ODYSSEY 10

And so we came to the Aeolian island; there dwelt Aeolus, son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods, upon a floating island. All about it a wall of unbreakable bronze had been raised, and smooth rock rose up in a sheer cliff. In his halls, twelve children had been born to him, six daughters and six sons in the prime of their youth. There he gave his daughters to his sons to be their wives. And they feast always beside their dear father and their gracious mother; before them lie boundless delicacies, and the house, fragrant with savory smoke, echoes with revelry in its courtyard by day; but at night, they sleep beside their revered wives on fine blankets and in corded bedsteads. To their city and fine halls we also came. For a whole month he showed me friendship and questioned me on all things: on Ilium, on the Argive ships, and the homecoming of the Achaeans; and I, in turn, recounted all to him in its due order. But when I, too, asked about my journey and urged him to send me on my way, he did not refuse, but arranged for my passage. He gave me a bag, flayed from the hide of a nine-year-old ox, and within it he bound the paths of the howling winds; for the son of Cronos had made him steward of the winds, with the power to still them or to rouse them, as he pleased. In my hollow ship he bound the bag fast with a bright silver cord, so that not even the slightest breath might escape. But for my sake he sent forth a breeze of the West Wind to blow, to carry our ships and ourselves onward; yet it was not destined to see its work complete, for we were lost through our own folly.

For nine days we sailed, by night and by day alike, and on the tenth, the fields of our fatherland at last appeared, so close that we could see men tending their watch-fires. Then sweet sleep came over me, for I was worn with toil; I had held the ship's sheet myself without cease, and had given it to no other of my comrades, so that we might the sooner reach our native land. But my comrades began to speak among themselves, and they said that I was bringing home gold and silver for myself, gifts from the great-hearted Aeolus, son of Hippotas. And one would say, glancing at his neighbor:

“Ah, see how this man is loved and honored by all peoples, whatever city or land he may reach. He brings many fine treasures from Troy as his share of the spoils, while we, who have completed the selfsame journey, are to return home with empty hands. And now Aeolus has given him these gifts, out of friendship and affection. Come, let us look quickly and see what is in here, how much gold and silver is in this bag.”

So they spoke, and the evil counsel of my comrades prevailed. They untied the bag, and all the winds rushed out at once. A tempest seized my men and bore them, weeping, out to sea, far from their native land. As for me, I awoke and debated in my blameless heart, whether to throw myself from the ship and perish in the sea, or to endure it in silence and remain among the living. But I endured it and remained; and covering my head, I lay down in the ship, while the fleet was carried by the evil blast of the wind back to the Aeolian island, to the groans of my companions.

There we went ashore and drew water, and my companions quickly took their meal beside the swift ships. But when we had tasted of food and drink, I took with me a herald and one companion, and went to the famed palace of Aeolus. I found him feasting with his wife and his children. When we came into the house, we sat upon the threshold by the doorposts, and they were amazed in their hearts and questioned me:

“How have you come here, Odysseus? What evil power has assailed you? Surely we sent you on your way with every care, that you might reach your own country and your home, or whatever place is dear to you.”

So they spoke, but I answered them with a grieving heart:

“My wicked comrades have been my ruin, and a cruel sleep on top of it all. But set this right, my friends, for the power is in your hands.”

So I spoke, addressing them with gentle words. But they fell silent; and the father answered, saying:

“Begone from this island at once, you most wretched of all living men! It is not right for me to welcome or send on his way any man who is hated by the blessed gods. Begone, for you have come here as one loathed by the immortals.”

So speaking, he sent me from his house, groaning heavily. From there we sailed onward, sick at heart. And the men’s spirits were worn down by the grievous rowing, all through our own folly, for no friendly passage appeared for us any longer.

For six days we sailed, by night and by day alike, and on the seventh we came to the steep citadel of Lamus, Telepylus of the Laestrygonians, where one herdsman, driving his flock in, calls out to another, who, driving his flock out, answers him. There a man who needed no sleep could earn a double wage, one for herding cattle, and the other for grazing white-fleeced sheep; for the paths of night and day are close together there. When we reached the renowned harbor, which a cliff of sheer rock encircles on both sides without a break, and two projecting headlands, facing one another, jut out at the mouth, making the entrance narrow, all the others steered their curved ships inside. They were moored inside the hollow harbor, close together, for no wave ever swelled within it, neither great nor small, but a white calm lay all around. But I alone kept my black ship outside, there at the very edge of the harbor, making the mooring ropes fast to a rock. And I climbed a rugged lookout point and took my stand. From there, no works of men or of oxen could be seen, only some smoke did we see, rising up from the land. Then I sent forth some of my comrades to go and learn what manner of men, eaters of bread, lived upon that land, choosing two men, and sending a herald as the third. They disembarked and went along a level road, by which wagons would bring down timber from the high mountains to the city. And before the city they met a girl drawing water, the strong daughter of Antiphates, the Laestrygonian. She had come down to the fair-flowing spring Artacia, for from there they used to carry water to the town. My men stood beside her and spoke, and asked her who was king of this land, and over whom he ruled. And she at once pointed out her father’s high-roofed house. But when they entered the famous halls, they found his wife, a woman as huge as a mountain peak, and they were filled with horror at the sight of her. She straightway called from the assembly-place the renowned Antiphates, her husband, who devised a piteous death for them. At once he snatched up one of my companions and prepared him for his meal. But the other two darted away and reached the ships in flight. Then the king raised a cry throughout the city, and hearing it, the mighty Laestrygonians came thronging from every side, in their thousands, not like men, but like the Giants. From the cliffs they hurled down man-sized boulders, and at once a dreadful din arose among the ships of men dying and ships being shattered to pieces. And spearing them like fish, they carried them off for their horrid feast.

While they were destroying my men inside the deep harbor, I drew my sharp sword from beside my thigh and with it I cut the mooring ropes of my dark-prowed ship. Quickly I roused my comrades and ordered them to fall upon their oars, that we might escape this evil fate. And all together they thrashed the water, fearing death. Joyfully my ship escaped the overhanging rocks and reached the open sea; but all the others were lost there together.

From there we sailed onward, sick at heart, glad to have escaped from death, but grieving for our lost companions. And so we came to the island of Aeaea, where there dwelt Circe of the lovely tresses, a dread goddess with a human voice, the very sister of the baleful-minded Aeëtes; both were sprung from Helios, who brings light to mortals, and from a mother, Perse, whom Oceanus begot as his child. There on the shore we brought our ship to land in silence, into a sheltering harbor, and some god was our guide. There we disembarked and for two days and two nights we lay, our hearts consumed by toil and sorrow alike.

But when Dawn of the lovely tresses brought the third day to pass, I took up my spear and my sharp sword, and went up swiftly from the ship to a place of wide outlook, to see if I might glimpse the works of mortals or hear their voices. I climbed a rugged lookout point and took my stand, and there appeared to me smoke, rising from the wide-pathed earth, from Circe’s halls, through the dense thickets and the wood. Then I debated in my mind and in my heart whether I should go and investigate, now that I had seen the tawny smoke. And as I pondered, this seemed to me the better course: to go first to my swift ship and the shore of the sea, to give my comrades their meal and send them forth to learn the news.

But as I was drawing near to my curved ship, some one of the gods took pity on me in my solitude, and sent a great, high-antlered stag right into my path. He was coming down from his pasture in the woods to the river to drink, for the heat of the sun was pressing upon him. As he came out, I struck him on the spine, in the middle of the back, and the bronze spear passed clean through him. He fell moaning in the dust, and his spirit flew from him. Then I planted my foot on him and from the wound I drew the bronze spear; and I laid it down there upon the ground and left it. Then I plucked twigs and willow branches, and wove a rope about a fathom long, well-twisted from end to end, and with it I bound the feet of the fearsome beast together. And I went to the black ship, carrying it across my back, leaning upon my spear, since there was no way I could carry it on my shoulder with one hand, for it was a mighty beast indeed. I cast it down before the ship and roused my companions, addressing each man in his turn with soothing words:

“My friends, we shall not yet go down, for all our grief, to the house of Hades before our fated day arrives. Come now, while there is food and drink in our swift ship, let us think on our nourishment, and not be wasted by hunger.”

