Odyssey, Book 10: Aeolus and Circe

1Αἰολίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔναιεν

Αἴολος Ἱπποτάδης, φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,

πλωτῇ ἐνὶ νήσῳ· πᾶσαν δέ τέ μιν πέρι τεῖχος

χάλκεον ἄρρηκτον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη.

5τοῦ καὶ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,

ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες·

ἔνθʼ ὅ γε θυγατέρας πόρεν υἱάσιν εἶναι ἀκοίτις.

οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ παρὰ πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητέρι κεδνῇ

δαίνυνται, παρὰ δέ σφιν ὀνείατα μυρία κεῖται,

10κνισῆεν δέ τε δῶμα περιστεναχίζεται αὐλῇ

ἤματα· νύκτας δʼ αὖτε παρʼ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν

εὕδουσʼ ἔν τε τάπησι καὶ ἐν τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι.

καὶ μὲν τῶν ἱκόμεσθα πόλιν καὶ δώματα καλά.

1“We came to the Aeolian island, where there lived

Aeolus son of Hippotas, dear to the deathless gods,

on a floating island. All around it rose a wall

of unbreakable bronze, and a sheer cliff ran upward.

5Twelve children of his had been born in the halls,

six daughters and six sons in the bloom of youth.

He gave his daughters to his sons as wives.

There, always beside their dear father and devoted mother,

they feast, and countless delicacies lie before them.

10By day the fragrant house echoes throughout the court,

and at night they sleep beside their respected wives

on rugs and on close-fitted bedsteads.

We came to their city and beautiful house.

14μῆνα δὲ πάντα φίλει με καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα,

15Ἴλιον Ἀργείων τε νέας καὶ νόστον Ἀχαιῶν·

καὶ μὲν ἐγὼ τῷ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ ἐγὼν ὁδὸν ᾔτεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον

πεμπέμεν, οὐδέ τι κεῖνος ἀνήνατο, τεῦχε δὲ πομπήν.

δῶκε δέ μʼ ἐκδείρας ἀσκὸν βοὸς ἐννεώροιο,

20ἔνθα δὲ βυκτάων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κέλευθα·

κεῖνον γὰρ ταμίην ἀνέμων ποίησε Κρονίων,

ἠμὲν παυέμεναι ἠδʼ ὀρνύμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.

νηὶ δʼ ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇ κατέδει μέρμιθι φαεινῇ

ἀργυρέῃ, ἵνα μή τι παραπνεύσῃ ὀλίγον περ·

25αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πνοιὴν Ζεφύρου προέηκεν ἀῆναι,

ὄφρα φέροι νῆάς τε καὶ αὐτούς· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν

ἐκτελέειν· αὐτῶν γὰρ ἀπωλόμεθʼ ἀφραδίῃσιν.

14For a whole month he treated me as a friend and questioned me about everything—

15Ilium, the Argive ships, and the Achaeans’ return—

and I told him the whole story in due order.

But when I asked him for the road onward and urged him

to send me off, he did not refuse, but prepared an escort.

He flayed a nine-year-old ox and gave me its hide as a bag,

20and in it bound the courses of the blustering winds,

for the son of Cronus had made him keeper of the winds,

to still or stir whichever one he wished.

In the hollow ship he tied it down with a shining cord

of silver, so not even the slightest breath could slip through.

25For me he sent a breath of Zephyr blowing,

to carry the ships and us; but it was not destined

to bring us through, for we were ruined by our own folly.

28ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,

τῇ δεκάτῃ δʼ ἤδη ἀνεφαίνετο πατρὶς ἄρουρα,

30καὶ δὴ πυρπολέοντας ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντες·

ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,

αἰεὶ γὰρ πόδα νηὸς ἐνώμων, οὐδέ τῳ ἄλλῳ

δῶχʼ ἑτάρων, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἱκοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·

οἱ δʼ ἕταροι ἐπέεσσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

35καί μʼ ἔφασαν χρυσόν τε καὶ ἄργυρον οἴκαδʼ ἄγεσθαι

δῶρα παρʼ Αἰόλου μεγαλήτορος Ἱπποτάδαο.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

ὦ πόποι, ὡς ὅδε πᾶσι φίλος καὶ τίμιός ἐστιν

ἀνθρώποις, ὅτεών τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἵκηται.

40πολλὰ μὲν ἐκ Τροίης ἄγεται κειμήλια καλὰ

ληίδος, ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ὁμὴν ὁδὸν ἐκτελέσαντες

οἴκαδε νισσόμεθα κενεὰς σὺν χεῖρας ἔχοντες·

καὶ νῦν οἱ τάδʼ ἔδωκε χαριζόμενος φιλότητι

Αἴολος. ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον ἰδώμεθα ὅττι τάδʼ ἐστίν,

45ὅσσος τις χρυσός τε καὶ ἄργυρος ἀσκῷ ἔνεστιν.

ὣς ἔφασαν, βουλὴ δὲ κακὴ νίκησεν ἑταίρων·

28For nine days alike we sailed by night and day.

On the tenth our native land at last came into view,

30and now, so near, we could see men tending their fires.

Then sweet sleep came over me in my exhaustion,

for I had always handled the ship’s sheet and never gave it

to any companion, so we might reach our native land more quickly.

But my companions began speaking to one another,

35saying I was taking home gold and silver

as gifts from great-hearted Aeolus, son of Hippotas.

One would look at the man beside him and say:

‘Look how this man is loved and honored by everyone,

whatever city and country he comes to.

40He is carrying home many beautiful treasures from Troy

out of the spoil, while we, who have completed the same journey,

are going home with empty hands.

And now Aeolus has given him all this as a favor of friendship.

Come, quickly—let us see what is here,

45how much gold and silver is inside the bag.’

So they spoke, and the companions’ disastrous counsel prevailed.

47ἀσκὸν μὲν λῦσαν, ἄνεμοι δʼ ἐκ πάντες ὄρουσαν.

τοὺς δʼ αἶψʼ ἁρπάξασα φέρεν πόντονδε θύελλα

κλαίοντας, γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος. αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

50ἐγρόμενος κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμήριξα,

ἠὲ πεσὼν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποφθίμην ἐνὶ πόντῳ,

ἦ ἀκέων τλαίην καὶ ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετείην.

ἀλλʼ ἔτλην καὶ ἔμεινα, καλυψάμενος δʼ ἐνὶ νηὶ

κείμην. αἱ δʼ ἐφέροντο κακῇ ἀνέμοιο θυέλλῃ

55αὖτις ἐπʼ Αἰολίην νῆσον, στενάχοντο δʼ ἑταῖροι.

47They untied the bag, and all the winds burst out.

The storm seized us at once and swept us out to sea,

weeping, away from our native land. But I

50woke and debated in my blameless heart

whether to throw myself from the ship and die in the sea,

or endure in silence and remain among the living.

I endured and stayed. Covering myself in the ship,

I lay there, while the vessels were driven by the vicious gale

55back to the Aeolian island, and the companions groaned.

56ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθʼ ὕδωρ,

αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τʼ ἐπασσάμεθʼ ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,

δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼ κήρυκά τʼ ὀπασσάμενος καὶ ἑταῖρον

60βῆν εἰς Αἰόλου κλυτὰ δώματα· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανον

δαινύμενον παρὰ ᾗ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν.

ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δῶμα παρὰ σταθμοῖσιν ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ

ἑζόμεθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο·

πῶς ἦλθες, Ὀδυσεῦ; τίς τοι κακὸς ἔχραε δαίμων;

65ἦ μέν σʼ ἐνδυκέως ἀπεπέμπομεν, ὄφρʼ ἀφίκοιο

πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.

