Book 10

We came to the Aeolian island, where there livedAeolus son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods,on a floating island; and around it ran a wallof bronze, unbreakable, and a sheer cliff rose up.Twelve children had been born to him in his halls,six daughters and six sons in the flower of youth;and he gave his daughters to his sons to be their wives.These always beside their dear father and honored motherfeast, and beside them lie countless good things,and the house reeks of fat, and the courtyard ringsby day; and at night they sleep beside their reverend wives,in blankets and on corded bedsteads.And we came to their city and their beautiful halls.For a whole month he welcomed me and asked me of each thing,of Ilios and the Argive ships and the return of the Achaeans;and I told him everything in order, as was right.But when I in turn asked for the road and urged himto send me, he refused nothing, but made ready an escort.He gave me a bag, flayed from a nine-year-old ox,and in it he tied up the courses of the blustering winds;for the son of Cronos had made him steward of the winds,both to still them and to rouse them, whichever he wished.In the hollow ship he bound it with a shining cordof silver, so that not even a little might leak out;and he sent me the breath of the West Wind to blow,to carry the ships and us; yet he was not destinedto fulfill it; for we perished by our own folly.Nine days we sailed alike, nights and days,and on the tenth the fields of our homeland showed,and already, being near, we saw men tending fires.Then sweet sleep came over me, for I was weary,for I always handled the ship's sheet myself, and gave it to no otherof my comrades, so that we might reach our homeland the sooner;but my comrades spoke words to one another,and said that I was bringing gold and silver home,gifts from great-hearted Aeolus, son of Hippotas.And thus one would speak, looking at another beside him:"Well now, how this man is dear and honored among allmen, whichever city and land he comes to.He brings many fine treasures out of Troy,spoils of war; while we, who have finished the same journey,come home with empty hands.And now Aeolus gave him these, pleasing him in friendship.Come then, let us quickly see what this is,how much gold and silver is inside the bag."So they spoke, and the evil counsel of my comrades won;they untied the bag, and all the winds rushed out.A squall seized them and bore them at once to the sea,weeping, away from our own land. But Iwoke, and pondered in my blameless heart,whether to fall from the ship and die in the sea,or to endure in silence and still be among the living.But I endured and stayed, and wrapping myself up in the shipI lay there. And the ships were borne by the evil storm of the windback to the Aeolian island, and my comrades groaned.There we went ashore on the mainland and drew water,and at once my comrades took their meal beside the swift ships.But when we had tasted food and drink,then I, taking with me a herald and one comrade,went to the famous halls of Aeolus; and I found himfeasting beside his wife and his children.And coming into the house we sat down on the thresholdby the doorposts; and they were amazed in their hearts and asked:"How have you come, Odysseus? What evil power has touched you?Did we not send you off with all care, so that you might reachyour own land and house and whatever is dear to you?"So they spoke, and I answered, grieving at heart:"My evil comrades ruined me, and in addition sleep,that cruel sleep. But heal it, friends; for the power is in you."So I spoke, touching them with soft words,and they fell silent; but their father answered with a word:"Get off the island quickly, most shameful of the living;for it is not right for me to care for or to send onwarda man who is hated by the blessed gods.Be gone, since you have come here hated by the gods."So he spoke and sent me from his halls, groaning heavily.Then we sailed onward, grieving at heart.The spirit of the men was worn down by painful rowing,our own folly, since no escort appeared anymore.Six days we sailed alike, nights and days,and on the seventh we came to the steep citadel of Lamos,Telepylus of the Laestrygonians, where shepherd calls to shepherddriving his flock in, and the other driving out answers him.There a sleepless man could earn double wages,one for herding cattle, one for pasturing the white sheep;for the paths of night and day lie close together.When we came to the famous harbor, which a rocksheer on both sides runs all around,and jutting headlands, facing one another,stand out at the mouth, and the entrance is narrow,there they brought all their well-benched ships inside.The ships were tied within the hollow harborside by side; for no wave ever rose in it,neither great nor small, but all around was white calm.But I alone kept my black ship outside,there at the very edge, tying the cables to the rock;and I climbed up to a rugged lookout and stood there.There appeared no works of cattle nor of men,but we saw only smoke leaping up from the land.Then I sent comrades out to go and learnwhat men, eaters of bread, lived in that land,choosing two men, and sending a herald as a third with them.They went ashore along a smooth road, where wagonscarried wood down from the high mountains to the town;and before the town they met a maiden drawing water,the daughter of the strong Laestrygonian Antiphates.She had come down to the fair-flowing spring,Artakia; for from there they carried water to the town.They stood beside her and spoke and askedwho was king of these men, and over whom he ruled.And she at once pointed out her father's high-roofed house.When they entered the famous halls, the womanthey found as tall as a mountain peak, and they shuddered at her.She at once called famous Antiphates from the assembly,her husband, who devised a grim destruction for them.At once he seized one of the comrades and prepared him as a meal;and the other two sprang away in flight and reached the ships.But he raised a shout through the town; and they, hearing it,came, the powerful Laestrygonians, from one side and another,countless, like not men but Giants.They hurled from the cliffs with man-crushing boulders,and at once a terrible din rose over the ships,of men perishing and ships being smashed together;and spearing them like fish they carried them off as a joyless meal.While they were killing those men inside the deep-gulfed harbor,meanwhile I, drawing my sharp sword from beside my thigh,cut with it the cables of my dark-prowed ship.At once I roused my comrades and commanded themto throw themselves on the oars, so that we might escape the evil;and they all churned the sea, in fear of destruction.Gladly my ship escaped to the open sea from the overhanging rocks;but the others perished there all together.Then we sailed onward, grieving at heart,glad to be out of death, though we had lost our dear comrades.We came to the island of Aeaea, where there livedfair-tressed Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice,own sister of baneful-minded Aeetes;both were born of Helios who shines on mortalsand of the mother Perse, whom Ocean fathered.There on the shore we brought the ship in silently,into a harbor where ships may lie, and some god guided us.There we went ashore, and for two days and two nightswe lay, eating our hearts with weariness and grief.But when fair-tressed Dawn brought the third day,then