of the hill. But oft as he was about


s: to hurl it over the top, the weight would drive him back,


s: so once again to the plain rolled the stone, the shameless


s: thing. And he once more kept heaving and straining, and the


s: sweat the while was pouring down his limbs, and the dust


s: 'And after him I descried the mighty Heracles, his phantom,


s: I say; but as for himself he hath joy at the banquet among


s: the deathless gods, and hath to wife Hebe of the fair


s: ankles, child of great Zeus, and of Here of the golden


s: sandals. And all about him there was a clamour of the dead,


s: as it were fowls flying every way in fear, and he like


s: black Night, with bow uncased, and shaft upon the string,


s: fiercely glancing around, like one in the act to shoot. And


s: about his breast was an awful belt, a baldric of gold,


s: whereon wondrous things were wrought, bears and wild boars


s: and lions with flashing eyes, and strife and battles and


s: slaughters and murders of men. Nay, now that he hath


s: fashioned this, never another may he fashion, whoso stored


s: in his craft the device of that belt! And anon he knew me


s: when his eyes beheld me, and making lament he spake unto me


s: '"Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many


s: devices: ah! wretched one, dost thou too lead such a life


s: of evil doom, as I endured beneath the rays of the sun? I


s: was the son of Zeus Cronion, yet had I trouble beyond


s: measure, for I was subdued unto a man far worse than I. And


s: he enjoined on me hard adventures, yea and on a time he


s: sent me hither to bring back the hound of hell; for he


s: devised no harder task for me than this. I lifted the hound


s: and brought him forth from out of the house of Hades; and


s: Hermes sped me on my way and the grey-eyed Athene."


s: 'Therewith he departed again into the house of Hades, but I


s: abode there still, if perchance some one of the hero folk


s: besides might come, who died in old time. Yea and I should


s: have seen the men of old, whom I was fain to look on,


s: Theseus and Peirithous, renowned children of the gods. But


s: ere that might be the myriad tribes of the dead thronged up


s: together with wondrous clamour: and pale fear gat hold of


s: me, lest the high goddess Persephone should send me the


s: head of the Gorgon, that dread monster, from out of Hades.


s: 'Straightway then I went to the ship, and bade my men mount


s: the vessel, and loose the hawsers. So speedily they went on


s: board, and sat upon the benches. And the wave of the flood


s: bore the barque down the stream of Oceanus, we rowing


s: first, and afterwards the fair wind was our convoy.


s: Odysseus, his passage by the Sirens, and by Scylla and


s: Charybdis. The sacrilege committed by his men in the isle


s: Thrinacia. The destruction of his ships and men. How he


s: swam on a plank nine days together, and came to Ogygia,


s: where he stayed seven years with Calypso.


s: 'Now after the ship had left the stream of the river


s: Oceanus, and was come to the wave of the wide sea, and the


s: isle Aeaean, where is the dwelling place of early Dawn and


s: her dancing grounds, and the land of sunrising, upon our


s: coming thither we beached the ship in the sand, and


s: ourselves too stept ashore on the sea beach. There we fell


s: on sound sleep and awaited the bright Dawn.


s: 'So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, I


s: sent forth my fellows to the house of Circe to fetch the


s: body of the dead Elpenor. And speedily we cut billets of


s: wood and sadly we buried him, where the furthest headland


s: runs out into the sea, shedding big tears. But when the


s: dead man was burned and the arms of the dead, we piled a


s: barrow and dragged up thereon a pillar, and on the topmost


s: 'Now all that task we finished, and our coming from out of


s: Hades was not unknown to Circe, but she arrayed herself and


s: speedily drew nigh, and her handmaids with her bare flesh


s: and bread in plenty and dark red wine. And the fair goddess


s: stood in the midst and spake in our ears, saying:


s: '"Men overbold, who have gone alive into the house of


s: Hades, to know death twice, while all men else die once for


s: all. Nay come, eat ye meat and drink wine here all day


s: long; and with the breaking of the day ye shall set sail,


s: and myself I will show you the path and declare each thing,


s: that ye may not suffer pain or hurt through any grievous


s: 'So spake she, and our lordly souls consented thereto. Thus


s: for that time we sat the livelong day, until the going down


s: of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and on sweet wine.