ὣς φάσαν, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετεφώνεον ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·

ἄασάν μʼ ἕταροί τε κακοὶ πρὸς τοῖσί τε ὕπνος

σχέτλιος. ἀλλʼ ἀκέσασθε, φίλοι· δύναμις γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν.

70ὣς ἐφάμην μαλακοῖσι καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν,

οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο· πατὴρ δʼ ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·

ἔρρʼ ἐκ νήσου θᾶσσον, ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων·

οὐ γάρ μοι θέμις ἐστὶ κομιζέμεν οὐδʼ ἀποπέμπειν

ἄνδρα τόν, ὅς κε θεοῖσιν ἀπέχθηται μακάρεσσιν·

75ἔρρε, ἐπεὶ ἄρα θεοῖσιν ἀπεχθόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνεις.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀπέπεμπε δόμων βαρέα στενάχοντα.

56There we went onto the mainland and drew water,

and my companions quickly took their meal beside the swift ships.

When we had tasted food and drink,

I took a herald and one companion with me

60and went to Aeolus’ renowned house. I found him

feasting beside his wife and children.

We entered the house and sat by the doorposts on the threshold.

They were astonished at heart and questioned us:

‘How have you come back, Odysseus? What malignant power assailed you?

65Surely we sent you off with every care, so you would reach

your native land and house, or whatever place is dear to you.’

So they spoke, and I answered with grief in my heart:

‘My worthless companions ruined me, and with them a cruel

sleep. But mend the harm, friends: the power is yours.’

70So I spoke, appealing to them with gentle words.

They fell silent, but their father answered:

‘Leave this island quickly, most contemptible of living men.

It is not right for me to care for or send onward

a man whom the blessed gods detest.

75Leave, since you come here hated by the gods.’

With that he sent me from the house, groaning heavily.

77ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ.

τείρετο δʼ ἀνδρῶν θυμὸς ὑπʼ εἰρεσίης ἀλεγεινῆς

ἡμετέρῃ ματίῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι φαίνετο πομπή.

80ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,

ἑβδομάτῃ δʼ ἱκόμεσθα Λάμου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,

Τηλέπυλον Λαιστρυγονίην, ὅθι ποιμένα ποιμὴν

ἠπύει εἰσελάων, ὁ δέ τʼ ἐξελάων ὑπακούει.

ἔνθα κʼ ἄυπνος ἀνὴρ δοιοὺς ἐξήρατο μισθούς,

85τὸν μὲν βουκολέων, τὸν δʼ ἄργυφα μῆλα νομεύων·

ἐγγὺς γὰρ νυκτός τε καὶ ἤματός εἰσι κέλευθοι.

ἔνθʼ ἐπεὶ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν, ὃν πέρι πέτρη

ἠλίβατος τετύχηκε διαμπερὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν,

ἀκταὶ δὲ προβλῆτες ἐναντίαι ἀλλήλῃσιν

90ἐν στόματι προύχουσιν, ἀραιὴ δʼ εἴσοδός ἐστιν,

ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἴσω πάντες ἔχον νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.

αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔντοσθεν λιμένος κοίλοιο δέδεντο

πλησίαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἀέξετο κῦμά γʼ ἐν αὐτῷ,

οὔτε μέγʼ οὔτʼ ὀλίγον, λευκὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶ γαλήνη·

77From there we sailed onward, sick at heart,

and the men’s spirits were worn down by painful rowing

through our own blind folly, since no escort now appeared.

80For six days alike we sailed by night and day.

On the seventh we reached the steep citadel of Lamus,

Telepylus in Laestrygonian land, where one herdsman

driving his flock in calls, and another driving out answers him.

There a sleepless man could earn two wages,

85one for herding cattle, the other for tending pale sheep,

for the paths of night and day lie close together.

When we came to the famous harbor, sheer rock

enclosed it continuously on both sides,

while projecting headlands faced each other

90at the mouth and made the entrance narrow.

All the others steered their curved ships inside.

There they were moored close together within the hollow harbor,

for no wave ever swelled there,

large or small; clear calm lay all around.

95αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἶος σχέθον ἔξω νῆα μέλαιναν,

αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ, πέτρης ἐκ πείσματα δήσας·

ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών.

ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε βοῶν οὔτʼ ἀνδρῶν φαίνετο ἔργα,

καπνὸν δʼ οἶον ὁρῶμεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀίσσοντα.

100δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,

οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες,

ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχʼ ἅμʼ ὀπάσσας.

οἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκβάντες λείην ὁδόν, ᾗ περ ἄμαξαι

ἄστυδʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων καταγίνεον ὕλην,

105κούρῃ δὲ ξύμβληντο πρὸ ἄστεος ὑδρευούσῃ,

θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο.

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς κρήνην κατεβήσετο καλλιρέεθρον

Ἀρτακίην· ἔνθεν γὰρ ὕδωρ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεσκον·

οἱ δὲ παριστάμενοι προσεφώνεον ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο

110ὅς τις τῶνδʼ εἴη βασιλεὺς καὶ οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι·

ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθον κλυτὰ δώματα, τὴν δὲ γυναῖκα

εὗρον, ὅσην τʼ ὄρεος κορυφήν, κατὰ δʼ ἔστυγον αὐτήν.

ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξ ἀγορῆς ἐκάλει κλυτὸν Ἀντιφατῆα,

115ὃν πόσιν, ὃς δὴ τοῖσιν ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.

αὐτίχʼ ἕνα μάρψας ἑτάρων ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον·

τὼ δὲ δύʼ ἀίξαντε φυγῇ ἐπὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην.

95But I alone held my black ship outside,

there at the harbor’s edge, tying its cables to a rock.

I climbed a rugged lookout and stood there.

No works of cattle or men could be seen,

only smoke that we watched rising from the ground.

100I sent companions ahead to learn

what kind of men lived in that land and ate its bread,

choosing two men and sending a herald as the third.

They disembarked and went along a smooth road where wagons

carried timber down to the city from the high mountains.

105Outside the city they met a girl fetching water,

the strong daughter of Laestrygonian Antiphates.

She was going down to the fair-flowing spring

Artacia, from which they carried water to the city.

They stood beside her, addressed her, and asked

110who was king of this place and over what people he ruled.

She at once pointed out her father’s high-roofed house.

When they entered the renowned halls, they found his wife,

huge as a mountain peak, and loathed the sight of her.

She immediately called from the assembly for renowned Antiphates,

115her husband, who devised a wretched death for them.

He seized one companion at once and made a meal of him.

The other two sprang away and reached the ships in flight.

118αὐτὰρ ὁ τεῦχε βοὴν διὰ ἄστεος· οἱ δʼ ἀίοντες

φοίτων ἴφθιμοι Λαιστρυγόνες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,

120μυρίοι, οὐκ ἄνδρεσσιν ἐοικότες, ἀλλὰ Γίγασιν.

οἵ ῥʼ ἀπὸ πετράων ἀνδραχθέσι χερμαδίοισιν

βάλλον· ἄφαρ δὲ κακὸς κόναβος κατὰ νῆας ὀρώρει

ἀνδρῶν τʼ ὀλλυμένων νηῶν θʼ ἅμα ἀγνυμενάων·

ἰχθῦς δʼ ὣς πείροντες ἀτερπέα δαῖτα φέροντο.

125ὄφρʼ οἱ τοὺς ὄλεκον λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,

τόφρα δʼ ἐγὼ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ

τῷ ἀπὸ πείσματʼ ἔκοψα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο.

αἶψα δʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα

ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵνʼ ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν·

130οἱ δʼ ἅλα πάντες ἀνέρριψαν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον.