So I spoke, and they quickly heeded my words. Uncovering their heads beside the shore of the barren sea, they gazed upon the stag, for it was a mighty beast indeed. But when they had taken their fill of gazing with their eyes, they washed their hands and prepared a glorious feast. So then, for the whole day long until the setting of the sun, we sat and feasted on meat in abundance and on sweet wine. And when the sun went down and darkness came on, we lay down to sleep on the shore of the sea. But when rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, the child of morning, I called an assembly and spoke among them all:

“Listen to my words, my comrades, though you have suffered many evils. My friends, we do not know where the darkness is, nor where the dawn, nor where the sun that brings light to mortals goes below the earth, nor where he rises. Let us then consider quickly if any counsel may yet be found; for my part, I think there is none. For I climbed to a rugged lookout point and saw an island, which the boundless sea encircles like a crown. The land itself lies low, and in its center I saw with my own eyes smoke rising through the dense thickets and the wood.”

So I spoke, and their very hearts were broken within them, as they remembered the deeds of Antiphates the Laestrygonian and the violence of the great-hearted, man-eating Cyclops. They wept aloud, shedding copious tears. But no good came of their lamenting. Then I numbered all my well-greaved companions into two parties, and appointed a leader for each. I myself led one, and godlike Eurylochus the other. We quickly shook lots in a bronze helmet, and out leapt the lot of great-hearted Eurylochus. He set out to go, and with him twenty-two companions, all weeping; and they left us behind, wailing in our turn.

In the vales they found the palace of Circe, built of polished stone, in a place that could be seen from afar. And all around it were mountain wolves and lions,

whom she herself had bewitched, having given them evil drugs. And they did not rush upon my men, but instead they rose up and fawned upon them with their long tails. And just as dogs will fawn about their master when he comes from a feast, for he always brings them morsels to please their spirit, so the strong-clawed wolves and lions fawned about my men; but they were seized with fear when they saw the fearsome beasts. They stood in the forecourt of the goddess of the lovely tresses, and within they heard Circe singing in a beautiful voice, as she went to and fro before a great, immortal loom, weaving such things as are the delicate, graceful, and splendid works of goddesses. Then Polites, a leader of men, was the first to speak, he who was the dearest and most trusted of my companions:

“My friends, someone within is going to and fro before a great loom and singing beautifully, and the whole floor echoes to her song, be she a goddess or a woman. Come, let us call to her quickly.”

So he spoke, and they called out and hailed her. And she came out at once, opening the shining doors, and called to them; and they all followed in their foolishness. Only Eurylochus remained behind, for he suspected it was a trap. She led them in and seated them on chairs and high-backed thrones, and for them she mixed cheese and barley meal and yellow honey with Pramnian wine; but she mingled with the food baleful drugs, so that they might utterly forget their native land. But when she had given it to them and they had drunk it down, she at once struck them with her wand and penned them in the sties. They had the heads and the voices and the bristles of swine, and the bodies of swine, but their minds remained as they were before. So they were penned up, weeping; and before them Circe threw acorns and mast and the fruit of the cornel tree to eat, such things as ground-wallowing swine are wont to eat.

But Eurylochus came back to the swift, black ship to report the tidings of his comrades and their grievous fate. He could not utter a single word, much as he longed to, his heart was so stricken with great anguish; his eyes were filled with tears, and his soul was bent on lamentation. But when we all, in our amazement, questioned him, he at last told us of the destruction of our other comrades:

“We went, as you commanded, through the thickets, glorious Odysseus. In the vales we found a beautiful palace, built of polished stone, in a place that could be seen from afar. There someone was going to and fro before a great loom, singing in a clear voice, be she a goddess or a woman; and they called out and hailed her. She came out at once, opening the shining doors, and called to them; and they all followed in their foolishness. But I remained behind, suspecting it was a trap. And they vanished all together, and not one of them appeared again, though I sat for a long time and watched.”

So he spoke, and I slung about my shoulders my silver-studded sword, a great bronze sword, and my bow with it. And I commanded him to lead me back by the same road. But he clasped my knees with both his hands and beseeched me, and weeping, he addressed me with winged words:

“Do not lead me there against my will, O cherished of Zeus, but leave me here. For I know that you yourself will not return, nor will you bring back any of your companions. No, let us flee with these men here, quickly, for we might still escape the evil day.”

So he spoke, and I answered him in turn: “Eurylochus, you may indeed stay here in this place, eating and drinking by the hollow, black ship; but I must go, for a strong necessity is upon me.”

So speaking, I went up from the ship and the sea. But when, as I went through the sacred vales, I was about to reach the great house of Circe of the many potions, there Hermes of the golden wand met me as I approached the house, in the guise of a young man with the first down upon his lip, in whom youth is most graceful. He clasped my hand and spoke a word, and called me by my name:

“Where are you going now, unhappy man, alone over these hills, unfamiliar with the country? Your comrades yonder in Circe’s house are penned up like swine in crowded sties. Do you come here to free them? I think that you yourself will not return, but will remain where the others are. But come, I will free you from these evils and keep you safe. Here, take this potent herb and go to Circe’s house; it will ward off the evil day from your head. And I will tell you all the deadly wiles of Circe. She will mix you a potion, and she will cast drugs into the food; but even so she will not be able to bewitch you, for the potent herb that I will give you will not allow it. I will tell you the rest. When Circe strikes you with her long wand, then you must draw your sharp sword from beside your thigh and rush upon Circe as though you mean to kill her. And she, in fear, will bid you lie with her. At that point you must no longer refuse the goddess’s bed, so that she may free your comrades and give you good welcome. But bid her swear the great oath of the blessed gods that she will not plot any other wicked harm against you, lest she make you a coward and unmanly when you are stripped bare.”

So speaking, Argeïphontes gave me the herb, pulling it from the ground, and showed me its nature. At the root it was black, but its flower was like milk. The gods call it moly, and it is hard for mortal men to dig up; but the gods are able to do all things.

Then Hermes departed for lofty Olympus, over the wooded island, and I went on to the house of Circe, and my heart was dark with many thoughts as I went. I stood at the gates of the goddess of the lovely tresses; there I stood and called out, and the goddess heard my voice. She came out at once, opening the shining doors, and called to me; and I followed, sick at heart. She led me in and seated me on a silver-studded throne, a beautiful, richly wrought throne, with a footstool for my feet. And she mixed me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink, and she put a drug within it, with evil thoughts in her heart. But when she had given it and I had drunk it down, and it did not bewitch me, she struck me with her wand and spoke a word and called me by name:

“Go now to the sty, and lie down with your other companions.” So she spoke, but I drew my sharp sword from beside my thigh and rushed upon Circe as though I meant to kill her. But she cried out loudly and ran to clasp my knees, and weeping, she addressed me with winged words:

“Who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents? Amazement holds me that you were not bewitched by drinking these drugs. For no other man has ever withstood these drugs, once he has drunk them and they have passed the barrier of his teeth. But you have in your breast a mind that cannot be charmed. Surely you are Odysseus of the many wiles, who Argeïphontes of the golden wand always said would come to me, on his way back from Troy with his swift, black ship. But come now, put your sword in its sheath, and let us then go up to my bed, so that mingled in love and sleep we may learn to trust one another.”

So she spoke, and I answered her in turn: “O Circe, how can you bid me be gentle to you, you who have turned my comrades into swine in your halls, and now keep me here, and with a treacherous heart bid me to go to your chamber and mount your bed, so that you may make me a coward and unmanly when I am stripped bare? I would not be willing to mount your bed, unless you would consent, goddess, to swear a great oath, that you will not plot any other wicked harm against me.”

So I spoke, and she at once swore the oath, as I commanded. And when she had sworn and completed the oath, I at last went up to the beautiful bed of Circe.