I, taking my spear and my sharp sword,went swiftly up from the ship to a place of outlook,to see if I might see the works of mortals or hear their speech.I climbed to a rugged lookout and stood there,and smoke appeared to me from the broad-pathed land,in Circe's halls, through the thick coppice and the woods.Then I pondered in my mind and in my heartwhether to go and learn, since I had seen the blazing smoke.And as I thought, it seemed better to me thus:to go first to the swift ship and the shore of the seaand give my comrades their meal, then send them out to learn.But when I was near, coming to the well-benched ship,then one of the gods pitied me in my loneliness,who sent a great high-antlered stag right into my pathas it came down from its woodland pasture to the riverto drink; for the sun's heat was heavy on it.I struck it as it stepped out, at the spine along the middle of its backwith my spear; and the bronze drove clean through;and it fell bellowing in the dust, and its life flew away.Setting my foot on it, I drew the bronze spear from the woundand laid it down there on the ground;but I pulled twigs and withies,and wove a rope a fathom long, well-twisted at both ends,and bound together the feet of the dread monster,and went to the black ship carrying it slung over my back,leaning on my spear, since it was in no way possible on my shoulderto carry it with one hand; for it was a very great beast.I threw it down before the ship and roused my comradeswith gentle words, standing beside each man:"Friends, we will not yet go down, though we grieve,into the house of Hades, before our fated day comes;but 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;and slipping off their cloaks beside the shore of the unharvested seathey marveled at the stag; for it was a very great beast.But when they had taken their fill of looking with their eyes,they washed their hands and prepared a glorious feast.So then all day long, until the sun went down,we sat feasting on endless meat and sweet wine;and when the sun had set and darkness came on,then we lay down to sleep on the break of the sea.And when early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,then I called an assembly and spoke among them all:"Hear my words, comrades, though you suffer evils.Friends, we do not know where the darkness is, nor where the dawn,nor where the sun that shines on mortals goes beneath the earth,nor where it rises; so let us take counsel quicklywhether any plan is left. I do not think there is.For I climbed to a rugged lookout and sawan island, encircled by the boundless sea;it lies low, and in the middle of itI saw smoke with my eyes through the thick coppice and the woods."So I spoke, and their dear heart was brokenas they remembered the deeds of the Laestrygonian Antiphatesand the violence of the great-hearted Cyclops, the man-eater.They wept, shedding a plentiful tear;but no profit came of their weeping.So I divided all my well-greaved comrades in two,counting them, and set a leader over each group;I led one group, and godlike Eurylochus the other.We quickly shook lots in a bronze helmet;and the lot of great-hearted Eurylochus leaped out.He went, and with him two and twenty comrades,weeping; and they left us behind lamenting.They found, in a wooded glen, the well-built house of Circe,of polished stone, in a place open to view all round;and around it were mountain wolves and lions,which she herself had bewitched, since she gave them evil drugs.They did not rush at the men, but theyrose up and fawned on them with their long tails.As when dogs fawn around their master coming from a feast(for he always brings them morsels to please them),so the strong-clawed wolves and lions fawned around them;and they were afraid, when they saw the terrible monsters.They stood in the doorway of the fair-tressed goddess,and inside they heard Circe singing in a beautiful voice,as she walked to and fro at a great immortal loom, such as the goddesses'work is: fine and lovely and shining.Among them Polites, leader of men, began the speech,who was the dearest and most trusted of my comrades:"Friends, someone inside, walking at a great loom,sings beautifully, and the whole floor resounds;she is either a goddess or a woman. But let us call out quickly."So he spoke, and they called aloud, calling to her.She came out at once and opened the shining doorsand called them; and they all followed in their folly,but Eurylochus stayed behind, suspecting a trick.She brought them in and seated them on chairs and benches,and set before them cheese and barley and pale honeymixed in Pramnian wine; and she stirred into the foodbaneful drugs, so that they might utterly forget their native land.But when she had given it and they had drunk it, at once thenshe struck them with her wand and shut them into the pigsties.They had the heads and voices and bristles of pigsand their bodies, but their mind stayed firm, as it was before.So they were shut in weeping; and Circethrew them mast and acorns and the fruit of the cornel treeto eat, such as pigs that sleep on the ground always eat.Eurylochus came at once to the swift black shipto tell of the comrades and their bitter fate.He could not utter a word, though he longed to,his heart struck with great grief; and his two eyesfilled with tears, and his heart brooded on lament.But when we all, amazed, questioned him,then he told the destruction of the other comrades:"We went, as you commanded, glorious Odysseus, through the woods;we found in a wooded glen a well-built house,of polished stone, in a place open all round.There someone walking at a great loom sang shrilly,a goddess or a woman; and they called aloud to her.She came out at once and opened the shining doorsand called them; and they all followed in their folly,but I stayed behind, suspecting a trick.They vanished all together, and not one of themappeared again; and I sat a long while watching."So he spoke; and I slung my silver-studded swordabout my shoulders, a great bronze one, and my bow as well;and I ordered him to lead back the same way.But he caught my knees with both hands and begged me,and lamenting he spoke winged words:"Do not take me there against my will, Zeus-fed lord, but leave me here.For I know that you will not come back yourself, nor will you bringany other of your comrades. Let us flee quickly with these here;for we might still escape the evil day."So he spoke, and I answered him and said:"Eurylochus, you stay here in this place,eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship;but I will go; a strong necessity is laid upon me."So saying, I went up from the ship and the sea.But when, as I went through the sacred glens, I was aboutto reach the great house of Circe of many drugs,there Hermes of the golden wand met meas I came toward the house, looking like a young manat the first down of his beard, whose youth is most graceful;he took my hand and spoke a word and called me by name:"Where now, poor man, do you go alone over the heights,knowing nothing of the place? Your comrades here in Circe's houseare penned like pigs in tight pens.Are you coming here to set them free? I tell you, you will notreturn yourself; you will stay where the others are.But come, I will free you from these evils and save you.Here, take this good drug and go to the halls of Circe,Go on, with this to ward the evil day from your head.for I will tell you all the deadly wiles of Circe.She will mix