ἀσπασίως δʼ ἐς πόντον ἐπηρεφέας φύγε πέτρας

νηῦς ἐμή· αὐτὰρ αἱ ἄλλαι ἀολλέες αὐτόθʼ ὄλοντο.

ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,

ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.

118Antiphates raised a cry through the city, and hearing it,

the powerful Laestrygonians came streaming from every side,

120countless—not like men, but like Giants.

From the cliffs they hurled rocks a man could scarcely lift.

At once a terrible crash rose among the ships—

men dying and vessels splintering together.

They speared the men like fish and carried them off for a joyless feast.

125While they were destroying those inside the deep harbor,

I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh

and cut through the cables of my dark-prowed ship.

At once I urged and ordered my companions

to throw their weight into the oars so we might escape disaster.

130In fear of destruction they all churned up the sea.

Gladly my ship escaped to open water from beneath the overhanging cliffs,

but all the others perished there together.

From there we sailed onward, sick at heart,

glad to be clear of death, but having lost dear companions.

135Αἰαίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔναιε

Κίρκη ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα,

αὐτοκασιγνήτη ὀλοόφρονος Αἰήταο·

ἄμφω δʼ ἐκγεγάτην φαεσιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο

μητρός τʼ ἐκ Πέρσης, τὴν Ὠκεανὸς τέκε παῖδα.

140ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς νηὶ κατηγαγόμεσθα σιωπῇ

ναύλοχον ἐς λιμένα, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν.

ἔνθα τότʼ ἐκβάντες δύο τʼ ἤματα καὶ δύο νύκτας

κείμεθʼ ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,

145καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἐμὸν ἔγχος ἑλὼν καὶ φάσγανον ὀξὺ

καρπαλίμως παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἐς περιωπήν,

εἴ πως ἔργα ἴδοιμι βροτῶν ἐνοπήν τε πυθοίμην.

ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών,

καί μοι ἐείσατο καπνὸς ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης,

150Κίρκης ἐν μεγάροισι, διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.

135We came to the island of Aeaea, where there lived

Circe of the lovely braids, a formidable goddess with a human voice,

own sister of baleful-minded Aeetes.

Both were born of Helios, who gives light to mortals,

and their mother was Perse, a daughter of Ocean.

140There we brought the ship quietly to shore

inside a harbor fit for vessels, and some god guided us.

We disembarked and for two days and two nights

we lay consuming our hearts with exhaustion and pain.

But when lovely-haired Dawn completed the third day,

145I took my spear and sharp sword

and quickly went up from the ship to a lookout,

hoping to see the works of mortals and hear a human voice.

I climbed a rugged lookout and stood there,

and smoke appeared to me from the broad-wayed earth,

150at Circe’s halls beyond thick scrub and woodland.

151μερμήριξα δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

ἐλθεῖν ἠδὲ πυθέσθαι, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἴθοπα καπνόν.

ὧδε δέ μοι φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,

πρῶτʼ ἐλθόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης

155δεῖπνον ἑταίροισιν δόμεναι προέμεν τε πυθέσθαι.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦα κιὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης,

καὶ τότε τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,

ὅς ῥά μοι ὑψίκερων ἔλαφον μέγαν εἰς ὁδὸν αὐτὴν

ἧκεν. ὁ μὲν ποταμόνδε κατήιεν ἐκ νομοῦ ὕλης

160πιόμενος· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔχεν μένος ἠελίοιο.

τὸν δʼ ἐγὼ ἐκβαίνοντα κατʼ ἄκνηστιν μέσα νῶτα

πλῆξα· τὸ δʼ ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε,

κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.

τῷ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐμβαίνων δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς

165εἰρυσάμην· τὸ μὲν αὖθι κατακλίνας ἐπὶ γαίῃ

εἴασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σπασάμην ῥῶπάς τε λύγους τε,

πεῖσμα δʼ, ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιαν, ἐυστρεφὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν

πλεξάμενος συνέδησα πόδας δεινοῖο πελώρου,

βῆν δὲ καταλοφάδεια φέρων ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν

170ἔγχει ἐρειδόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἦεν ἐπʼ ὤμου

χειρὶ φέρειν ἑτέρῃ· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.

κὰδʼ δʼ ἔβαλον προπάροιθε νεός, ἀνέγειρα δʼ ἑταίρους

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πω καταδυσόμεθʼ ἀχνύμενοί περ

175εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους, πρὶν μόρσιμον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθῃ·

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, ὄφρʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε,

μνησόμεθα βρώμης, μηδὲ τρυχώμεθα λιμῷ.

ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο,

ἐκ δὲ καλυψάμενοι παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο

180θηήσαντʼ ἔλαφον· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

χεῖρας νιψάμενοι τεύχοντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.

ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·

185ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,

δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

151Then I debated in mind and spirit

whether to go and inquire, once I had seen the fiery smoke.

As I considered, this seemed the better course:

first to return to the swift ship and the seashore,

155give my companions a meal, and send them out to investigate.

But when on my way I was near the curved ship,

one of the gods took pity on me in my solitude

and sent a huge high-antlered stag straight into my path.

It was coming down to the river from its woodland pasture

160to drink, for the sun’s heat had gripped it.

As it stepped out I struck the middle of its back at the spine,

and the bronze spear passed straight through.

It fell in the dust with a bellow, and its life-force flew away.

Planting my foot on it, I pulled the bronze spear from the wound,

165then laid it there on the ground

while I tore off twigs and supple shoots.

I plaited a well-twisted rope, a fathom long, from both kinds

and bound together the feet of the monstrous beast.

I went carrying it across my neck toward the black ship,

170leaning on my spear, since there was no way

to carry it over one shoulder with one hand—it was a very large animal.

I threw it down before the ship and roused my companions,

standing by each man and speaking gentle words:

‘Friends, grieved though we are, we will not yet go down

175to Hades’ house before the day appointed for us comes.

Come, while there is food and drink in the swift ship,

let us remember eating and not waste away with hunger.’

So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.

They drew their cloaks back from their faces beside the shore of the barren sea

180and gazed at the stag, for it was a very large animal.

When they had taken their fill of looking at it,

they washed their hands and prepared a glorious feast.

So all that day until the sun went down

we sat feasting on boundless meat and sweet wine.

185When the sun went down and darkness came on,

we lay down to sleep along the breaking edge of the sea.

187ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·

κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων, κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι·

190ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ τʼ ἴδμεν, ὅπῃ ζόφος οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἠώς,

οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἠέλιος φαεσίμβροτος εἶσʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν,

οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἀννεῖται· ἀλλὰ φραζώμεθα θᾶσσον

εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔσται μῆτις. ἐγὼ δʼ οὔκ οἴομαι εἶναι.

εἶδον γὰρ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθὼν

195νῆσον, τὴν πέρι πόντος ἀπείριτος ἐστεφάνωται·

αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ κεῖται· καπνὸν δʼ ἐνὶ μέσσῃ

ἔδρακον ὀφθαλμοῖσι διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.

ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ

μνησαμένοις ἔργων Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο

200Κύκλωπός τε βίης μεγαλήτορος, ἀνδροφάγοιο.

κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·

ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίγνετο μυρομένοισιν.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δίχα πάντας ἐυκνήμιδας ἑταίρους

ἠρίθμεον, ἀρχὸν δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὄπασσα·

205τῶν μὲν ἐγὼν ἦρχον, τῶν δʼ Εὐρύλοχος θεοειδής.

κλήρους δʼ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλομεν ὦκα·

ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυλόχοιο.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταῖροι

κλαίοντες· κατὰ δʼ ἄμμε λίπον γοόωντας ὄπισθεν.

187When early-born Dawn appeared, rosy-fingered,

I called an assembly and spoke among them all:

‘Hear my declaration, companions, though you suffer hardships.