Meanwhile her handmaids were busy in the halls, four of them, who are her servants throughout the house. They are born from the springs and from the groves and from the sacred rivers that flow forth into the sea. One of them threw fine coverings on the thrones, purple blankets over linen cloths which she spread beneath. A second drew up silver tables before the thrones and set upon them golden baskets. A third mixed honey-sweet wine in a silver mixing bowl

and set out golden cups. The fourth brought water and kindled a great fire beneath a great tripod, and the water grew warm. And when the water boiled in the gleaming bronze, she set me in a bath and washed me from the great tripod, mixing the water to a pleasing warmth over my head and shoulders, until she had taken from my limbs the soul-destroying weariness. And when she had washed me and anointed me richly with oil, she cast about me a beautiful cloak and a tunic, and led me in and seated me on a silver-studded throne, a beautiful, richly wrought throne, with a footstool for my feet. And a handmaid brought water for my hands in a pitcher, a beautiful golden pitcher, and poured it over a silver basin, for me to wash; and beside me she drew up a polished table. And the revered housekeeper brought bread and set it before me, adding many delicacies, giving freely of her stores. She bade me eat, but it did not please my heart. I sat with other thoughts, and my soul foresaw evils.

But when Circe perceived that I was sitting and not putting my hands to the food, and that I was held by a grievous sorrow, she came and stood near me and addressed me with winged words:

“Why do you sit thus, Odysseus, like a speechless man, eating your heart away, and do not touch the food or the drink? Do you perhaps suspect some other treachery? You need not be afraid, for I have already sworn you a mighty oath.”

So she spoke, and I answered her in turn: “O Circe, what man, if he were just, could bring himself to taste of food and drink before he had freed his comrades and seen them with his own eyes? But if you truly, in your heart, bid me to eat and drink, release them, so that I may see my loyal companions with my own eyes.”

So I spoke, and Circe went forth through the halls, holding the wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the sty, and drove them out, looking like nine-year-old hogs. They then stood before her, and she went through their midst, anointing each one with another potion. And from their limbs the bristles fell away that the baneful drug, which queenly Circe gave them, had made to grow. And they became men again, younger than they were before, and much handsomer and taller to behold. They knew me, and each one clasped my hands. And a sweet lamentation came over them all, and the house echoed terribly around them; and the goddess herself felt pity. And the brightest of goddesses came and stood by me and spoke:

“Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many wiles, go now to your swift ship and the shore of the sea. First of all, draw your ship up onto the land, and store your possessions and all your gear in the caves. Then come back yourself, and bring your loyal companions.”

So she spoke, and my proud heart was persuaded. I went on my way to my swift ship and the shore of the sea. There, by the swift ship, I found my loyal companions, lamenting piteously, shedding copious tears. And as when calves in a farmyard gather around the herd of cows returning to the dung-yard when they have had their fill of grazing, and all leap together to meet them, and the pens no longer can hold them, but with constant lowing they run around their mothers; so it was with my men when they saw me with their eyes. They thronged about me weeping, and it seemed to their hearts as if they had reached their fatherland and the very city of rugged Ithaca, where they were nourished and were born. And weeping, they addressed me with winged words:

“We rejoice at your return, O cherished of Zeus, as much as if we had arrived at Ithaca, our native land. But come, tell us of the destruction of our other companions.”

So they spoke, and I addressed them with gentle words: “First of all, let us draw the ship up onto the land, and store our possessions and all our gear in the caves. And you yourselves must hasten to follow me, all of you, so that you may see your companions in the sacred halls of Circe, eating and drinking, for they have provisions to last the year.”

So I spoke, and they quickly heeded my words. Only Eurylochus tried to hold back all my companions, and he spoke and addressed them with winged words:

“Ah, wretched men, where are we going? Why do you long for these evils, to go down into the hall of Circe, who will turn us all into swine or wolves or lions, to guard her great house for her by compulsion? It will be as the Cyclops did, when our comrades came to his courtyard, and the reckless Odysseus was with them. It was through this man’s follies that they, too, were destroyed.”

So he spoke, and I pondered in my heart, drawing my long-bladed sword from my thick thigh, whether to strike off his head and send it to the dust, though he was a kinsman of mine by marriage. But my comrades held me back with soothing words, each from his place:

“Cherished of Zeus, let us leave this man, if you command it, to stay here by the ship and guard the ship. But for us, be our guide to the sacred halls of Circe.”

So saying, they went up from the ship and the sea. Nor was Eurylochus left behind by the hollow ship,
_ but he followed, for he feared my terrible rebuke.

Meanwhile, Circe had bathed my other companions in her halls with every care, and anointed them richly with oil, and had cast about them fleecy cloaks and tunics. And we found them all feasting well in the halls. And when they saw each other and recognized one another face to face, they wept and lamented, and the house echoed around them. And the brightest of goddesses came and stood by me and spoke:

“Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many wiles, no longer now raise up this copious wailing. I myself know all the sorrows you have suffered on the fish-filled sea, and all that hostile men have done to you on land. But come, eat your food and drink your wine, until you have once more recovered the spirit in your breasts, such as you had when first you left your native land of rugged Ithaca. But now you are gaunt and dispirited, forever mindful of your bitter wandering, nor is your heart ever in a state of joy, for you have suffered very much.”

So she spoke, and our proud hearts were once again persuaded. There for the whole of a year to its fulfillment, we sat, feasting on meat in abundance and on sweet wine. But when a year was passed, and the seasons had turned, as the months waned and the long days were completed, then my loyal companions called me forth and said:

“Strange man, it is time now to remember your native land, if it is fated for you to be saved and to reach your well-built house and your own country.”

So they spoke, and my proud heart was persuaded. So then, for the whole day long until the setting of the sun, we sat, feasting on meat in abundance and on sweet wine. And when the sun went down and darkness came on, they lay down to sleep throughout the shadowy halls.

But I went up to the beautiful bed of Circe and beseeched her by her knees, and the goddess heard my voice, and I spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:

“O Circe, fulfill for me the promise that you made, to send me home; for my spirit is now eager to be gone, and that of my other companions, who wear away my very heart lamenting around me, whenever you chance to be away.”

So I spoke, and the brightest of goddesses answered me at once: “Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many wiles, no longer remain now in my house against your will. But you must first complete another journey and arrive at the house of Hades and of dread Persephone, to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias, the blind prophet, whose wits are still unshaken. To him alone, even in death, Persephone has granted sense, that he should have his mind; but the others flit about as shadows.”

So she spoke, and my own heart was broken within me. I sat on the bed and wept, and my heart no longer wished to live and to see the light of the sun. But when I had my fill of weeping and of writhing on the bed, I then answered her and addressed her with my words:

“O Circe, who then will be the guide for this journey?

No one has ever yet gone to Hades in a black ship.”

So I spoke, and the brightest of goddesses answered me at once: “Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many wiles, let no thought of a guide for your ship trouble you. Set up the mast and spread the white sails, and take your seat; the breath of the North Wind will carry her on. But when your ship has crossed the stream of Ocean, you will find a level shore and the groves of Persephone— tall poplars and willows that shed their fruit. There beach your ship by the deep-eddying Ocean, and go yourself to the dank house of Hades. There into Acheron flow Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus, which is a branch of the water of the Styx; and there is a rock, and the meeting of two thunderous rivers. There, O hero, draw near, as I command you, and dig a pit of about a cubit's length and a cubit's breadth, and around it pour a libation to all the dead, first with milk and honey, then with sweet wine, and a third time with water; and sprinkle white barley meal over it. And pray earnestly to the strengthless heads of the dead, vowing that when you return to Ithaca you will sacrifice a barren heifer, the best you have, in your halls, and will load a pyre with fine things, and that to Teiresias alone you will sacrifice a ram, all black, the finest of all your flocks. And when you have beseeched with prayers the glorious tribes of the dead, then sacrifice a ram and a black ewe, turning their heads toward Erebus, but yourself turn away, looking toward the streams of the river. And there many spirits of the dead who have perished will come. Then you must at once call to your comrades and command them to flay and burn the sheep that lie there, slaughtered by the pitiless bronze, and to pray to the gods, to mighty Hades and dread Persephone. But you yourself must draw your sharp sword from beside your thigh and sit there, and not allow the strengthless heads of the dead to draw near the blood before you have questioned Teiresias. There the prophet will come to you at once, O leader of the people, and he will tell you the path and the measure of your journey, and your homecoming, how you may pass over the fish-filled sea.”