you a potion, and cast drugs into your food.but not even so will she be able to enchant you; for it will not allow,the good drug that I will give you; and I will tell you every thing.When Circe drives at you with her long staff,then do you draw the sharp sword from beside your thighand rush upon Circe, as though you longed to slay her.She, cowering before you, will bid you lie with her;then do not thereafter refuse the bed of the goddess,so that she may free your comrades and care for you yourself;but bid her swear the great oath of the blessed gods,that she will not plan any other evil harm against you,and not make you, stripped bare, weak and unmanned.So spoke the slayer of Argus, and gave me the drugas he drew it from the earth, and showed me its nature.Its root was black, and its flower was like milk;the gods call it moly; and it is hard for mortal mento dig it up, but the gods can do all things.Then Hermes departed toward tall Olympusacross the wooded island, and I went to the halls of Circe;and my heart seethed with many thoughts as I went.I stood at the doors of the fair-tressed goddess;there I stood and cried out, and the goddess heard my voice.She came out at once and opened the shining doorsand called me in; and I followed, grieving at heart.She brought me in and seated me on a chair studded with silver,a fair one, cunningly wrought; and a footstool was beneath my feet.She made me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink,and into it she cast a drug, thinking evil in her heart.But when she gave it and I drank, she did not enchant me,but struck me with her staff and spoke a word and called me by name:"Go now to the pigsty, and lie down with your other comrades."So she spoke, and I, drawing the sharp sword from beside my thigh,rushed upon Circe as though I longed to slay her.She gave a great cry and ducked away and clasped my knees,and in lamentation she spoke winged words to me:"Who among men are you, and whence? Where are your city and your parents?Wonder holds me that, having drunk these drugs, you were not enchanted;for no other man has withstood these drugs,whoever drinks them and they first pass the barrier of his teeth.But in your breast is a mind that cannot be charmed.Surely you are Odysseus of many turns, whom the golden-wandedslayer of Argus ever told me would come to me,returning from Troy with his swift black ship.But come, put your sword back in its sheath, and then let us twogo up to my bed, so that, joined togetherin bed and in love, we may trust one another."So she spoke, and I answered her and said:"Circe, how can you bid me be gentle toward you,you who have turned my comrades into pigs in your halls,and now, keeping me here and plotting guile, you bid mego into your chamber and climb into your bed,so that when I am stripped bare you may make me weak and unmanned.Nor would I ever be willing to climb into your bed,unless you would dare, goddess, to swear a great oath to methat you will not plan any other evil harm against me."So I spoke, and she swore straightway, as I bade her.But when she had sworn and finished the oath,then I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circe.Meanwhile her handmaids busied themselves in the halls,four of them, who do the work throughout her house;and they are born from springs and from grovesand from sacred rivers that flow down to the sea.One of them threw fine coverlets upon the chairs,purple above, and beneath she spread linen cloth;another set out silver tables in front of the chairs,and upon them she placed golden baskets;and a third mixed honey-sweet wine in a bowl,sweet wine in a silver bowl, and dealt out golden cups;and the fourth carried water and kindled a great fireunder a great tripod; and the water grew warm.But when the water boiled in the gleaming copper,she seated me in a bath and poured from the great tripodover my head and my shoulders, mixing it to my liking,until she had taken the heart-destroying weariness from my limbs.But when she had bathed me and anointed me richly with oil,she threw a fair cloak and a tunic about me,and brought me in and seated me on a chair studded with silver,a fair one, cunningly wrought, and a footstool was beneath my feet.A handmaid brought a pitcher and poured water for my handsfrom a fair golden pitcher, over a silver basin,for me to wash; and beside me she set a polished table.And the honored housekeeper brought and set out bread,setting out many foods, giving freely of what she had.She bade me eat; but my heart was not pleased,but I sat with my mind elsewhere, and my heart foresaw evils.And when Circe marked that I sat there and did notput my hands to the food, and that strong grief held me,she came near and stood beside me and spoke winged words:"Why, Odysseus, do you sit thus like a man without speech,eating your heart out, and touching neither food nor drink?Do you suspect some other trick? You have no needto fear; for already I have sworn a mighty oath to you."So she spoke, and I answered her and said:"Circe, what man who was decentcould endure to taste of food or drinkbefore he had freed his comrades and seen them with his eyes?But if you truly bid me drink and eat of my own will,free them, so that I may see my trusty comrades with my eyes."So I spoke, and Circe had gone through the hallwith the staff in her hand, and opened the doors of the pigsty,and drove them out, looking like nine-year-old boars.Then they stood before her, and she, going among them,smeared each one with another drug.And from their limbs the hair fell off, which the baneful drughad grown on them before, the drug that the lady Circe gave them;and they became men again, younger than they had been before,and far fairer and taller to look upon.Those men knew me, and each clung to my hands.And a lovely weeping fell upon them all, and the houserang terribly about them; and the goddess herself took pity.And she came near and stood by me, the shining among goddesses, and said:"Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,go now to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.First of all, drag the ship up onto the land,and bring your goods and all your gear close in the caves;and then come back yourself and lead your trusty comrades."So she spoke, and my proud heart obeyed her,and I went to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.Then I found my trusty comrades at the swift shiplamenting piteously, shedding abundant tears.As when calves in the field come about the herd of cowsthat have come into the yard, when they are glutted with pasture,they all skip together to meet them; and the pens no longerhold them, but with shrill lowing they run abouttheir mothers; so those men, when they saw me with their eyes,poured about me in tears; and their hearts thoughtthat it was as if they had reached their fatherland and the very cityof rugged Ithaca, where they were reared and born.And in lamentation they spoke winged words to me:"At your return, Zeus-nourished one, we rejoicedas if we had come to our fatherland, the land of Ithaca;but come, tell us of the destruction of the other comrades."So they spoke, and I addressed them with gentle words:"Let us first of all drag the ship up onto the land,and bring our goods and all our gear close in the caves;and do you all bestir yourselves to follow along with me,so that you may see your comrades in the sacred halls of Circedrinking and eating; for they have