190Friends, we do not know where the west lies or where the dawn,

nor where the sun that gives light to mortals goes beneath the earth,

nor where it rises. Let us quickly consider

whether any strategy is left—though I think there is none.

For I climbed a rugged lookout and saw

195an island crowned all around by the boundless sea.

The island itself lies low, and in its center

I saw smoke with my eyes beyond thick scrub and woodland.’

So I spoke, and their hearts broke within them

as they remembered the deeds of Laestrygonian Antiphates

200and the violence of the great-hearted, man-eating Cyclops.

They wept aloud, shedding swelling tears,

but their mourning brought no result.

I counted all my well-greaved companions into two groups

and appointed a leader over each:

205I led one, and godlike Eurylochus the other.

We quickly shook lots in a bronze-cheeked helmet,

and the lot of great-hearted Eurylochus leapt out.

He set off, and with him went twenty-two companions,

weeping, while they left us behind in tears.

210εὗρον δʼ ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα Κίρκης

ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ·

ἀμφὶ δέ μιν λύκοι ἦσαν ὀρέστεροι ἠδὲ λέοντες,

τοὺς αὐτὴ κατέθελξεν, ἐπεὶ κακὰ φάρμακʼ ἔδωκεν.

οὐδʼ οἵ γʼ ὡρμήθησαν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσιν, ἀλλʼ ἄρα τοί γε

215οὐρῇσιν μακρῇσι περισσαίνοντες ἀνέσταν.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα κύνες δαίτηθεν ἰόντα

σαίνωσʼ, αἰεὶ γάρ τε φέρει μειλίγματα θυμοῦ,

ὣς τοὺς ἀμφὶ λύκοι κρατερώνυχες ἠδὲ λέοντες

σαῖνον· τοὶ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἰνὰ πέλωρα.

220ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο,

Κίρκης δʼ ἔνδον ἄκουον ἀειδούσης ὀπὶ καλῇ,

ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένης μέγαν ἄμβροτον, οἷα θεάων

λεπτά τε καὶ χαρίεντα καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα πέλονται.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Πολίτης ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,

225ὅς μοι κήδιστος ἑτάρων ἦν κεδνότατός τε·

ὦ φίλοι, ἔνδον γάρ τις ἐποιχομένη μέγαν ἱστὸν

καλὸν ἀοιδιάει, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν ἀμφιμέμυκεν,

ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· ἀλλὰ φθεγγώμεθα θᾶσσον.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τοὶ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.

230ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς

καὶ κάλει· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀιδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·

Εὐρύλοχος δʼ ὑπέμεινεν, ὀισάμενος δόλον εἶναι.

210In the wooded glens they found Circe’s house, built

of dressed stone in a place visible all around.

About her were mountain wolves and lions,

which she had bewitched by giving them harmful drugs.

They did not charge the men, but rose

215fawning around them with their long tails.

As dogs fawn about their master when he comes from a feast,

because he always brings treats to please their hearts,

so the strong-clawed wolves and lions fawned about them.

The men were terrified when they saw the dreadful beasts.

220They stood in the forecourt of the lovely-haired goddess

and heard Circe inside, singing in a beautiful voice

as she worked at a great immortal web—work such as goddesses make,

fine, graceful, and radiant.

Polites, leader of men, began speaking among them,

225the companion dearest and most trustworthy to me:

‘Friends, someone inside works at a great web

and sings beautifully—the whole floor echoes around her—

whether goddess or woman. Come, let us call to her at once.’

So he spoke, and they raised their voices and called.

230She came out at once, opened the shining doors,

and invited them in. In their ignorance they all followed together,

but Eurylochus stayed behind, suspecting a trap.

233εἷσεν δʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,

ἐν δέ σφιν τυρόν τε καὶ ἄλφιτα καὶ μέλι χλωρὸν

235οἴνῳ Πραμνείῳ ἐκύκα· ἀνέμισγε δὲ σίτῳ

φάρμακα λύγρʼ, ἵνα πάγχυ λαθοίατο πατρίδος αἴης.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα

ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα κατὰ συφεοῖσιν ἐέργνυ.

οἱ δὲ συῶν μὲν ἔχον κεφαλὰς φωνήν τε τρίχας τε

240καὶ δέμας, αὐτὰρ νοῦς ἦν ἔμπεδος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.

ὣς οἱ μὲν κλαίοντες ἐέρχατο, τοῖσι δὲ Κίρκη

πάρ ῥʼ ἄκυλον βάλανόν τε βάλεν καρπόν τε κρανείης

ἔδμεναι, οἷα σύες χαμαιευνάδες αἰὲν ἔδουσιν.

Εὐρύλοχος δʼ αἶψʼ ἦλθε θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν

245ἀγγελίην ἑτάρων ἐρέων καὶ ἀδευκέα πότμον.

οὐδέ τι ἐκφάσθαι δύνατο ἔπος ἱέμενός περ,

κῆρ ἄχεϊ μεγάλῳ βεβολημένος· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε

δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠίετο θυμός.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν πάντες ἀγασσάμεθʼ ἐξερέοντες,

250καὶ τότε τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατέλεξεν ὄλεθρον·

233She brought them in and seated them on chairs and thrones.

For them she mixed cheese, barley meal, and pale honey

235into Pramnian wine, then blended into the food

ruinous drugs, so they would utterly forget their native land.

When she had given it to them and they had drunk,

she struck them with her wand and penned them in the pigsties.

They had pigs’ heads, voices, bristles,

240and bodies, but their minds remained as they had been before.

So they were penned there weeping, while Circe threw them

acorns, oak mast, and cornel fruit to eat,

the food that pigs sleeping on the ground always eat.

Eurylochus quickly returned to the swift black ship

245to report the companions’ news and their cruel fate.

He could not form a word, though he longed to,

his heart struck by great anguish. His eyes

filled with tears, and his spirit could think only of lament.

But when all of us had questioned him in amazement,

250he told the fate of our other companions:

251ἤιομεν, ὡς ἐκέλευες, ἀνὰ δρυμά, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ·

εὕρομεν ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα καλὰ

ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ.

ἔνθα δέ τις μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη λίγʼ ἄειδεν,

255ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· τοὶ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.

ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς

καὶ κάλει· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀιδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑπέμεινα, ὀισάμενος δόλον εἶναι.

οἱ δʼ ἅμʼ ἀιστώθησαν ἀολλέες, οὐδέ τις αὐτῶν

260ἐξεφάνη· δηρὸν δὲ καθήμενος ἐσκοπίαζον.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ περὶ μὲν ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

ὤμοιιν βαλόμην, μέγα χάλκεον, ἀμφὶ δὲ τόξα·

τὸν δʼ ἂψ ἠνώγεα αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἡγήσασθαι.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι λαβὼν ἐλλίσσετο γούνων

265καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

μή μʼ ἄγε κεῖσʼ ἀέκοντα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ.

οἶδα γάρ, ὡς οὔτʼ αὐτὸς ἐλεύσεαι οὔτε τινʼ ἄλλον

ἄξεις σῶν ἑτάρων. ἀλλὰ ξὺν τοίσδεσι θᾶσσον

φεύγωμεν· ἔτι γάρ κεν ἀλύξαιμεν κακὸν ἦμαρ.

270ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

Εὐρύλοχʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν σὺ μένʼ αὐτοῦ τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ

ἔσθων καὶ πίνων κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εἶμι, κρατερὴ δέ μοι ἔπλετʼ ἀνάγκη.

ὣς εἰπὼν παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.

251‘We went through the scrub as you ordered, glorious Odysseus,

and in the wooded glens found a beautiful house built

of dressed stone in a place visible all around.