So she spoke, and at once came golden-throned Dawn. She clothed me in a cloak and a tunic, my garments. And the nymph herself put on a great, shining white robe, delicate and graceful, and around her waist she cast a belt, a beautiful golden belt, and on her head she placed a veil. And I went through the halls and roused my companions, addressing each man in turn with soothing words:

“No longer now slumber on in sweet sleep, but let us go, for queenly Circe has now instructed me.”

So I spoke, and their proud hearts were persuaded. But not even from there did I lead my companions away unscathed. There was one, Elpenor, the youngest, not very valiant in war nor sound in his wits, who had laid himself down apart from his comrades in the sacred house of Circe, seeking the cool air, for he was heavy with wine. Hearing the noise and the bustle of his comrades as they moved about, he leapt up suddenly and forgot in his mind to go back down by way of the long ladder, but fell headlong from the roof. His neck was broken from the vertebrae, and his soul went down to the house of Hades. And as my men were setting out, I spoke a word among them:

“You think, no doubt, that you are going home to your own dear country; but Circe has pointed out to us another journey, to the house of Hades and of dread Persephone, to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias.”

So I spoke, and their own hearts were broken within them, and they sat down right where they were, wailing and tearing their hair. But no good came of their lamenting.

But when we went to our swift ship and the shore of the sea, grieving and shedding copious tears, Circe, meanwhile, had gone to our black ship and had tied up a ram and a black ewe, slipping past us easily. For who could see with his own eyes a god going here or there, if the god did not wish it?

ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 10

Αἰολίην δ’ ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθ’· ἔνθα δ’ ἔναιεν
Αἴολος Ἱπποτάδης, φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι,
πλωτῇ ἐνὶ νήσῳ· πᾶσαν δέ τέ μιν πέρι τεῖχος
χάλκεον ἄῤῥηκτον, λισσὴ δ' ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη.
τοῦ καὶ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,
ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δ' υἱέες ἡβώοντες.
ἔνθ' ὅ γε θυγατέρας πόρεν υἱάσιν εἶναι ἀκοίτις.
οἱ δ' αἰεὶ παρὰ πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητέρι κεδνῇ
δαίνυνται· παρὰ δέ σφιν ὀνείατα μυρία κεῖται,
κνισῆεν δέ τε δῶμα περιστεναχίζεται αὐλῇ,
ἤματα· νύκτας δ' αὖτε παρ' αἰδοίῃσ' ἀλόχοισιν
εὕδουσ' ἔν τε τάπησι καὶ ἐν τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι.
καὶ μὲν τῶν ἱκόμεσθα πόλιν καὶ δώματα καλά.
μῆνα δὲ πάντα φίλει με καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα,
Ἴλιον Ἀργείων τε νέας καὶ νόστον Ἀχαιῶν·
καὶ μὲν ἐγὼ τῷ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ καὶ ἐγὼν ὁδὸν ᾔτεον ἠδ' ἐκέλευον
πεμπέμεν, οὐδέ τι κεῖνος ἀνήνατο, τεῦχε δὲ πομπήν.
δῶκε δέ μ' ἐκδείρας ἀσκὸν βοὸς ἐννεώροιο,
ἔνθα δὲ βυκτάων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κέλευθα·
κεῖνον γὰρ ταμίην ἀνέμων ποίησε Κρονίων,
ἠμὲν παυέμεναι ἠδ' ὀρνύμεν, ὅν κ' ἐθέλῃσι.
νηῒ δ' ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇ κατέδει μέρμιθι φαεινῇ
ἀργυρέῃ, ἵνα μή τι παραπνεύσει' ὀλίγον περ·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πνοιὴν ζεφύρου προέηκεν ἀῆναι,
ὄφρα φέροι νῆάς τε καὶ αὐτούς· οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔμελλεν
ἐκτελέειν· αὐτῶν γὰρ ἀπωλόμεθ' ἀφραδίῃσιν.

ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δ' ἤδη ἀνεφαίνετο πατρὶς ἄρουρα,
καὶ δὴ πυρπολέοντας ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντας.
ἔνθ' ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπέλλαβε κεκμηῶτα·
αἰεὶ γὰρ πόδα νηὸς ἐνώμων, οὐδέ τῳ ἄλλῳ
δῶχ' ἑτάρων, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἱκοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·
οἱ δ' ἕταροι ἐπέεσσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον
καί μ' ἔφασαν χρυσόν τε καὶ ἄργυρον οἴκαδ' ἄγεσθαι,
δῶρα παρ' Αἰόλοο μεγαλήτορος Ἱπποτάδαο.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

«ὢ πόποι, ὡς ὅδε πᾶσι φίλος καὶ τίμιός ἐστιν
ἀνθρώποισ', ὅτεών κε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἵκηται.
πολλὰ μὲν ἐκ Τροίης ἄγεται κειμήλια καλὰ
ληΐδος· ἡμεῖς δ' αὖτε ὁμὴν ὁδὸν ἐκτελέσαντες
οἴκαδε νισόμεθα κενεὰς σὺν χεῖρας ἔχοντες.
καὶ νῦν οἱ τά γε δῶκε χαριζόμενος φιλότητι
Αἴολος. ἀλλ' ἄγε θᾶσσον ἰδώμεθα, ὅττι τάδ' ἐστίν,
ὅσσος τις χρυσός τε καὶ ἄργυρος ἀσκῷ ἔνεστιν.»

ὣς ἔφασαν, βουλὴ δὲ κακὴ νίκησεν ἑταίρων·
ἀσκὸν μὲν λῦσαν, ἄνεμοι δ' ἐκ πάντες ὄρουσαν,
τοὺς δ' αἶψ' ἁρπάξασα φέρεν πόντονδε θύελλα
κλαίοντας, γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος. αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἐγρόμενος κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμήριξα,
ἠὲ πεσὼν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποφθίμην ἐνὶ πόντῳ,
ἦ ἀκέων τλαίην καὶ ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετείην.
ἀλλ' ἔτλην καὶ ἔμεινα, καλυψάμενος δ' ἐνὶ νηῒ
κείμην· αἱ δ' ἐφέροντο κακῇ ἀνέμοιο θυέλλῃ
αὖτις ἐπ' Αἰολίην νῆσον, στενάχοντο δ' ἑταῖροι.

ἔνθα δ' ἐπ' ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθ' ὕδωρ·
αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τ' ἐπασσάμεθ' ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
δὴ τότ' ἐγὼ κήρυκά τ' ὀπασσάμενος καὶ ἑταῖρον,
βῆν εἰς Αἰόλοο κλυτὰ δώματα· τὸν δ' ἐκίχανον
δαινύμενον παρὰ ᾗ τ' ἀλόχῳ καὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν.
ἐλθόντες δ' ἐς δῶμα παρὰ σταθμοῖσιν ἐπ' οὐδοῦ
ἑζόμεθ'· οἱ δ' ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον ἔκ τ' ἐρέοντο·

«πῶς ἦλθες, Ὀδυσεῦ; τίς τοι κακὸς ἔχραε δαίμων;
ἦ μέν σ' ἐνδυκέως ἀπεπέμπομεν, ὄφρα ἵκοιο
πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα, καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.»

ὣς φάσαν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετεφώνεον ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·

«ἄασάν μ' ἕταροί τε κακοὶ πρὸς τοῖσί τε ὕπνος
σχέτλιος. ἀλλ' ἀκέσασθε, φίλοι· δύναμις γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν.»