abundance."So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.But Eurylochus alone held back all the comrades;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 make you alleither pigs or wolves or lions,so that we must guard her great house, and by force,just as the Cyclops did, when our comradescame into his farmyard, and bold Odysseus followed with them;for through his recklessness those men too perished."So he spoke, and I pondered in my heartwhether, drawing the long-edged sword from beside my thick thigh,to strike off his head and bring it to the ground,though he was my kinsman by marriage, very near; but my comradesheld me back from another side with gentle words, one and another:"Zeus-born one, let this man be, if you bid it,to stay here beside the ship and guard the ship;but do you lead us to the sacred halls of Circe."So they spoke, and we went up from the ship and the sea.Nor was Eurylochus left behind beside the hollow ship,but he followed; for he feared my terrible rebuke.Meanwhile Circe had kindly bathed the other comrades in her hallsand anointed them richly with oil,and thrown thick cloaks and tunics about them;and we found them all feasting well in the halls.And when they saw one another face to face and knew each other,they wept and lamented, and the house groaned about them.And she came near and stood by me, the shining among goddesses, and said:"Raise no longer now this abundant weeping; I myself knowall the pains you suffered on the fish-filled sea,and all the harms that lawless men did you on land.But come, eat your food and drink your wine,until you take back the spirit in your breasts,such as when you first left your fatherland,rugged Ithaca. But now you are worn out and spiritless,always remembering your hard wandering, and neveris your heart in gladness, since you have suffered very much."So she spoke, and our proud hearts obeyed her.There we sat all our days for a full year,feasting on countless meats and sweet wine;but when the year had passed and the seasons turnedas the months waned, and the long days were fulfilled,then my trusty comrades called me out and said:"Strange man, remember now your native land,if it is fated that you be saved and reachyour high-roofed house and your own native land."So they spoke, and my proud heart obeyed.So then the whole day long until the setting sunwe sat, feasting on countless meats and sweet wine;and when the sun had set and darkness came on,they lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.But I, having gone up into the very beautiful bed of Circe,clasped her knees in supplication, and the goddess heard my voice;and I spoke and addressed her with winged words:"Circe, fulfill for me the promise that you made,to send me home; for my heart is eager already,and so are the hearts of the others, who wear away my dear heartlamenting about me, whenever you are away."So I spoke, and she answered straightway, the shining among goddesses:"Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,no longer now stay in my house against your will.But first you must complete another journey and reachthe halls of Hades and of dread Persephone,to consult the spirit of the Theban Teiresias,the blind seer, whose mind is still steadfast;to him alone, even among the dead, Persephone gave understanding,that he alone be wise; the others flit about as shadows."So she spoke, and my dear heart broke within me;I sat on the bed and wept, and my heartno longer wished to live and see the light of the sun.But when I had had my fill of weeping and rolling about,then I answered her and spoke:"Circe, who then will guide me on this journey?For no one has yet reached the house of Hades in a black ship."So I spoke, and she answered straightway, the shining among goddesses:"Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,let no longing for a guide trouble you beside the ship;but set up your mast, and spread your white sails,and sit still; and the breath of the North Wind will carry her.But when you have crossed the Ocean with your ship,there is a low shore and the groves of Persephone,and tall black poplars and willows that shed their fruit;beach your ship there on the deep-eddying Ocean,and go yourself into the dank house of Hades.There the Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus flow into Acheron,Cocytus, which is a branch of the water of Styx,and there is a rock and the meeting-place of the two roaring rivers.There then, hero, drawing near, as I bid you,dig a pit, a cubit's length this way and that,and pour a libation about it to all the dead,first with honey-mixed milk, then with sweet wine,and the third again with water; and sprinkle white barley upon it.And pray many times to the strengthless heads of the dead,promising that when you come to Ithaca you will sacrifice a barren cow, the best one,in your halls and fill a pyre with good things,and to Teiresias alone, apart, sacrifice a sheep,all black, which stands out among your flocks.But when with prayers you have besought the glorious tribes of the dead,then sacrifice a ram and a black ewe,turning them toward Erebus, and turn away yourself,looking toward the streams of the river; and there manysouls of the dead, of those who have died, will come.Then rouse your comrades and command themto take the sheep that lie there, slain by the pitiless bronze,flay them and burn them, and pray to the gods,to mighty Hades and to dread Persephone;and do you yourself, drawing the sharp sword from beside your thigh,sit still, and do not let the strengthless heads of the deadcome near the blood, before you have heard Teiresias.There the seer will come to you straightway, leader of the people,who will tell you the way and the measures of the journey,and your return, how you will come over the fish-filled sea."So she spoke, and straightway came golden-throned Dawn.She clothed me about in a cloak and a tunic;and the nymph herself put on a great silver-shining robe,fine and lovely, and about her waist she cast a beltbeautiful and golden, and on her head she set a veil.But I went through the halls and roused my comradeswith gentle words, standing beside each man:"No longer now, sleeping, enjoy sweet sleep,but let us go; for the lady Circe has told me all."So I spoke, and their proud hearts obeyed.Yet not even from there did I lead my comrades unharmed.There was a certain Elpenor, the youngest, not verystrong in war nor firm in his own wits;who, apart from his comrades in the sacred halls of Circe,longing for the cool, lay down heavy with wine.And hearing the noise and tramp of the moving comrades,he sprang up suddenly and forgot in his witsto go back down by the long ladder,but fell headlong from the roof; and his neckwas broken from his backbone, and his soul went down to Hades.And as they came, I spoke a word among them:"You think, no doubt, that you are going home to your dear native land;but Circe has marked out another journey for us,to the halls of Hades and of dread Persephone,to consult the spirit of the Theban Teiresias."So I spoke, and their dear hearts broke within them,and they sat down right there and wailed and tore their hair;but no profit came of their lamenting.But when we were going to the swift ship and the shore of the sea,sorrowing, shedding abundant tears,meanwhile Circe had gone and tethered beside the black shipa ram and a black ewe,passing by lightly; and who could see a god with his eyesgoing here or there, if the god is unwilling?