There someone worked at a great web and sang clearly,

255whether goddess or woman, and the men called to her.

She came out at once, opened the shining doors,

and invited them in. In their ignorance they all followed together,

but I stayed behind, suspecting a trap.

They vanished all together, and not one of them

260appeared again, though I sat watching for a long time.’

So he spoke. I slung my great bronze sword, studded with silver,

over my shoulders, and my bow around them too,

and ordered him to guide me back by the same road.

But he grasped both my knees with both hands and begged me,

265and in lament addressed me with winged words:

‘Do not take me there against my will, Zeus-nurtured man—leave me here.

I know that you will not return yourself, nor bring

any other of your companions back. Come, let us quickly

escape with these men, for we might still avoid the evil day.’

270So he spoke, and I answered him:

‘Eurylochus, you may stay here in this place,

eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship,

but I will go. A powerful necessity lies upon me.’

With that I went up from the ship and the sea.

275ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας

Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα,

ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν

ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα, νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς,

πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ, τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη·

280ἔν τʼ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

πῇ δὴ αὖτʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, διʼ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος,

χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδʼ ἐνὶ Κίρκης

ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες.

ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρʼ ἔρχεαι; οὐδέ σέ φημι

285αὐτὸν νοστήσειν, μενέεις δὲ σύ γʼ, ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω.

τῆ, τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης

ἔρχευ, ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ.

πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης.

290τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ, βαλέει δʼ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ.

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει

φάρμακον ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι δώσω, ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα.

ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σʼ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ,

δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ

295Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι, ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.

ἡ δέ σʼ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι·

ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν,

ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θʼ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ·

ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι,

300μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο,

μή σʼ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης

ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας, καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε.

ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε, γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος·

305μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ τʼ ὀρύσσειν

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται.

275But when, walking through the sacred glens, I was about

to reach the great house of Circe, mistress of many drugs,

Hermes of the golden wand met me

as I approached the house, looking like a young man

whose beard has just begun, at the loveliest bloom of youth.

280He took my hand, spoke, and addressed me by name:

‘Where are you going again, poor man, alone through the heights,

knowing nothing of the country? Your companions here in Circe’s house

are penned like pigs in the close-built corners of their sties.

Have you come to free them? I tell you that you yourself

285will not return, but remain where the others are.

Come: I will release you from harm and save you.

Here—take this protective drug and go into Circe’s house;

it will ward the evil day away from your head.

I will tell you all of Circe’s deadly arts.

290She will prepare you a drink and put drugs in the food,

but even so she will not be able to bewitch you, for the powerful

drug I give you will not allow it. I will tell you every step.

When Circe strikes you with her long wand,

then draw the sharp sword from beside your thigh

295and rush at Circe as if intent on killing her.

In fear she will invite you to share her bed.

Then do not refuse the goddess’s bed,

so that she may free your companions and care for you,

but command her to swear the gods’ great oath

300that she will devise no further evil harm against you,

so she does not strip you naked and rob you of courage and manhood.’

With these words the Slayer of Argus gave me the drug,

pulling it from the earth, and showed me its nature.

Its root was black, but its flower resembled milk.

305Moly is the name the gods give it; mortal men find it hard

to dig from the ground, though gods have power over everything.

307Ἑρμείας μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον

νῆσον ἀνʼ ὑλήεσσαν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς δώματα Κίρκης

ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.

310ἔστην δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο·

ἔνθα στὰς ἐβόησα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς.

ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς

καὶ κάλει· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.

εἷσε δέ μʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου

315καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·

τεῦχε δέ μοι κυκεῶ χρυσέῳ δέπαι, ὄφρα πίοιμι,

ἐν δέ τε φάρμακον ἧκε, κακὰ φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, οὐδέ μʼ ἔθελξε,

ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

320ἔρχεο νῦν συφεόνδε, μετʼ ἄλλων λέξο ἑταίρων.

ὣς φάτʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ

Κίρκῃ ἐπήιξα ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.

ἡ δὲ μέγα ἰάχουσα ὑπέδραμε καὶ λάβε γούνων,

καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

325τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

θαῦμά μʼ ἔχει ὡς οὔ τι πιὼν τάδε φάρμακʼ ἐθέλχθης·

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος ἀνὴρ τάδε φάρμακʼ ἀνέτλη,

ὅς κε πίῃ καὶ πρῶτον ἀμείψεται ἕρκος ὀδόντων.

σοὶ δέ τις ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀκήλητος νόος ἐστίν.

330ἦ σύ γʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι πολύτροπος, ὅν τέ μοι αἰεὶ

φάσκεν ἐλεύσεσθαι χρυσόρραπις ἀργεϊφόντης,

ἐκ Τροίης ἀνιόντα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ κολεῷ μὲν ἄορ θέο, νῶι δʼ ἔπειτα

εὐνῆς ἡμετέρης ἐπιβείομεν, ὄφρα μιγέντε

335εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι πεποίθομεν ἀλλήλοισιν.

307Then Hermes went away toward high Olympus

across the wooded island, while I went to Circe’s house,

and as I walked my heart churned within me.

310I stood at the doors of the lovely-haired goddess.

There at the doorway I called, and the goddess heard my call.

She came outside at once and threw open the shining doors,

and invited me in. I followed, sick at heart.

She brought me inside and seated me on a silver-studded chair,

315beautiful and skillfully made, with a footstool beneath my feet.

She prepared a drink for me in a golden cup,

and put a drug in it, plotting evil in her heart.

But when she gave it to me and I drank, she did not bewitch me.

she struck me with her wand and addressed me:

320‘Go now to the pigsty and lie down among your other companions.’

So she spoke, but I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh

and rushed at Circe as if intent on killing her.

She gave a great cry, ran beneath my blade, and clasped my knees,

and in lament addressed me with winged words:

325‘Who are you among men, and where from? What is your city, and who are your parents?

I am amazed that these drugs did not bewitch you when you drank them.

No other man has ever withstood these drugs,

once he drank and they first passed the barrier of his teeth.

There is a mind in your breast that cannot be enchanted.

330You must be Odysseus, the man of many turns, whose coming

the golden-wanded Slayer of Argus always foretold to me,

on his way back from Troy in a swift black ship.

Come, put your sword in its sheath, and then let the two of us

mount my bed, so that after joining

335in bed and love we may trust each other.’

336ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

ὦ Κίρκη, πῶς γάρ με κέλεαι σοὶ ἤπιον εἶναι,

ἥ μοι σῦς μὲν ἔθηκας ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑταίρους,

αὐτὸν δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔχουσα δολοφρονέουσα κελεύεις

340ἐς θάλαμόν τʼ ἰέναι καὶ σῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,

ὄφρα με γυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃς.

οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγώ γʼ ἐθέλοιμι τεῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,

εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι

μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.

345ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀπώμνυεν, ὡς ἐκέλευον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,

καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπέβην περικαλλέος εὐνῆς.

336Her speech ended; I gave her this answer:

‘Circe, how can you ask me to be gentle with you,

when here in your halls you turned my companions into pigs,

and now you keep me here, plotting deceit, and tell me

340to enter your chamber and mount your bed,

so that when I am naked you may leave me weak and unmanned?

I would not be willing to mount your bed,

unless you dared, goddess, to swear a binding oath

that you are not plotting some further harm against me.’

345So I spoke, and at once she swore as I commanded.

After she had sworn and made the oath complete,

then I mounted Circe’s magnificent bed.

348ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἄρα τέως μὲν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο

τέσσαρες, αἵ οἱ δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασι·

350γίγνονται δʼ ἄρα ταί γʼ ἔκ τε κρηνέων ἀπό τʼ ἀλσέων

ἔκ θʼ ἱερῶν ποταμῶν, οἵ τʼ εἰς ἅλαδε προρέουσι.