ὣς ἐφάμην μαλακοῖσι καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν·
οἱ δ' ἄνεω ἐγένοντο· πατὴρ δ' ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·

«ἔῤῥ’ ἐκ νήσου θᾶσσον, ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων·
οὐ γάρ μοι θέμις ἐστὶ κομιζέμεν οὐδ' ἀποπέμπειν
ἄνδρα τόν, ὅς τε θεοῖσιν ἀπέχθηται μακάρεσσιν.
ἔῤῥ’, ἐπεὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπεχθόμενος τόδ' ἱκάνεις.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀπέπεμπε δόμων βαρέα στενάχοντα.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ·
τείρετο δ' ἀνδρῶν θυμὸς ὑπ' εἰρεσίης ἀλεγεινῆς
ἡμετέρῃ ματίῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι φαίνετο πομπή.

ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ·
ἑβδομάτῃ δ' ἱκόμεσθα Λάμου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,
Τηλέπυλον Λαιστρυγονίην, ὅθι ποιμένα ποιμὴν
ἠπύει εἰσελάων, ὁ δέ τ' ἐξελάων ὑπακούει.
ἔνθα κ' ἄϋπνος ἀνὴρ δοιοὺς ἐξήρατο μισθούς,
τὸν μὲν βουκολέων, τὸν δ' ἄργυφα μῆλα νομεύων·
ἐγγὺς γὰρ νυκτός τε καὶ ἤματός εἰσι κέλευθοι.
ἔνθ' ἐπεὶ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν, ὃν πέρι πέτρη
ἠλίβατος τετύχηκε διαμπερὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν,
ἀκταὶ δὲ προβλῆτες ἐναντίαι ἀλλήλῃσιν
ἐν στόματι προὔχουσιν, ἀραιὴ δ' εἴσοδός ἐστιν,
ἔνθ' οἵ γ' εἴσω πάντες ἔχον νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
αἱ μὲν ἄρ' ἔντοσθεν λιμένος κοίλοιο δέδεντο
πλησίαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτ' ἀέξετο κῦμά γ' ἐν αὐτῷ,
οὔτε μέγ' οὔτ' ὀλίγον, λευκὴ δ' ἦν ἀμφὶ γαλήνη.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἶος σχέθον ἔξω νῆα μέλαιναν,
αὐτοῦ ἐπ' ἐσχατιῇ, πέτρης ἐκ πείσματα δήσας.
ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών·
ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε βοῶν οὔτ' ἀνδρῶν φαίνετο ἔργα,
καπνὸν δ' οἶον ὁρῶμεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀΐσσοντα.
δὴ τότ' ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐην πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,
οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες,
ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχ' ἅμ' ὀπάσσας.
οἱ δ' ἴσαν ἐκβάντες λείην ὁδόν, ᾗ περ ἄμαξαι
ἄστυδ' ἀφ' ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων καταγίνεον ὕλην.
κούρῃ δὲ ξύμβληντο πρὸ ἄστεος ὑδρευούσῃ,
θυγατέρ' ἰφθίμῃ Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο.
ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ἐς κρήνην κατεβήσετο καλλιρέεθρον
Ἀρτακίην· ἔνθεν γὰρ ὕδωρ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεσκον·
οἱ δὲ παριστάμενοι προσεφώνεον ἔκ τ' ἐρέοντο,
ὅς τις τῶνδ' εἴη βασιλεὺς καὶ οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι.
ἡ δὲ μάλ' αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ.
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθον κλυτὰ δώματα, τὴν δὲ γυναῖκα
εὗρον ὅσην τ' ὄρεος κορυφήν, κατὰ δ' ἔστυγον αὐτήν.
ἡ δ' αἶψ' ἐξ ἀγορῆς ἐκάλει κλυτὸν Ἀντιφατῆα,
ὃν πόσιν, ὃς δὴ τοῖσιν ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
αὐτίχ' ἕνα μάρψας ἑτάρων ὁπλίσσατο δεῖπνον.
τὼ δὲ δύ' ἀΐξαντε φυγῇ ἐπὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τεῦχε βοὴν διὰ ἄστεος· οἱ δ' ἀΐοντες
φοίτων ἴφθιμοι Λαιστρυγόνες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,
μυρίοι, οὐκ ἄνδρεσσιν ἐοικότες, ἀλλὰ Γίγασιν.
οἵ ῥ' ἀπὸ πετράων ἀνδραχθέσι χερμαδίοισι
βάλλον· ἄφαρ δὲ κακὸς κόναβος κατὰ νῆας ὀρώρει
ἀνδρῶν τ' ὀλλυμένων νηῶν θ' ἅμα ἀγνυμενάων·
ἰχθῦς δ' ὣς πείροντες ἀτερπέα δαῖτα φέροντο.

ὄφρ' οἱ τοὺς ὄλεκον λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,
τόφρα δ' ἐγὼ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
τῷ ἀπὸ πείσματ' ἔκοψα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο·
αἶψα δ' ἐμοῖσ' ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃσ', ἵν' ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν·
οἱ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἀνέῤῥιψαν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον.
ἀσπασίως δ' ἐς πόντον ἐπηρεφέας φύγε πέτρας
νηῦς ἐμή· αὐτὰρ αἱ ἄλλαι ἀολλέες αὐτόθ' ὄλοντο.

ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
Αἰαίην δ' ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθ'· ἔνθα δ' ἔναιε
Κίρκη ἐϋπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα,
αὐτοκασιγνήτη ὀλοόφρονος Αἰήταο·
ἄμφω δ' ἐκγεγάτην φαεσιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο
μητρός τ' ἐκ Πέρσης, τὴν Ὠκεανὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δ' ἐπ' ἀκτῆς νηῒ κατηγαγόμεσθα σιωπῇ
ναύλοχον ἐς λιμένα, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν.
ἔνθα τότ' ἐκβάντες δύο τ' ἤματα καὶ δύο νύκτας
κείμεθ', ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐϋπλόκαμος τέλεσ' Ἠώς,
καὶ τότ' ἐγὼν ἐμὸν ἔγχος ἑλὼν καὶ φάσγανον ὀξὺ
καρπαλίμως παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήϊον ἐς περιωπήν,
εἴ πως ἔργα ἴδοιμι βροτῶν ἐνοπήν τε πυθοίμην.
ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών,
καί μοι ἐείσατο καπνὸς ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης
Κίρκης ἐν μεγάροισι διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.
μερμήριξα δ' ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ἐλθεῖν ἠδὲ πυθέσθαι, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἴθοπα καπνόν.
ὧδε δέ μοι φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
πρῶτ' ἐλθόντ' ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης
δεῖπνον ἑταίροισιν δόμεναι προέμεν τε πυθέσθαι.

ἀλλ' 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 κατήϊεν ἐκ νομοῦ ὕλης
πιόμενος· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔχεν μένος ἠελίοιο.
τὸν δ' ἐγὼ ἐκβαίνοντα κατὰ κνῆστιν μέσα νῶτα
πλῆξα· τὸ δ' ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε,
κὰδ δ' ἔπεσ' ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δ' ἔπτατο θυμός.
τῷ δ' ἐγὼ ἐμβαίνων δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς
εἰρυσάμην· τὸ μὲν αὖθι κατακλίνας ἐπὶ γαίῃ
εἴασ'· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σπασάμην ῥῶπάς τε λύγους τε,
πεῖσμα δ' ὅσον τ' ὄργυιαν ἐϋστρεφὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν
πλεξάμενος συνέδησα πόδας δεινοῖο πελώρου,
βῆν δὲ καταλλοφάδια φέρων ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν,
ἔγχει ἐρειδόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἦεν ἐπ' ὤμου
χειρὶ φέρειν ἑτέρῃ· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.
κὰδ δ' ἔβαλον προπάροιθε νεός, ἀνέγειρα δ' ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοισ' ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

«ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πω καταδυσόμεθ', ἀχνύμενοι περ,
εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους, πρὶν μόρσιμον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθῃ·
ἀλλ' ἄγετ', ὄφρ' ἐν νηῒ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε,
μνησόμεθα βρώμης μηδὲ τρυχώμεθα λιμῷ.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δ' ὦκα ἐμοῖσ' ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο·
ἐκ δὲ καλυψάμενοι παρὰ θῖν' ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο
θηήσαντ' ἔλαφον· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
χεῖρας νιψάμενοι τεύχοντ' ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τ' ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότ' ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·

«κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων, κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ ἴδμεν ὅπῃ ζόφος οὐδ' ὅπῃ ἠώς,
οὐδ' ὅπῃ ἠέλιος φαεσίμβροτος εἶσ' ὑπὸ γαῖαν
οὐδ' ὅπῃ ἀννεῖται· ἀλλὰ φραζώμεθα θᾶσσον,
εἴ τις ἔτ' ἔσται μῆτις· ἐγὼ δ' οὐκ οἴομαι εἶναι.
εἶδον γὰρ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθὼν
νῆσον, τὴν πέρι πόντος ἀπείριτος ἐστεφάνωται.
αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ κεῖται· καπνὸν δ' ἐνὶ μέσσῃ
ἔδρακον ὀφθαλμοῖσι διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ
μνησαμένοισ' ἔργων Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο
Κύκλωπός τε βίης μεγαλήτορος ἀνδροφάγοιο.
κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·
ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίνετο μυρομένοισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δίχα πάντας ἐϋκνήμιδας ἑταίρους
ἠρίθμεον, ἀρχὸν δὲ μετ' ἀμφοτέροισιν ὄπασσα·
τῶν μὲν ἐγὼν ἦρχον, τῶν δ' Εὐρύλοχος θεοειδής.
κλήρους δ' ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλομεν ὦκα·
ἐκ δ' ἔθορε κλῆρος μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυλόχοιο.
βῆ δ' ἰέναι, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσ' ἑταῖροι
κλαίοντες· κατὰ δ' ἄμμε λίπον γοόωντας ὄπισθεν.

εὗρον δ' ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα Κίρκης
ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν λύκοι ἦσαν ὀρέστεροι ἠδὲ λέοντες,

τοὺς αὐτὴ κατέθελξεν, ἐπεὶ κακὰ φάρμακ' ἔδωκεν.
οὐδ' οἵ γ' ὡρμήθησαν ἐπ' ἀνδράσιν, ἀλλ' ἄρα τοί γε
οὐρῇσιν μακρῇσι περισσαίνοντες ἀνέσταν.
ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἂν ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα κύνες δαίτηθεν ἰόντα
σαίνωσ'· αἰεὶ γάρ τε φέρει μειλίγματα θυμοῦ·
ὣς τοὺς ἀμφὶ λύκοι κρατερώνυχες ἠδὲ λέοντες
σαῖνον· τοὶ δ' ἔδδεισαν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἰνὰ πέλωρα.
ἔσταν δ' ἐν προθύροισι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο,
Κίρκης δ' 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,
ὅς μοι κήδιστος ἑτάρων ἦν κεδνότατός τε·

«ὦ φίλοι, ἔνδον γάρ τις ἐποιχομένη μέγαν ἱστὸν
καλὸν ἀοιδιάει, δάπεδον δ' ἅπαν ἀμφιμέμυκεν,
ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· ἀλλὰ φθεγγώμεθα θᾶσσον.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν, τοὶ δ' ἐφθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.
ἡ δ' αἶψ' ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤϊξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· οἱ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἀϊδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·
Εὐρύλοχος δ' ὑπέμεινεν· ὀΐσατο γὰρ δόλον εἶναι.
εἷσεν δ' εἰσαγαγοῦσα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐν δέ σφιν τυρόν τε καὶ ἄλφιτα καὶ μέλι χλωρὸν
οἴνῳ Πραμνείῳ ἐκύκα· ἀνέμισγε δὲ σίτῳ
φάρμακα λύγρ', ἵνα πάγχυ λαθοίατο πατρίδος αἴης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, αὐτίκ' ἔπειτα
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα κατὰ συφεοῖσιν ἐέργνυ.
οἱ δὲ συῶν μὲν ἔχον κεφαλὰς φωνήν τε τρίχας τε
καὶ δέμας, αὐτὰρ νοῦς ἦν ἔμπεδος ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
ὣς οἱ μὲν κλαίοντες ἐέρχατο· τοῖσι δὲ Κίρκη
πὰρ ἄκυλον βάλανόν τ' ἔβαλεν καρπόν τε κρανείης
ἔδμεναι, οἷα σύες χαμαιευνάδες αἰὲν ἔδουσιν.

Εὐρύλοχος δ' ἂψ ἦλθε θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν,
ἀγγελίην ἑτάρων ἐρέων καὶ ἀδευκέα πότμον.
οὐδέ τι ἐκφάσθαι δύνατο ἔπος, ἱέμενός περ,
κῆρ ἄχεϊ μεγάλῳ βεβολημένος· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δ' ὠΐετο θυμός.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή μιν πάντες ἀγαζόμεθ' ἐξερέοντες,
καὶ τότε τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατέλεξεν ὄλεθρον·

«ᾔομεν, ὡς ἐκέλευες, ἀνὰ δρυμά, φαίδιμ' Ὀδυσσεῦ·
εὕρομεν ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα καλὰ
ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ.
ἔνθα δέ τις μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη λίγ' ἄειδεν
ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· τοὶ δ' ἐφθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.
ἡ δ' αἶψ' ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤϊξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· οἱ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἀϊδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑπέμεινα, ὀϊσάμενος δόλον εἶναι.
οἱ δ' ἅμ' ἀϊστώθησαν ἀολλέες, οὐδέ τις αὐτῶν
ἐξεφάνη· δηρὸν δὲ καθήμενος ἐσκοπίαζον.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ περὶ μὲν ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
ὤμοιϊν βαλόμην, μέγα χάλκεον, ἀμφὶ δὲ τόξα·
τὸν δ' ἂψ ἠνώγεα αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἡγήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἀμφοτέρῃσι λαβὼν ἐλλίσσετο γούνων
καί μ' ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«μή μ' ἄγε κεῖσ' ἀέκοντα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπ' αὐτοῦ·
οἶδα γὰρ ὡς οὔτ' αὐτὸς ἐλεύσεαι οὔτε τιν' ἄλλον
ἄξεις σῶν ἑτάρων. ἀλλὰ ξὺν τοίσδεσι θᾶσσον
φεύγωμεν· ἔτι γάρ κεν ἀλύξαιμεν κακὸν ἦμαρ.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«Εὐρύλοχ', ἦ τοι μὲν σὺ μέν' αὐτοῦ τῷδ' ἐνὶ χώρῳ
ἔσθων καὶ πίνων κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εἶμι· κρατερὴ δέ μοι ἔπλετ' ἀνάγκη.»

ὣς εἰπὼν παρὰ νηὸς ἀπήϊον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ ἄρ' ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόῤῥαπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα, νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ, τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη·
ἔν τ' ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·

«πῇ δὴ αὖτ', ὦ δύστηνε, δι' ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος,
χώρου ἄϊδρις ἐών; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ' ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες.
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ' ἔρχεαι; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν, μενέεις δὲ σύ γ' ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι.
ἀλλ' 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 ὀλοφώϊα δήνεα Κίρκης.
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ, βαλέει δ' ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ·
ἀλλ' οὐδ' ὧς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι δώσω, ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα.
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ' ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαΐξαι ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἡ δέ σ' ὑποδδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι·
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ' ἔπειτ' ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ' ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ·
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο,
μή σ' 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·
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί, χαλεπὸν δέ τ' ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι· θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται.