We reached the island of Aeolus, and there livedAeolus son of Hippotas, loved by the immortal gods,on a floating island. All around it ran a wallof bronze that could not be broken, and a sheer cliff went up.He had twelve children born in his halls,six daughters and six sons in their prime,and he gave his daughters to his sons as wives.They always eat beside their dear father and honored mother,and beside them lie countless good things,and the house smells of roasting meat, and the courtyard ringsall day long. At night they sleep beside their respected wives,on blankets and in beds with cords strung through them.We came to their city and their beautiful halls.For a whole month he welcomed me and asked me about everything:about Troy and the Greek ships and how the Greeks got home.And I told him everything in order, just as it happened.But when I asked for the road and begged himto send me off, he refused nothing and got an escort ready.He gave me a bag made from the hide of a nine-year-old oxand tied up inside it the paths of the roaring winds,because the son of Cronos had made him keeper of the winds,able to stop them or stir them up, whichever he wanted.He tied it in the hollow ship with a shining cord,a silver one, so not even a little wind could leak out.He sent the West Wind blowing for me,to carry the ships and us. But he was never goingto finish that job, because we destroyed ourselves by our own stupidity.Nine days we sailed the same, nights and days,and on the tenth our homeland fields came into sight,and being near, we could already see men tending their fires.Then sweet sleep came over me, because I was tired,since I always worked the ship's sail-rope myself and never gave itto any other of my men, so we would reach home faster.But my men talked among themselvesand said I was bringing gold and silver home,presents from great-hearted Aeolus, son of Hippotas.One of them would say, looking at the man next to him:"Well, look at that! How this man is loved and respected by everyonein whatever city or land he comes to.He brings back lots of fine treasures from Troy,war loot, while we, who made the same trip,go home with empty hands.And now Aeolus gave him these things because he liked him.Come on, let's quickly look at what this is,how much gold and silver is inside the bag."That is what they said, and my men's bad plan won out.They untied the bag, and all the winds burst out.A squall grabbed them and carried them straight out to sea,crying, away from our own country. But Iwoke up and turned it over in my mind,whether to throw myself off the ship and die in the seaor to put up with it in silence and stay alive.But I put up with it and stayed, and wrapping myself up in the shipI lay there. The ships were carried by the evil windstormback to the island of Aeolus, and my men groaned.There we went ashore on the mainland and got water,and my men quickly ate their meal beside the swift ships.After we had tasted food and drink,then I took a herald and one of my menand went to Aeolus' famous halls. I found himeating beside his wife and his children.We came into the house and sat on the thresholdby the doorposts, and they were amazed and asked us:"How did you get back, Odysseus? What evil spirit attacked you?We sent you off with every care, so you would reachyour own land and house and whatever you love."That is what they said, and I answered, upset in my heart:"My bad men ruined me, and on top of that sleep,that awful sleep. But fix it, friends — you have the power."That is what I said, trying to win them with gentle words,and they went silent. But their father answered me:"Get off this island fast, you worst of all living men.It is not right for me to help or send on his waya man who is hated by the blessed gods.Get out, since you came here hated by the gods."With that he sent me out of his halls, and I groaned heavily.From there we sailed on, sad at heart.The men's spirit was worn down by the painful rowing,because of our own stupidity, since no escort showed up anymore.Six days we sailed the same, nights and days,and on the seventh we came to the steep city of Lamos,Telepylus of the Laestrygonians, where one shepherd calls to anotheras he drives his sheep in, and the other driving his out answers him.There a man who never slept could earn two wages,one for herding cattle, one for pasturing the white sheep,because the paths of night and day are close together there.When we came to the famous harbor, with a rockrunning sheer all the way around it on both sides,and jutting headlands facing each othersticking out at the mouth, and the entrance is narrow,there they brought all their well-made ships inside.The ships were tied up inside the hollow harbor,close together, for no wave ever rose in it,not big and not small, but all around it was white calm.But I alone kept my black ship outside,right at the edge, tying the ropes to the rock.Then I climbed up to a rugged lookout and stood there.No work of cattle or men could be seen there,we only saw smoke leaping up from the land.So I sent men out to go and find outwhat kind of men, eaters of bread, lived in that land,picking two men, and sending a herald as a third with them.They went ashore and along a smooth road, where wagonscarried wood down from the high mountains to the town.In front of the town they met a girl getting water,the daughter of the strong Laestrygonian Antiphates.She had gone down to the beautiful spring,Artakia, because that is where they carried water to town.They stood beside her and spoke to her and askedwho was king of these people and who he ruled over.She pointed out her father's high-roofed house right away.When they went into the famous halls, they found the womanas tall as a mountain peak, and they were horrified by her.She called famous Antiphates out of the assembly,her husband, who planned a horrible death for them.He grabbed one of the men right away and got him ready as a meal.The other two jumped up and ran and got to the ships.He raised a shout through the town, and hearing itthe powerful Laestrygonians came running from every direction,thousands of them, not like men but like Giants.They threw boulders from the cliffs, big enough to crush a man,and at once a horrible racket rose over the ships,of men dying and ships being smashed apart,and spearing the men like fish they carried them off for a joyless meal.While they were killing those men inside the deep harbor,I pulled my sharp sword from beside my thighand cut the ropes of my dark-prowed ship with it.Right away I urged my men on and told themto throw themselves on the oars, so we could escape the disaster.They all churned the sea, terrified of dying.Gladly my ship escaped to the open sea away from the overhanging rocks,but the other ships all died there together.From there we sailed on, sad at heart,glad to be alive, though we had lost our dear friends.We came to the island of Aeaea, where there livedCirce of the beautiful hair, a scary goddess who spoke like a human,own sister of evil-minded Aeetes.Both were born from Helios who shines on peopleand from the mother Perse, who was a daughter of Ocean.There on the shore we brought the ship in quietly,into a harbor where ships can stay, and some god guided us.We went ashore and for two days and two nightswe lay there, eating our hearts out with exhaustion and grief.But when beautiful-haired Dawn brought the third day,then I took my