τάων ἡ μὲν ἔβαλλε θρόνοις ἔνι ῥήγεα καλὰ

πορφύρεα καθύπερθʼ, ὑπένερθε δὲ λῖθʼ ὑπέβαλλεν·

ἡ δʼ ἑτέρη προπάροιθε θρόνων ἐτίταινε τραπέζας

355ἀργυρέας, ἐπὶ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κάνεια·

ἡ δὲ τρίτη κρητῆρι μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα

ἡδὺν ἐν ἀργυρέῳ, νέμε δὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·

ἡ δὲ τετάρτη ὕδωρ ἐφόρει καὶ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε

πολλὸν ὑπὸ τρίποδι μεγάλῳ· ἰαίνετο δʼ ὕδωρ.

360αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ ζέσσεν ὕδωρ ἐνὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ,

ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον ἕσασα λόʼ ἐκ τρίποδος μεγάλοιο,

θυμῆρες κεράσασα, κατὰ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,

ὄφρα μοι ἐκ κάματον θυμοφθόρον εἵλετο γυίων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,

365ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,

εἷσε δέ μʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου

καλοῦ δαιδαλέου, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·

χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

370νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,

εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.

ἐσθέμεναι δʼ ἐκέλευεν· ἐμῷ δʼ οὐχ ἥνδανε θυμῷ,

ἀλλʼ ἥμην ἀλλοφρονέων, κακὰ δʼ ὄσσετο θυμός.

375Κίρκη δʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἔμʼ ἥμενον οὐδʼ ἐπὶ σίτῳ

χεῖρας ἰάλλοντα, κρατερὸν δέ με πένθος ἔχοντα,

ἄγχι παρισταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

τίφθʼ οὕτως, Ὀδυσεῦ, κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζεαι ἶσος ἀναύδῳ,

θυμὸν ἔδων, βρώμης δʼ οὐχ ἅπτεαι οὐδὲ ποτῆτος;

380ἦ τινά που δόλον ἄλλον ὀίεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

δειδίμεν· ἤδη γάρ τοι ἀπώμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον.

348Meanwhile four attendants were working in the halls,

the servants who tend her house.

350They were born from springs, from groves,

and from sacred rivers that flow onward to the sea.

One of them spread beautiful coverings over the chairs,

purple above, with linen cloths beneath.

Another drew silver tables before the chairs

355and placed golden baskets on them.

The third mixed sweet, honeyed wine

in a silver bowl and distributed golden cups.

The fourth carried water and kindled a great fire

beneath a large tripod, and the water grew warm.

360When the water boiled in the gleaming bronze,

she seated me in a bath and washed me with water from the great tripod,

tempering it to please the spirit and pouring it over my head and shoulders,

until she drew the spirit-consuming weariness from my limbs.

When she had washed me and rubbed me richly with oil,

365she put a fine cloak and tunic around me,

then brought me inside and seated me on a silver-studded chair,

beautiful and skillfully made, with a footstool beneath my feet.

An attendant brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher

and poured it over my hands above a silver basin

370for me to wash, then drew a polished table beside me.

The respected housekeeper brought and set out bread,

adding many dishes and giving freely of what was at hand.

Circe urged me to eat, but it did not please my spirit.

I sat with my thoughts elsewhere, and my spirit foreboded evil.

375When Circe saw me sitting there, not reaching

my hands toward the food, but gripped by stern grief,

she stood close and addressed me with winged words:

‘Why do you sit there like a voiceless man, Odysseus,

eating your own heart, and touch neither food nor drink?

380Do you perhaps suspect another trap? You have no need

to fear, for I have already sworn you a binding oath.’

382ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

ὦ Κίρκη, τίς γάρ κεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη,

πρὶν τλαίη πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,

385πρὶν λύσασθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι;

ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ πρόφρασσα πιεῖν φαγέμεν τε κελεύεις,

λῦσον, ἵνʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.

ὣς ἐφάμην, Κίρκη δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει

ῥάβδον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρί, θύρας δʼ ἀνέῳξε συφειοῦ,

390ἐκ δʼ ἔλασεν σιάλοισιν ἐοικότας ἐννεώροισιν.

οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔστησαν ἐναντίοι, ἡ δὲ διʼ αὐτῶν

ἐρχομένη προσάλειφεν ἑκάστῳ φάρμακον ἄλλο.

τῶν δʼ ἐκ μὲν μελέων τρίχες ἔρρεον, ἃς πρὶν ἔφυσε

φάρμακον οὐλόμενον, τό σφιν πόρε πότνια Κίρκη·

395ἄνδρες δʼ ἂψ ἐγένοντο νεώτεροι ἢ πάρος ἦσαν,

καὶ πολὺ καλλίονες καὶ μείζονες εἰσοράασθαι.

ἔγνωσαν δέ μʼ ἐκεῖνοι ἔφυν τʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἕκαστος.

πᾶσιν δʼ ἱμερόεις ὑπέδυ γόος, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμα

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε· θεὰ δʼ ἐλέαιρε καὶ αὐτή.

400ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

ἔρχεο νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.

νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσατε ἤπειρόνδε,

κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσατε ὅπλα τε πάντα·

405αὐτὸς δʼ ἂψ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.

382So she spoke, and I answered her:

‘Circe, what man who respects what is right would dare

to taste food or drink before

385freeing his companions and seeing them before his eyes?

If you sincerely tell me to eat and drink,

free them, so I may see my loyal companions with my own eyes.’

So I spoke, and Circe went through the hall,

wand in hand, opened the pigsty’s doors,

390and drove them out looking like nine-year-old hogs.

They stood facing her, and she passed among them,

smearing each one with another drug.

The bristles shed from their limbs, which the destructive

drug that queenly Circe had given them had made grow.

395They became men again, younger than before,

far more handsome and taller to look upon.

They recognized me, and each one clung to my hands.

A longing for lament came over them all, and the house

rang terribly around us; even the goddess herself felt pity.

400The radiant goddess stood close beside me and said:

‘Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

go now to your swift ship and the seashore.

First of all, drag your ship onto the land,

and place your goods and all your gear in caves.

405Then come back yourself and bring your loyal companions.’

406ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,

βῆν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.

εὗρον ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νηὶ θοῇ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους

οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένους, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντας.

410ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἄγραυλοι πόριες περὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,

ἐλθούσας ἐς κόπρον, ἐπὴν βοτάνης κορέσωνται,

πᾶσαι ἅμα σκαίρουσιν ἐναντίαι· οὐδʼ ἔτι σηκοὶ

ἴσχουσʼ, ἀλλʼ ἁδινὸν μυκώμεναι ἀμφιθέουσι·

μητέρας· ὣς ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνοι ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,

415δακρυόεντες ἔχυντο· δόκησε δʼ ἄρα σφίσι θυμὸς

ὣς ἔμεν, ὡς εἰ πατρίδʼ ἱκοίατο καὶ πόλιν αὐτὴν

τρηχείης Ἰθάκης, ἵνα τʼ ἔτραφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο.

καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

σοὶ μὲν νοστήσαντι, διοτρεφές, ὣς ἐχάρημεν,

420ὡς εἴ τʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·

ἀλλʼ ἄγε, τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατάλεξον ὄλεθρον.

ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προσέφην μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι·

νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσομεν ἤπειρόνδε,

κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσομεν ὅπλα τε πάντα·

425αὐτοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνεσθε ἐμοὶ ἅμα πάντες ἕπεσθαι,

ὄφρα ἴδηθʼ ἑτάρους ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης

πίνοντας καὶ ἔδοντας· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχουσιν.

ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο.

Εὐρύλοχος δέ μοι οἶος ἐρύκανε πάντας ἑταίρους·

430καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἆ δειλοί, πόσʼ ἴμεν; τί κακῶν ἱμείρετε τούτων;

Κίρκης ἐς μέγαρον καταβήμεναι, ἥ κεν ἅπαντας

ἢ σῦς ἠὲ λύκους ποιήσεται ἠὲ λέοντας,

οἵ κέν οἱ μέγα δῶμα φυλάσσοιμεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,

435ὥς περ Κύκλωψ ἔρξʼ, ὅτε οἱ μέσσαυλον ἵκοντο

ἡμέτεροι ἕταροι, σὺν δʼ ὁ θρασὺς εἵπετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·

τούτου γὰρ καὶ κεῖνοι ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε μετὰ φρεσὶ μερμήριξα,

σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ,

440τῷ οἱ ἀποπλήξας κεφαλὴν οὖδάσδε πελάσσαι,

καὶ πηῷ περ ἐόντι μάλα σχεδόν· ἀλλά μʼ ἑταῖροι

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·

διογενές, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,

αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι·

445ἡμῖν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς δώματα Κίρκης.

ὣς φάμενοι παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.

οὐδὲ μὲν Εὐρύλοχος κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ λέλειπτο,

ἀλλʼ ἕπετʼ· ἔδεισεν γὰρ ἐμὴν ἔκπαγλον ἐνιπήν.

406So she spoke, and my proud heart was persuaded.

I went to the swift ship and the seashore,

and there beside the swift ship I found my loyal companions

lamenting pitifully and shedding swelling tears.

410As country-bred calves crowd around the herd-cows

when the cows return to the yard, sated with pasture,

all at once the calves frisk to meet them; the pens

no longer hold them, but bellowing loudly they run around

their mothers—so when those men saw me with their eyes,

415they streamed around me in tears. To their spirits it seemed

just as if they had reached their native land and the city itself

of rugged Ithaca, where they were born and raised.

In their lament they addressed me with winged words:

‘We rejoiced at your return, Zeus-nurtured man,

420as much as if we had reached Ithaca, our native land.

But come, tell us the destruction of our other companions.’

So they spoke, and I answered with gentle words:

‘First of all, let us drag the ship onto the land,

and place our goods and all our gear in caves.

425Then rouse yourselves, all of you, to follow me,

so you may see your companions in Circe’s sacred house

eating and drinking, for they have an endless supply.’

So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.

Eurylochus alone tried to hold all my companions back.

430He raised his voice and addressed them with winged words:

‘Poor wretches, where are we going? Why do you desire these evils,

going down to Circe’s great house? She will make us all

pigs, or wolves, or lions,

and force us to guard her great house—

435just as the Cyclops did when our companions entered his fold,

when bold Odysseus went with them.

Through this man’s recklessness those men too were destroyed.’

So he spoke, and I debated in my mind,

drawing the long-edged sword from beside my strong thigh,

440whether to strike off his head and bring it to the ground,

though he was closely related to me by marriage. But my companions

restrained me from every side with gentle words:

‘Zeus-born man, if you command it, we will let him

stay here beside the ship and guard the vessel.

445But lead us toward Circe’s sacred house.’

After speaking, they climbed inland from the ship and shore.

Even Eurylochus did not remain behind by the hollow vessel.

He followed, for he feared my terrible rebuke.

449τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους ἑτάρους ἐν δώμασι Κίρκη

450ἐνδυκέως λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνας·

δαινυμένους δʼ ἐὺ πάντας ἐφεύρομεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους εἶδον φράσσαντό τʼ ἐσάντα,

κλαῖον ὀδυρόμενοι, περὶ δὲ στεναχίζετο δῶμα.

455ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·

μηκέτι νῦν θαλερὸν γόον ὄρνυτε· οἶδα καὶ αὐτὴ

ἠμὲν ὅσʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθετʼ ἄλγεα ἰχθυόεντι,

ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου.

460ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον,

εἰς ὅ κεν αὖτις θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι λάβητε,

οἷον ὅτε πρώτιστον ἐλείπετε πατρίδα γαῖαν

τρηχείης Ἰθάκης. νῦν δʼ ἀσκελέες καὶ ἄθυμοι,

αἰὲν ἄλης χαλεπῆς μεμνημένοι, οὐδέ ποθʼ ὕμιν

465θυμὸς ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ πέποσθε.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

449Meanwhile Circe had carefully washed the other companions in her house

450and rubbed them richly with oil,

put woolen cloaks and tunics around them,

and we found them all feasting well in the halls.

When the two groups saw and recognized one another in their true forms,

they wept and mourned, and the house groaned around them.

455The radiant goddess stood close beside me and said:

‘Raise no more this swelling lament. I myself know

both how many pains you suffered on the fish-filled sea

and how hostile men ravaged you on land.

460Come now, eat food and drink wine,

until you recover in your breasts the spirit

you had when you first left your native soil

of rugged Ithaca. Now you are gaunt and dispirited,

always remembering your grievous wandering; your spirits

465have never known gladness, since you have suffered so much.’

So she spoke, and once more our proud hearts were persuaded.

467ἔνθα μὲν ἤματα πάντα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν

ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐνιαυτὸς ἔην, περὶ δʼ ἔτραπον ὧραι

470μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα μακρὰ τελέσθη,

καὶ τότε μʼ ἐκκαλέσαντες ἔφαν ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·

δαιμόνιʼ, ἤδη νῦν μιμνήσκεο πατρίδος αἴης,

εἴ τοι θέσφατόν ἐστι σαωθῆναι καὶ ἱκέσθαι

οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

475ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

ἥμεθα, δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·

ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,

οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.

480αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπιβὰς περικαλλέος εὐνῆς

γούνων ἐλλιτάνευσα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς·

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

ὢ Κίρκη, τέλεσόν μοι ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέστης,

οἴκαδε πεμψέμεναι· θυμὸς δέ μοι ἔσσυται ἤδη,

485ἠδʼ ἄλλων ἑτάρων, οἵ μευ φθινύθουσι φίλον κῆρ

ἀμφʼ ἔμʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ὅτε που σύ γε νόσφι γένηαι.

467There for all the days of a completed year

we sat feasting on boundless meat and sweet wine.

But when the year had passed and the seasons turned,

470as the months waned and the long days came around,

my loyal companions called me aside and said:

‘Strange man, remember your native land now,

if it is divinely ordained that you return alive and reach

your high-roofed house and your native land.’

475So they spoke, and my proud heart was persuaded.

So all that day until the sun went down

we sat feasting on boundless meat and sweet wine.

When the sun went down and darkness came on,

the others lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.

480But I mounted Circe’s magnificent bed

and supplicated her by her knees. The goddess heard my voice,

and I addressed her with winged words:

‘Circe, fulfill the promise you made me,

to send me home. My spirit is eager now,

485as are my other companions, who wear away my dear heart

lamenting around me whenever you are away.’

487ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

μηκέτι νῦν ἀέκοντες ἐμῷ ἐνὶ μίμνετε οἴκῳ.

490ἀλλʼ ἄλλην χρὴ πρῶτον ὁδὸν τελέσαι καὶ ἱκέσθαι

εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης,

ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,

μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, τοῦ τε φρένες ἔμπεδοί εἰσι·

τῷ καὶ τεθνηῶτι νόον πόρε Περσεφόνεια,

495οἴῳ πεπνῦσθαι, τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀίσσουσιν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ·

κλαῖον δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ

ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενος τʼ ἐκορέσθην,

500καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

ὢ Κίρκη, τίς γὰρ ταύτην ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσει;

εἰς Ἄϊδος δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἀφίκετο νηὶ μελαίνῃ.