Ἑρμείας μὲν ἔπειτ' ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
νῆσον ἀν' ὑλήεσσαν, ἐγὼ δ' ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἤϊα· πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
ἔστην δ' εἰνὶ θύρῃσι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο·
ἔνθα στὰς ἐβόησα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς.
ἡ δ' αἶψ' ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤϊξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.
εἷσε δέ μ' εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου,
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
τεῦχε δέ μοι κυκεῶ χρυσέῳ δέπᾳ, ὄφρα πίοιμι,
ἐν δέ τε φάρμακον ἧκε, κακὰ φρονέουσ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον οὐδέ μ' ἔθελξε,
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν·

«ἔρχεο νῦν συφεόνδε, μετ' ἄλλων λέξο ἑταίρων.»
ὣς φάτ', ἐγὼ δ' ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπήϊξα ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἡ δὲ μέγα ἰάχουσα ὑπέδραμε καὶ λάβε γούνων
καί μ' ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
θαῦμά μ' ἔχει, ὡς οὔ τι πιὼν τάδε φάρμακ' ἐθέλχθης.
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος ἀνὴρ τάδε φάρμακ' ἀνέτλη,
ὅς κε πίῃ καὶ πρῶτον ἀμείψεται ἕρκος ὀδόντων·
σοὶ δέ τις ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀκήλητος νόος ἐστίν.
ἦ σύ γ' Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι πολύτροπος, ὅν τέ μοι αἰεὶ
φάσκεν ἐλεύσεσθαι χρυσόῤῥαπις Ἀργεϊφόντης,
ἐκ Τροίης ἀνιόντα θοῇ σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ.
ἀλλ' ἄγε δὴ κολεῷ μὲν ἄορ θέο, νῶϊ δ' ἔπειτα
εὐνῆς ἡμετέρης ἐπιβήομεν, ὄφρα μιγέντε
εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι πεποίθομεν ἀλλήλοισιν.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«ὦ Κίρκη, πῶς γάρ με κέλῃ σοὶ ἤπιον εἶναι,
ἥ μοι σῦς μὲν ἔθηκας ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑταίρους,
αὐτὸν δ' ἐνθάδ' ἔχουσα δολοφρονέουσα κελεύεις
ἐς θάλαμόν τ' ἰέναι καὶ σῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,
ὄφρα με γυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃς.
οὐδ' ἂν ἐγώ γ' ἐθέλοιμι τεῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,
εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι,
μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀπώμνυεν, ὡς ἐκέλευον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
καὶ τότ' ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπέβην περικαλλέος εὐνῆς.

ἀμφίπολοι δ' ἄρα τεῖος ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο
τέσσαρες, αἵ οἱ δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασι.
γίνονται δ' ἄρα ταί γ' ἔκ τε κρηνέων ἀπό τ' ἀλσέων
ἔκ θ' ἱερῶν ποταμῶν, οἵ τ' εἰς ἅλαδε προρέουσι.
τάων ἡ μὲν ἔβαλλε θρόνοισ' ἔνι ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεα καθύπερθ', ὑπένερθε δὲ λῖθ' ὑπέβαλλεν·
ἡ δ' ἑτέρη προπάροιθε θρόνων ἐτίταινε τραπέζας
ἀργυρέας, 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 δ' ὕδωρ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ ζέσσεν ὕδωρ ἐνὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ,
ἔς ῥ' ἀσάμινθον ἕσασα λό' ἐκ τρίποδος μεγάλοιο,
θυμῆρες κεράσασα, κατὰ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,
ὄφρα μοι ἐκ κάματον θυμοφθόρον εἵλετο γυίων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπ' ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
εἷσε δέ μ' εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου,
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
χέρνιβα δ' ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δ' αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλ' ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·
ἐσθέμεναι δ' ἐκέλευεν· ἐμῷ δ' οὐχ ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
ἀλλ' ἥμην ἀλλοφρονέων, κακὰ δ' ὄσσετο θυμός.

Κίρκη δ' ὡς ἐνόησεν ἔμ' ἥμενον οὐδ' ἐπὶ σίτῳ
χεῖρας ἰάλλοντα, στυγερὸν δέ με πένθος ἔχοντα,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«τίφθ' οὕτως, Ὀδυσεῦ, κατ' ἄρ' ἕζεαι ἶσος ἀναύδῳ,
θυμὸν ἔδων, βρώμης δ' οὐχ ἅπτεαι οὐδὲ ποτῆτος;
ἦ τινά που δόλον ἄλλον ὀΐεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
δειδίμεν· ἤδη γάρ τοι ἀπώμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«ὦ Κίρκη, τίς γάρ κεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη,
πρὶν τλαίη πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
πρὶν λύσασθ' ἑτάρους καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι;
ἀλλ' εἰ δὴ πρόφρασσα πιεῖν φαγέμεν τε κελεύεις,
λῦσον, ἵν' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, Κίρκη δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ῥάβδον ἔχουσ' ἐν χειρί, θύρας δ' ἀνέῳξε συφειοῦ,
ἐκ δ' ἔλασεν σιάλοισιν ἐοικότας ἐννεώροισιν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἔστησαν ἐναντίοι, ἡ δὲ δι' αὐτῶν
ἐρχομένη προσάλειφεν ἑκάστῳ φάρμακον ἄλλο.
τῶν δ' ἐκ μὲν μελέων τρίχες ἔῤῥεον, ἃς πρὶν ἔφυσε
φάρμακον οὐλόμενον, τό σφιν πόρε πότνια Κίρκη·
ἄνδρες δ' ἂψ ἐγένοντο νεώτεροι ἢ πάρος ἦσαν
καὶ πολὺ καλλίονες καὶ μείζονες εἰσοράασθαι.
ἔγνωσαν δέ με κεῖνοι, ἔφυν τ' ἐν χερσὶν ἕκαστος·
πᾶσιν δ' ἱμερόεις ὑπέδυ γόος, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμα
σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε· θεὰ δ' ἐλέαιρε καὶ αὐτή.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἔρχεο νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσατε ἤπειρόνδε,
κτήματα δ' ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσατε ὅπλα τε πάντα·
αὐτὸς δ' ἂψ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,
βῆν δ' ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
εὗρον ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ νηῒ θοῇ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
οἴκτρ' ὀλοφυρομένους, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντας.
ὡς δ' ὅτε ἄγραυλοι πόριες περὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
ἐλθούσας ἐς κόπρον, ἐπὴν βοτάνης κορέσωνται,
πᾶσαι ἅμα σκαίρουσιν ἐναντίαι· οὐδ' ἔτι σηκοὶ
ἴσχουσ', ἀλλ' ἁδινὸν μυκώμεναι ἀμφιθέουσι
μητέρας· ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνοι, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
δακρυόεντες ἔχυντο· δόκησε δ' ἄρα σφίσι θυμὸς
ὣς ἔμεν, ὡς εἰ πατρίδ' ἱκοίατο καὶ πόλιν αὐτὴν
τρηχείης Ἰθάκης, ἵνα τ' ἔτραφον ἠδ' ἐγένοντο·
καί μ' ὀλοφυρόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

«σοὶ μὲν νοστήσαντι, διοτρεφές, ὣς ἐχάρημεν,
ὡς εἴ τ' εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλ' ἄγε, τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατάλεξον ὄλεθρον.»

ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προσέφην μαλακοῖσ' ἐπέεσσι·
«νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσομεν ἤπειρόνδε,
κτήματα δ' ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσομεν ὅπλα τε πάντα·
αὐτοὶ δ' ὀτρύνεσθε ἐμοὶ ἅμα πάντες ἕπεσθαι,
ὄφρα ἴδηθ' ἑτάρους ἱεροῖσ' ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης
πίνοντας καὶ ἔδοντας· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχουσιν.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δ' ὦκα ἐμοῖσ' ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο·
Εὐρύλοχος δέ μοι οἶος ἐρύκακε πάντας ἑταίρους
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἆ δειλοί, πόσ' 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,
ὥς περ Κύκλωψ ἕρξ', ὅτε οἱ μέσσαυλον ἵκοντο
ἡμέτεροι ἕταροι, σὺν δ' ὁ θρασὺς εἵπετ' Ὀδυσσεύς·
τούτου γὰρ καὶ κεῖνοι ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε μετὰ φρεσὶ μερμήριξα,
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ,
τῷ οἱ ἀποτμήξας κεφαλὴν οὖδάσδε πελάσσαι,
καὶ πηῷ περ ἐόντι μάλα σχεδόν· ἀλλά μ' ἑταῖροι
μειλιχίοισ' ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·

«διογενές, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηΐ τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι·
ἡμῖν δ' ἡγεμόνευ' ἱερὰ πρὸς δώματα Κίρκης.»