s: Now when the sun sank and darkness came on, my company laid


s: them to rest by the hawsers of the ship. Then she took me


s: by the hand and led me apart from my dear company, and made


s: me to sit down and laid herself at my feet, and asked all


s: my tale. And I told her all in order duly. Then at the last


s: '"Even so, now all these things have an end; do thou then


s: hearken even as I tell thee, and the god himself shall


s: bring it back to thy mind. To the Sirens first shalt thou


s: come, who bewitch all men, whosoever shall come to them.


s: Whoso draws nigh them unwittingly and hears the sound of


s: the Sirens' voice, never doth he see wife or babes stand by


s: him on his return, nor have they joy at his coming; but the


s: Sirens enchant him with their clear song, sitting in the


s: meadow, and all about is a great heap of bones of men,


s: corrupt in death, and round the bones the skin is wasting.


s: But do thou drive thy ship past, and knead honey-sweet wax,


s: and anoint therewith the ears of thy company, lest any of


s: the rest hear the song; but if thou myself art minded to


s: hear, let them bind thee in the swift ship hand and foot,


s: upright in the mast-stead, and from the mast let rope-ends


s: be tied, that with delight thou mayest hear the voice of


s: the Sirens. And if thou shalt beseech thy company and bid


s: them to loose thee, then let them bind thee with yet more


s: bonds. But when thy friends have driven thy ship past


s: these, I will not tell thee fully which path shall


s: thenceforth be thine, but do thou thyself consider it, and


s: I will speak to thee of either way. On the one side there


s: are beetling rocks, and against them the great wave roars


s: of dark-eyed Amphitrite. These, ye must know, are they the


s: blessed gods call the Rocks Wandering. By this way even


s: winged things may never pass, nay, not even the cowering


s: doves that bear ambrosia to Father Zeus, but the sheer rock


s: evermore takes away one even of these, and the Father sends


s: in another to make up the tale. Thereby no ship of men ever


s: escapes that comes thither, but the planks of ships and the


s: bodies of men confusedly are tossed by the waves of the sea


s: and the storms of ruinous fire. One ship only of all that


s: fare by sea hath passed that way, even Argo, that is in all


s: men's minds, on her voyage from Aeetes. And even her the


s: wave would lightly have cast there upon the mighty rocks,


s: '"On the other part are two rocks, whereof the one reaches


s: with sharp peak to the wide heaven, and a dark cloud


s: encompasses it; this never streams away, and there is no


s: clear air about the peak neither in summer nor in harvest


s: tide. No mortal man may scale it or set foot thereon, not


s: though he had twenty hands and feet. For the rock is


s: smooth, and sheer, as it were polished. And in the midst of


s: the cliff is a dim cave turned to Erebus, towards the place


s: of darkness, whereby ye shall even steer your hollow ship,


s: noble Odysseus. Not with an arrow from a bow might a man in


s: his strength reach from his hollow ship into that deep


s: cave. And therein dwelleth Scylla, yelping terribly. Her


s: voice indeed is no greater than the voice of a new-born


s: whelp, but a dreadful monster is she, nor would any look on


s: her gladly, not if it were a god that met her. Verily she


s: hath twelve feet all dangling down; and six necks exceeding


s: long, and on each a hideous head, and therein three rows of


s: teeth set thick and close, full of black death. Up to her


s: middle is she sunk far down in the hollow cave, but forth


s: she holds her heads from the dreadful gulf, and there she


s: fishes, swooping round the rock, for dolphins or sea-dogs,


s: or whatso greater beast she may anywhere take, whereof the


s: deep-voiced Amphitrite feeds countless flocks. Thereby no


s: sailors boast that they have fled scatheless ever with


s: their ship, for with each head she carries off a man, whom


s: she hath snatched from out the dark-prowed ship.


s: '"But that other cliff, Odysseus, thou shalt note, lying


s: lower, hard by the first: thou couldest send an arrow


s: across. And thereon is a great fig-tree growing, in fullest


s: leaf, and beneath it mighty Charybdis sucks down black