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

505μή τί τοι ἡγεμόνος γε ποθὴ παρὰ νηὶ μελέσθω,

ἱστὸν δὲ στήσας, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πετάσσας

ἧσθαι· τὴν δέ κέ τοι πνοιὴ Βορέαο φέρῃσιν.

487So I spoke, and the radiant goddess answered at once:

‘Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

do not remain unwilling any longer in my house.

490But first you must complete another journey and reach

the house of Hades and dread Persephone,

to consult the shade of Theban Tiresias,

the blind seer whose understanding remains firm.

To him alone, even in death, Persephone granted a mind,

495so he alone has understanding; the others flit as shadows.’

So she spoke, and my dear heart broke within me.

I sat upon the bed and wept, and my heart

no longer wished to live and see the sunlight.

But when I had taken my fill of weeping and rolling about,

500then I answered her with these words:

‘Circe, who will guide us on this journey?

No one has ever reached Hades in a black ship.’

So I spoke, and the radiant goddess answered at once:

‘Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

505let no need for a guide beside your ship trouble you.

Raise the mast, spread the white sails,

and sit; the breath of Boreas will carry her.

508ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν δὴ νηὶ διʼ Ὠκεανοῖο περήσῃς,

ἔνθʼ ἀκτή τε λάχεια καὶ ἄλσεα Περσεφονείης,

510μακραί τʼ αἴγειροι καὶ ἰτέαι ὠλεσίκαρποι,

νῆα μὲν αὐτοῦ κέλσαι ἐπʼ Ὠκεανῷ βαθυδίνῃ,

αὐτὸς δʼ εἰς Ἀίδεω ἰέναι δόμον εὐρώεντα.

ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα Πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσιν

Κώκυτός θʼ, ὃς δὴ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ,

515πέτρη τε ξύνεσίς τε δύω ποταμῶν ἐριδούπων·

ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειθʼ, ἥρως, χριμφθεὶς πέλας, ὥς σε κελεύω,

βόθρον ὀρύξαι, ὅσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεῖσθαι πᾶσιν νεκύεσσιν,

πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,

520τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ παλύνειν.

πολλὰ δὲ γουνοῦσθαι νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,

ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,

ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,

Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ

525παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ὑμετέροισιν.

508But when your ship has crossed the stream of Ocean,

there is a low shore and the groves of Persephone,

510tall poplars and willows that shed their fruit.

Beach your ship there beside deep-eddying Ocean,

and go yourself to the dank house of Hades.

There Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus flow into Acheron—

Cocytus, a branch of the water of Styx—

515and there are a rock and the meeting of two roaring rivers.

Draw near that place, hero, just as I tell you,

and dig a pit a cubit long and a cubit wide.

Around it pour a libation for all the dead,

first with honey mixed in milk, then with sweet wine,

520and third with water; sprinkle white barley meal over it.

Entreat the powerless heads of the dead again and again,

promising that when you reach Ithaca you will sacrifice in your halls

the best barren cow you have and heap the sacrificial fire with good things,

and for Tiresias alone you will separately sacrifice

525an entirely black ram, the finest in your flocks.

526αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν εὐχῇσι λίσῃ κλυτὰ ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,

ἔνθʼ ὄιν ἀρνειὸν ῥέζειν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν

εἰς Ἔρεβος στρέψας, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι

ἱέμενος ποταμοῖο ῥοάων· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ

530ψυχαὶ ἐλεύσονται νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.

δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρῦναι καὶ ἀνῶξαι

μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατάκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,

δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,

ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀίδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·

535αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ

ἧσθαι, μηδὲ ἐᾶν νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα

αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.

ἔνθα τοι αὐτίκα μάντις ἐλεύσεται, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου

540νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.

526When you have entreated the glorious hosts of the dead with prayers,

sacrifice a ram and a black ewe there,

turning them toward Erebus, while you turn away

toward the streams of the river. Then many

530shades of the dead who have passed away will come.

At once urge and command your companions

to flay the sheep lying there, slaughtered by pitiless bronze,

burn them, and pray to the gods,

to mighty Hades and dread Persephone.

535Draw the sharp sword from beside your thigh

and sit there; do not let the powerless heads of the dead

come near the blood before you have questioned Tiresias.

The seer will come to you at once, leader of armies,

and tell you your road and the measures of the journey,

540and your homecoming—how you will cross the fish-filled sea.’

541ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.

ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν·

αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,

λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖ

545καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐπέθηκε καλύπτρην.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ δώματʼ ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

μηκέτι νῦν εὕδοντες ἀωτεῖτε γλυκὺν ὕπνον,

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· δὴ γάρ μοι ἐπέφραδε πότνια Κίρκη.

550ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

541So she spoke, and at once Dawn came, enthroned in gold.

Circe dressed me in a cloak and tunic,

while the nymph herself put on a great silver-white robe,

fine and graceful, and fastened a beautiful golden belt

545around her waist and set a veil upon her head.

I went through the house, rousing my companions,

standing by each man and speaking gentle words:

‘Do not lie here any longer sleeping your sweet sleep.

Let us go, for queenly Circe has shown me the way.’

550So I spoke, and their proud hearts were persuaded.

551οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδʼ ἔνθεν περ ἀπήμονας ἦγον ἑταίρους.

Ἐλπήνωρ δέ τις ἔσκε νεώτατος, οὔτε τι λίην

ἄλκιμος ἐν πολέμῳ οὔτε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀρηρώς·

ὅς μοι ἄνευθʼ ἑτάρων ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης,

555ψύχεος ἱμείρων, κατελέξατο οἰνοβαρείων.

κινυμένων δʼ ἑτάρων ὅμαδον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκούσας

ἐξαπίνης ἀνόρουσε καὶ ἐκλάθετο φρεσὶν ᾗσιν

ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,

ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσεν· ἐκ δέ οἱ αὐχὴν

560ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθεν.

551Yet not even from there did I lead my companions away unscathed.

There was one man, Elpenor, the youngest, neither especially

brave in war nor secure in his own understanding.

Apart from his companions in Circe’s sacred house,

555wanting cool air, he had lain down heavy with wine.

Hearing the movement and noise of the companions,

he sprang up suddenly and forgot in his mind

to turn back and go down by the long ladder.

Instead he fell straight from the roof. His neck

560broke at the vertebrae, and his shade went down to Hades.

561ἐρχομένοισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον·

φάσθε νύ που οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

ἔρχεσθʼ· ἄλλην δʼ ἧμιν ὁδὸν τεκμήρατο Κίρκη,

εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης

565ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο.

ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,

ἑζόμενοι δὲ κατʼ αὖθι γόων τίλλοντό τε χαίτας·

ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίγνετο μυρομένοισιν.

561As the men approached, I spoke among them:

‘You thought, I suppose, that you were going home to your beloved native land,

but Circe has marked out another road for us,

to the house of Hades and dread Persephone,

565to consult the shade of Theban Tiresias.’

So I spoke, and their dear hearts broke within them.

They sat down where they were, weeping and tearing their hair,

but their mourning brought no result.

569ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης

570ᾔομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες,

τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰχομένη Κίρκη παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ

ἀρνειὸν κατέδησεν ὄιν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν,

ῥεῖα παρεξελθοῦσα· τίς ἂν θεὸν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδοιτʼ ἢ ἔνθʼ ἢ ἔνθα κιόντα;

569As we went toward the swift ship and the seashore,

570grieving and shedding swelling tears,

Circe meanwhile had gone ahead beside the black ship

and tethered a ram and a black ewe there,

easily passing us unseen. Who could catch sight of a god

with his eyes, going here or there, if the god did not wish it?”