ὣς φάμενοι παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήϊον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.
οὐδὲ μὲν Εὐρύλοχος κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ λέλειπτο,
ἀλλ' ἔπετ'· ἔδδεισεν γὰρ ἐμὴν ἔκπαγλον ἐνιπήν.

τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους ἑτάρους ἐν δώμασι Κίρκη
ἐνδυκέως λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπ' ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνας·
δαινυμένους δ' εὖ πάντας ἐφεύρομεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους εἶδον φράσσαντό τ' ἐσάντα,
κλαῖον ὀδυρόμενοι, περὶ δὲ στεναχίζετο δῶμα.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
μηκέτι νῦν θαλερὸν γόον ὄρνυτε· οἶδα καὶ αὐτή,
ἠμὲν ὅσ' ἐν πόντῳ πάθετ' ἄλγεα ἰχθυόεντι,
ἠδ' ὅσ' ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντ' ἐπὶ χέρσου.
ἀλλ' ἄγετ' ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον,
εἰς ὅ κεν αὖτις θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι λάβητε,
οἷον ὅτε πρώτιστον ἐλείπετε πατρίδα γαῖαν
τρηχείης Ἰθάκης· νῦν δ' ἀσκελέες καὶ ἄθυμοι,
αἰὲν ἄλης χαλεπῆς μεμνημένοι· οὐδέ ποθ' ὕμιν
θυμὸς ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ πέπασθε.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', ἡμῖν δ' αὖτ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα μὲν ἤματα πάντα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
ἥμεθα, δαινύμενοι κρέα τ' ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐνιαυτὸς ἔην, περὶ δ' ἔτραπον ὧραι,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δ' ἤματα μακρὰ τελέσθη,
καὶ τότε μ' ἐκκαλέσαντες ἔφαν ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·

«δαιμόνι', ἤδη νῦν μιμνῄσκεο πατρίδος αἴης,
εἴ τοι θέσφατόν ἐστι σαωθῆναι καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.»

ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα, δαινύμενοι κρέα τ' ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ.
ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπιβὰς περικαλλέος εὐνῆς
γούνων ἐλλιτάνευσα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

«ὦ Κίρκη, τέλεσόν μοι ὑπόσχεσιν, ἥν περ ὑπέστης,
οἴκαδε πεμψέμεναι· θυμὸς δέ μοι ἔσσυται ἤδη
ἠδ' ἄλλων ἑτάρων, οἵ μευ φθινύθουσι φίλον κῆρ
ἀμφ' ἔμ' ὀδυρόμενοι, ὅτε που σύ γε νόσφι γένηαι.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
μηκέτι νῦν ἀέκοντες ἐμῷ ἐνὶ μίμνετε οἴκῳ.
ἀλλ' ἄλλην χρὴ πρῶτον ὁδὸν τελέσαι καὶ ἱκέσθαι
εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης
ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
μάντιος ἀλαοῦ, τοῦ τε φρένες ἔμπεδοί εἰσι·
τῷ καὶ τεθνηῶτι νόον πόρε Περσεφόνεια
οἴῳ πεπνῦσθαι· τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀΐσσουσιν.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ·
κλαῖον δ' ἐν λεχέεσσι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ
ἤθελ' ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενός τε κορέσθην,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

«ὦ Κίρκη, τίς γὰρ ταύτην ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσει;

εἰς Ἄϊδος δ' οὔ πώ τις ἀφίκετο νηῒ μελαίνῃ.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
μή τί τοι ἡγεμόνος γε ποθὴ παρὰ νηῒ μελέσθω·
ἱστὸν δὲ στήσας ἀνά θ' ἱστία λευκὰ πετάσσας
ἧσθαι· τὴν δέ κέ τοι πνοιὴ βορέαο φέρῃσιν.
ἀλλ' ὁπότ' ἂν δὴ νηῒ δι' Ὠκεανοῖο περήσῃς,
ἔνθ' ἀκτή τε λάχεια καὶ ἄλσεα Περσεφονείης
μακραί τ' αἴγειροι καὶ ἰτέαι ὠλεσίκαρποι,
νῆα μὲν αὐτοῦ κέλσαι ἐπ' Ὠκεανῷ βαθυδίνῃ,
αὐτὸς δ' εἰς Ἀΐδεω ἰέναι δόμον εὐρώεντα.
ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα Πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσι
Κώκυτός θ', ὃς δὴ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀποῤῥώξ,
πέτρη τε ξύνεσίς τε δύω ποταμῶν ἐριδούπων·
ἔνθα δ' ἔπειθ', ἥρως, χριμφθεὶς πέλας, ὥς σε κελεύω,
βόθρον ὀρύξαι ὅσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἀμφ' αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεῖσθαι πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθ' ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δ' ἄλφιτα λευκὰ παλύνειν.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνοῦσθαι νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,
ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τ' ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,
Τειρεσίῃ δ' ἀπάνευθεν ὄϊν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ
παμμέλαν', ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ὑμετέροισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν εὐχῇσι λίσῃ κλυτὰ ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,
ἔνθ' ὄϊν ἀρνειὸν ῥέζειν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν
εἰς Ἔρεβος στρέψας, αὐτὸς δ' ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι
ἱέμενος ποταμοῖο ῥοάων· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ
ψυχαὶ ἐλεύσονται νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
δὴ τότ' ἔπειθ' ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρῦναι καὶ ἀνῶξαι
μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατάκειτ' ἐσφαγμένα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,
ἰφθίμῳ τ' Ἀΐδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
ἧσθαι, μηδὲ ἐᾶν νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα
αἵματος ἄσσον ἴμεν πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
ἔνθα τοι αὐτίκα μάντις ἐλεύσεται, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου
νόστον θ', ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν·
αὐτὴ δ' ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,
λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετ' ἰξυῖ
καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δ' ἐπέθηκε καλύπτρην.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ δώματ' ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοισ' ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

«μηκέτι νῦν εὕδοντες ἀωτεῖτε γλυκὺν ὕπνον,
ἀλλ' ἴομεν· δὴ γάρ μοι ἐπέφραδε πότνια Κίρκη.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ' ἔνθεν περ ἀπήμονας ἦγον ἑταίρους.
Ἐλπήνωρ δέ τις ἔσκε νεώτατος, οὔτε τι λίην
ἄλκιμος ἐν πολέμῳ οὔτε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀρηρώς,
ὅς μοι ἄνευθ' ἑτάρων ἱεροῖσ' ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης,
ψύχεος ἱμείρων, κατελέξατο οἰνοβαρείων·
κινυμένων δ' ἑτάρων ὅμαδον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκούσας
ἐξαπίνης ἀνόρουσε καὶ ἐκλάθετο φρεσὶν ᾗσιν
ἄψοῤῥον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσεν· ἐκ δέ οἱ αὐχὴν
ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δ' Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθεν.
ἐρχομένοισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον·

«φάσθε νύ που οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἔρχεσθ'· ἄλλην δ' ἧμιν ὁδὸν τεκμήρατο Κίρκη
εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης
ψυχῇ χρησομένους θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,
ἑζόμενοι δὲ κατ' αὖθι γόων τίλλοντό τε χαίτας·
ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίνετο μυρομένοισιν.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης
ᾔομεν ἀχνύμενοι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες,
τόφρα δ' ἄρ' οἰχομένη Κίρκη παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
ἀρνειὸν κατέδησεν ὄϊν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν,
ῥεῖα παρεξελθοῦσα· τίς ἂν θεὸν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδοιτ' ἢ ἔνθ' ἢ ἔνθα κιόντα;


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