spear and sharp swordand went quickly up from the ship to a lookout,to see if I could see people's work or hear their voices.I climbed up to a rugged lookout and stood there,and smoke showed itself to me from the wide-pathed land,in Circe's halls, through the thick brush and woods.Then I wondered in my mind and heartwhether to go and find out, since I had seen the blazing smoke.As I thought about it, this seemed better to me:to go first to the swift ship and the shore of the seaand give my men their meal, then send them out to find out.But when I was close, coming to the well-made ship,then one of the gods pitied me, all alone there,and sent a big stag with tall antlers right into my pathas it came down from its woodland pasture to the riverto drink, because the heat of the sun was on it.I hit it as it stepped out, on the spine in the middle of its backwith my spear, and the bronze drove right through,and it fell bellowing in the dust, and its life flew away.Setting my foot on it, I pulled the bronze spear out of the woundand laid it down there on the ground.Then I tore off twigs and willow shootsand made a rope a fathom long, twisted tight at both ends,and tied together the feet of the dreadful beast,and went to the black ship carrying it over my back,leaning on my spear, because there was no way on my shoulderto carry it with one hand — it was a very big animal.I threw it down in front of the ship and woke my menwith gentle words, standing beside each man:"Friends, we are not going down yet, even though we are grieving,into the house of Hades, not before our fated day comes.Come on, while there is food and drink in the swift ship,let's think about eating and not wear ourselves out with hunger."That is what I said, and they quickly obeyed me.They pulled off their cloaks beside the shore of the restless seaand stared at the stag, because it was a very big animal.When they had had enough of looking at it,they washed their hands and made a glorious feast.So then all day long, until the sun went down,we sat feasting on endless meat and sweet wine.When the sun went down and darkness came,then we lay down to sleep on the edge of the sea.When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,then I called a meeting and spoke to them all:"Listen to my words, friends, even though you are suffering.Friends, we do not know where the darkness is or where the dawn,or where the sun that shines on people goes under the earth,or where it rises. So let's think fastabout whether there is any plan left. I don't think there is.I climbed up to a rugged lookout and sawan island, with the endless sea ringed around it.It lies low, and in the middle of itI saw smoke with my own eyes through the thick brush and woods."That is what I said, and their hearts brokeas they remembered what the Laestrygonian Antiphates had doneand the violence of great-hearted Cyclops, the man-eater.They cried out loud, pouring out big tears,but there was no profit in their crying.So I split all my well-armed men in two,counting them, and put a leader over each group.I led one group, and godlike Eurylochus the other.We shook lots quickly in a bronze helmet,and the lot of great-hearted Eurylochus jumped out.He went, and twenty-two men went with him,crying, and they left us behind wailing.They found the well-built house of Circe in a wooded valley,made of polished stone, in a spot you could see all around.Around it were mountain wolves and lions,which she herself had enchanted, because she gave them evil drugs.They did not attack the men, but insteadthey stood up and wagged their long tails, fawning on them.Like when dogs fawn around their master coming home from a feast— he always brings them something to please them —so the strong-clawed wolves and lions fawned around them.The men were terrified when they saw those awful monsters.They stood in the doorway of the beautiful-haired goddess,and inside they heard Circe singing in a lovely voiceas she walked back and forth at a big immortal loom, the kind of workgoddesses do, fine and lovely and shining.Polites, a leader of men, spoke first among them,and he was the dearest and most trusted of my men:"Friends, someone inside is walking at a big loomand singing beautifully, and the whole floor echoes.She is either a goddess or a woman. Let's call out to her quickly."That is what he said, and they called out to her.She came out at once and opened the shining doorsand called them in, and they all followed her in their foolishness,but Eurylochus stayed outside, thinking it was a trap.She brought them in and sat them down on chairs and benches,and set before them cheese and barley and pale honeymixed in Pramnian wine, and she stirred into the foodevil drugs, so they would forget their homeland completely.When she had given it and they drank it, right away thenshe hit them with her wand and shut them in the pigpens.They had the heads and voices and bristles of pigsand pig bodies, but their minds stayed the same as before.So they were locked in there, crying, and Circethrew them acorns and mast and cornel-berry fruitto eat, the kind of food pigs that sleep on the ground always eat.Eurylochus came right away to the swift black shipto tell about the men and their bitter fate.He could not say a word, even though he wanted to,his heart hit with terrible grief. His two eyesfilled with tears, and his heart was full of mourning.But when we all questioned him in amazement,then he told us how the other men had died:"We went, like you told us, glorious Odysseus, through the woods.We found a well-built house in a wooded valley,made of polished stone, in a spot you could see all around.Someone inside was walking at a big loom and singing clearly,either a goddess or a woman, and they called out to her.She came out at once and opened the shining doorsand called them in, and they all followed her in their foolishness,but I stayed behind, thinking it was a trap.They all vanished together, and not one of themever came back out. I sat there a long time watching."That is what he said. I slung my silver-studded swordover my shoulders, a big bronze one, and my bow too,and I told him to lead me back the same way.But he grabbed my knees with both hands and begged me,and wailing he spoke these winged words:"Don't make me go there against my will, lord raised by Zeus. Leave me here.I know you won't come back yourself, and you won't bringany of your other men back either. Let's run away fast with the men here,because we could still escape the evil day."That is what he said, and I answered him:"Eurylochus, you stay right here in this place,eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship,but I am going. A strong force is pushing me."With that, I went up from the ship and the sea.But when, as I went through the sacred valleys, I was aboutto reach the great house of Circe, the one with many drugs,Hermes of the golden wand met me thereas I walked toward the house, looking like a young manwith his first beard, the age when youth is most graceful.He took my hand and spoke to me and used my name:"Where are you going now, poor man, alone over the hills,when you do not know this place? Your men are here in Circe's house,penned up like pigs in tight pens.Are you coming to set them free? I tell you,you will not get back yourself. You will stay where the others are.Come on then, I will free you from these troubles and save you.Here, take this good drug and go to Circe's halls,Go on, with this to keep the evil day away from your head.I will tell you all the deadly tricks of Circe.She will make you a potion and put drugs in your food.But even so she will not be able to enchant you, for it will not let her,the good drug that I will give you; and I will tell you each thing.When Circe strikes at you with her long staff,then draw the sharp sword from beside your thighand rush at Circe, as if you meant to kill her.She, frightened of you, will ask you to lie with her.Then do not refuse the bed of the goddess after that,so that she may free your men and take care of you yourself.But make her swear the great oath of the blessed godsthat she will not plan any other evil harm against you,and will not make you weak and unmanned when you are stripped.So he spoke, and the slayer of Argus gave me the drug,pulling it out of the ground, and he showed me what it was like.Its root was black, and its flower was like milk.The gods call it moly; it is hard for mortal mento dig it up, but the gods can do all things.Then Hermes went off toward tall Olympusacross the wooded island, and I went to Circe's halls,and my heart churned with many thoughts as I went.I stood at the doors of the goddess with the lovely hair.I stood there and shouted, and the goddess heard my voice.She came out at once and opened the shining doorsand called me in. I followed her, grieving in my heart.She brought me in and sat me in a chair studded with silver,a beautiful chair, finely made, and there was a footstool under my feet.She made me a potion in a golden cup for me to drink,and she put a drug in it, thinking evil in her heart.But when she gave it and I drank it, she did not enchant me.She struck me with her staff and spoke and used my name:"Go now to the pigsty and lie down with your other men."So she spoke, and I drew the sharp sword from beside my thighand rushed at Circe as if I meant to kill her.She screamed out loud and ducked away and grabbed my knees,and with lamenting she spoke winged words to me:"Who are you among men, and where are you from? Where are your city and your parents?I am amazed that you drank these drugs and were not enchanted,for no other man has ever stood up to these drugs,whoever drinks them and lets them pass the fence of his teeth.But in your breast there is a mind that cannot be charmed.You must be Odysseus of many turns, whom the golden-wandedslayer of Argus always used to say would come to me,coming back from Troy with his swift black ship.Come then, put your sword in its sheath, and then let the two of usgo up to my bed, so that joined togetherin bed and in love we may trust each other."So she spoke, and I answered her and said:"Circe, how can you tell me to be gentle with you,when you turned my men into pigs in your halls,and now you keep me here and with deceit in your mind you tell meto go into your room and get into your bed,so that when I am stripped you can make me weak and unmanned.I would not be willing to get into your bed,unless you would dare, goddess, to swear a great oath to methat you will not plan any other evil harm against me."So I spoke, and she swore at once, just as I asked.When she had sworn and finished the oath,then I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circe.Meanwhile her four serving women were busy in the halls,who do the work throughout her house.They are born from springs and from grovesand from sacred rivers that flow down to the sea.One of them threw fine covers over the chairs,purple ones on top, and underneath she spread linen cloth.Another set silver tables out in front of the chairs,and on them she put golden baskets.A third mixed honey-sweet wine in a bowl,sweet wine in a silver bowl, and handed out golden cups.A fourth carried water and kindled a big fireunder a large tripod, and the water got warm.When the water boiled in the gleaming copper,she sat me in a bath and poured from the big tripodover my head and shoulders, mixing it to my liking,until she took the heart-destroying tiredness from my limbs.When she had bathed me and rubbed me well with oil,she threw a fine cloak and a tunic around meand brought me in and sat me in a chair studded with silver,a beautiful chair, finely made, and there was a footstool under my feet.A serving woman brought a pitcher and poured water for my handsfrom a fine golden pitcher into a silver basin,for me to wash, and she set a polished table beside me.The honored housekeeper brought and set out bread,putting out a lot of food, giving freely of what she had.She told me to eat, but my heart was not pleased.Instead I sat there with my mind elsewhere, and my heart saw evil coming.When Circe noticed that I was sitting there and notputting my hands to the food, and that strong grief held me,she came close and stood beside me and spoke winged words:"Why, Odysseus, do you sit like that, just like a man with no voice,eating your own heart, and you do not touch food or drink?Do you think there is some other trick? You have no needto be afraid, for I have already sworn a strong oath to you."So she spoke, and I answered her and said:"Circe, what man who was decentwould dare to taste food or drinkbefore he had freed his men and seen them with his own eyes?But if you really tell me to drink and eat willingly,free them, so that I can see my trusted men with my eyes."So I spoke, and Circe had gone through the hallholding the staff in her hand, and she opened the doors of the pigstyand drove them out, looking like nine-year-old boars.Then they stood in front of her, and she went along among themand smeared each one with a different drug.The hair fell off their limbs, the hair that the destructive drughad grown on them before, the drug that the lady Circe gave them.They turned back into men, younger than they had been before,and much better looking and taller to see.They knew me, and each one clung to my hands.A lovely weeping came over all of them, and the houserang terribly around them, and the goddess herself pitied them.She came close and stood by me, the shining goddess, and said:"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,go now to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.First of all, drag the ship up onto land,and put your goods and all your gear in the caves.Then come back yourself and bring your trusted men."So she spoke, and my proud heart obeyed her,and I went to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.Then I found my trusted men at the swift shiplamenting piteously and shedding abundant tears.As when calves in the field come around the herd of cowsthat have come into the yard, once they are full of grass,they all skip together to meet them, and the pens no longerhold them, but they run around their motherswith shrill lowing; so those men, when they saw me with their eyes,poured around me in tears, and their hearts feltit was as if they had reached their homeland and the very cityof rugged Ithaca, where they were raised and born.And with lamenting they spoke winged words to me:"At your return, Zeus-nourished one, we rejoicedas if we had come to our homeland, the land of Ithaca.But come, tell us of the destruction of the other men."So they spoke, and I answered them with gentle words:"Let us first of all drag the ship up onto land,and put our goods and all our gear in the caves.Then all of you get moving and follow along with me,so that you can see your men in the sacred halls of Circedrinking and eating, for they have plenty."So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.But Eurylochus alone held back all the men.He spoke and said to them winged words:"You poor fools, where are we going? Why do you want these evils,to go down into Circe's hall, who will turn you allinto pigs or wolves or lions,so that we have to guard her great house by force,just as the Cyclops did, when our mencame into his farmyard, and bold Odysseus went along with them.Those men too died because of his recklessness."So he spoke, and I thought it over in my heart,whether to draw the long-edged sword from beside my thick thighand cut off his head and bring it to the ground,even though he was a close relative by marriage. But my menheld me back from different sides with gentle words:"Zeus-born one, let this man stay behind, if you say so,here beside the ship, to guard the ship.But lead us to the sacred halls of Circe."So they spoke, and we went up from the ship and the sea.Nor was Eurylochus left behind beside the hollow ship,but he followed, because he feared my terrible rebuke.Meanwhile Circe had kindly bathed the other men in her hallsand rubbed them well with oil,and thrown thick cloaks and tunics around them.We found them all feasting well in the halls.When they saw each other face to face and recognized each other,they cried and lamented, and the house groaned around them.She came close and stood by me, the shining goddess, and said:"Stop raising this abundant weeping now. I myself knowall the pains you suffered on the fish-filled sea,and all the harm lawless men did you on land.But come, eat your food and drink your wine,until you get your spirit back in your chests,the kind you had when you first left your homeland,rugged Ithaca. But now you are worn out and spiritless,always remembering your hard wandering, and your heartsare never in gladness, because you have suffered so much."So she spoke, and our proud hearts obeyed her.There we sat all our days for a full year,feasting on countless meats and sweet wine.But when the year had passed and the seasons turnedas the months waned, and the long days were finished,then my trusted men called me out and said:"Strange man, remember your native land now,if it is fated that you be saved and reachyour high-roofed house and your own native land."So they spoke, and my proud heart obeyed.So then the whole day long until the setting sunwe sat there, feasting on countless meats and sweet wine.When the sun had set and darkness came on,they lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.But I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circeand clasped her knees in prayer, and the goddess heard my voice.I spoke and said to her winged words:"Circe, keep the promise you made to me,to send me home. My heart is eager now,and so are the hearts of the others, who are wasting my dear heartwith their lamenting around me, whenever you are away."So I spoke, and she answered at once, the shining goddess:"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,do not stay in my house against your will any longer.But first you must complete another journey and reachthe halls of Hades and of dread Persephone,to consult the spirit of the Theban Teiresias,the blind seer, whose mind is still steady.To him alone, even though he is dead, Persephone gave understanding,that he alone be wise, while the others flit about as shadows."So she spoke, and my dear heart broke inside me.I sat on the bed and cried, and my heartno longer wanted to live and see the light of the sun.When I had had enough of crying and rolling around,then I answered her and said:"Circe, who will guide me on this journey?No one has ever reached the house of Hades in a black ship."So I spoke, and she answered at once, the shining goddess:"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,do not let any longing for a guide trouble you beside the ship.Set up your mast and spread your white sailsand sit still. The breath of the North Wind will carry it.But when you have crossed the Ocean with your ship,there is a low shore and the groves of Persephone,and tall black poplars and willows that lose their fruit.Beach your ship there on the deep-eddying Ocean,and go yourself into the dank house of Hades.There the Pyriphlegethon and the Cocytus flow into the Acheron,and it is a branch of the water of Styx,and there is a rock and the meeting place of the two roaring rivers.There then, hero, drawing near, just as I tell you,dig a pit about a cubit long each way,and pour a libation around it for all the dead,first with honey-mixed milk, then with sweet wine,and the third with water. Sprinkle white barley on it.Pray many times to the strengthless heads of the dead,promising that when you come to Ithaca you will sacrifice a barren cow, the best one,in your halls and fill a pyre with good things,and to Teiresias alone, apart, sacrifice a sheep,all black, one that stands out among your flocks.When you have begged the glorious tribes of the dead with prayers,then sacrifice a ram and a black ewe,turning them toward Erebus, and turn away yourself,looking toward the streams of the river. Then manysouls of the dead, of those who have died, will come.Then urge your men and tell themto take the sheep that lie there, slaughtered by the pitiless bronze,flay them and burn them, and pray to the gods,to mighty Hades and to dread Persephone.But you yourself, drawing the sharp sword from beside your thigh,sit still, and do not let the strengthless heads of the deadcome near the blood, before you have heard Teiresias.There the seer will come to you at once, leader of the people,and he will tell you the way and the measures of the journey,and your return, how you will come over the fish-filled sea."So she spoke, and golden-throned Dawn came at once.She dressed me in a cloak and a tunic.The nymph herself put on a great silver-shining robe,fine and lovely, and she tied a belt around her waist,a beautiful golden one, and set a veil on her head.But I went through the halls and roused my menwith gentle words, standing beside each man:"Do not lie there sleeping and enjoying sweet sleep any longer,but let us go, for the lady Circe has told me what to do."So I spoke, and their proud hearts obeyed.But not even from there did I lead my men away unharmed.There was a certain Elpenor, the youngest, not verystrong in war and not firm in his wits,who, away from his men in the sacred halls of Circe,longing for the cool air, had lain down heavy with wine.When he heard the noise and tramp of the men moving,he jumped up suddenly and forgot in his mindto go back down by the long ladder,but fell straight down from the roof, and his neckwas broken from his backbone, and his soul went down to Hades.As they came, I spoke a word among them:"You think, I suppose, that you are going home to your dear native land,but Circe has marked out another journey for us,to the halls of Hades and of dread Persephone,to consult the spirit of the Theban Teiresias."So I spoke, and their dear hearts broke inside them,and they sat down right there and wailed and tore their hair.But no profit came from their crying.But when we were going to the swift ship and the shore of the sea,grieving and shedding abundant tears,meanwhile Circe had gone and tethered beside the black shipa ram and a black ewe,passing by lightly. Who could see a god with his eyesgoing here or there, if the god does not wish it?