Translation of: The Odyssey of Homer: Book X

ARGUMENT     Ulysses, in pursuit of his narrative, relates his arrival at the island of olus, his departure thence, and the unhappy occasion of his return thither. The monarch of the winds dismisses him at last with much asperity. He next tells of his arrival among the Lstrygonians, by whom his whole fleet, together with their crews, are destroyed, his own ship and crew excepted. Thence he is driven to the island of Circe. By her the half of his people are transformed into swine. Assisted by Mercury, he resists her enchantments himself, and prevails with the Goddess to recover them to their former shape. In consequence of Circe's instructions, after having spent a complete year in her palace, he prepares for a voyage to the infernal regions.             We came to the olian isle; there dwells             olus, son of Hippotas, belov'd             By the Immortals, in an isle afloat.             A brazen wall impregnable on all sides             Girds it, and smooth its rocky coast ascends.             His children, in his own fair palace born,             Are twelve; six daughters, and six blooming sons.             He gave his daughters to his sons to wife;             They with their father hold perpetual feast             And with their royal mother, still supplied             With dainties numberless; the sounding dome             Is fill'd with sav'ry odours all the day,             And with their consorts chaste at night they sleep             On stateliest couches with rich arras spread.             Their city and their splendid courts we reach'd.             A month complete he, friendly, at his board             Regaled me, and enquiry made minute             Of Ilium's fall, of the Achaian fleet,             And of our voyage thence. I told him all.             But now, desirous to embark again,             I ask'd dismission home, which he approved,             And well provided for my prosp'rous course.             He gave me, furnish'd by a bullock slay'd             In his ninth year, a bag; ev'ry rude blast             Which from its bottom turns the Deep, that bag             Imprison'd held; for him Saturnian Jove             Hath officed arbiter of all the winds,             To rouse their force or calm them, at his will.             He gave me them on board my bark, so bound             With silver twine that not a breath escaped,             Then order'd gentle Zephyrus to fill             Our sails propitious. Order vain, alas!             So fatal proved the folly of my friends.                 Nine days continual, night and day we sail'd,             And on the tenth my native land appear'd.             Not far remote my Ithacans I saw             Fires kindling on the coast; but me with toil             Worn, and with watching, gentle sleep subdued;             For constant I had ruled the helm, nor giv'n             That charge to any, fearful of delay.             Then, in close conference combined, my crew             Each other thus bespake--He carries home             Silver and gold from olus received,             Offspring of Hippotas, illustrious Chief--             And thus a mariner the rest harangued.                 Ye Gods! what city or what land soe'er             Ulysses visits, how is he belov'd             By all, and honour'd! many precious spoils             He homeward bears from Troy; but we return,             (We who the self-same voyage have perform'd)             With empty hands. Now also he hath gain'd             This pledge of friendship from the King of winds.             But come--be quick--search we the bag, and learn             What stores of gold and silver it contains.                 So he, whose mischievous advice prevailed.             They loos'd the bag; forth issued all the winds,             And, caught by tempests o'er the billowy waste,             Weeping they flew, far, far from Ithaca.             I then, awaking, in my noble mind             Stood doubtful, whether from my vessel's side             Immersed to perish in the flood, or calm             To endure my sorrows, and content to live.             I calm endured them; but around my head             Winding my mantle, lay'd me down below,             While adverse blasts bore all my fleet again             To the olian isle; then groan'd my people.                 We disembark'd and drew fresh water there,             And my companions, at their galley's sides             All seated, took repast; short meal we made,             When, with an herald and a chosen friend,             I sought once more the hall of olus.             Him banqueting with all his sons we found,             And with his spouse; we ent'ring, on the floor             Of his wide portal sat, whom they amazed             Beheld, and of our coming thus enquired.                 Return'd? Ulysses! by what adverse Pow'r             Repuls'd hast thou arrived? we sent thee hence             Well-fitted forth to reach thy native isle,             Thy palace, or what place soe'er thou would'st.                 So they--to whom, heart-broken, I replied.             My worthless crew have wrong'd me, nor alone             My worthless crew, but sleep ill-timed, as much.             Yet heal, O friends, my hurt; the pow'r is yours!                 So I their favour woo'd. Mute sat the sons,             But thus their father answer'd. Hence--be gone--             Leave this our isle, thou most obnoxious wretch             Of all mankind. I should, myself, transgress,             Receiving here, and giving conduct hence             To one detested by the Gods as thou.             Away--for hated by the Gods thou com'st.                 So saying, he sent me from his palace forth,             Groaning profound; thence, therefore, o'er the Deep             We still proceeded sorrowful, our force             Exhausting ceaseless at the toilsome oar,             And, through our own imprudence, hopeless now             Of other furth'rance to our native isle.             Six days we navigated, day and night,             The briny flood, and on the seventh reach'd             The city erst by Lamus built sublime,             Proud Lstrygonia, with the distant gates.             The herdsman, there, driving his cattle home,[38]             Summons the shepherd with his flocks abroad.             The sleepless there might double wages earn,             Attending, now, the herds, now, tending sheep,             For the night-pastures, and the pastures grazed             By day, close border, both, the city-walls.             To that illustrious port we came, by rocks             Uninterrupted flank'd on either side             Of tow'ring height, while prominent the shores             And bold, converging at the haven's mouth             Leave narrow pass. We push'd our galleys in,             Then moor'd them side by side; for never surge             There lifts its head, or great or small, but clear             We found, and motionless, the shelter'd flood.             Myself alone, staying my bark without,             Secured her well with hawsers to a rock             At the land's point, then climb'd the rugged steep,             And spying stood the country. Labours none             Of men or oxen in the land appear'd,             Nor aught beside saw we, but from the earth             Smoke rising; therefore of my friends I sent             Before me two, adding an herald third,             To learn what race of men that country fed.             Departing, they an even track pursued             Made by the waggons bringing timber down             From the high mountains to the town below.             Before the town a virgin bearing forth             Her ew'r they met, daughter of him who ruled             The Lstrygonian race, Antiphatas.             Descending from the gate, she sought the fount             Artacia; for their custom was to draw             From that pure fountain for the city's use.             Approaching they accosted her, and ask'd             What King reign'd there, and over whom he reign'd.             She gave them soon to know where stood sublime             The palace of her Sire; no sooner they             The palace enter'd, than within they found,             In size resembling an huge mountain-top,             A woman, whom they shudder'd to behold.             She forth from council summon'd quick her spouse             Antiphatas, who teeming came with thoughts             Of carnage, and, arriving, seized at once             A Greecian, whom, next moment, he devoured.             With headlong terrour the surviving two             Fled to the ships. Then sent Antiphatas             His voice through all the town, and on all sides,             Hearing that cry, the Lstrygonians flock'd             Numberless, and in size resembling more             The giants than mankind. They from the rocks             Cast down into our fleet enormous stones,             A strong man's burthen each; dire din arose             Of shatter'd galleys and of dying men,             Whom spear'd like fishes to their home they bore,             A loathsome prey. While them within the port             They slaughter'd, I, (the faulchion at my side             Drawn forth) cut loose the hawser of my ship,             And all my crew enjoin'd with bosoms laid             Prone on their oars, to fly the threaten'd woe.             They, dreading instant death tugg'd resupine             Together, and the galley from beneath             Those beetling[39] rocks into the open sea             Shot gladly; but the rest all perish'd there.                 Proceeding thence, we sigh'd, and roamed the waves,             Glad that we lived, but sorrowing for the slain.             We came to the an isle; there dwelt             The awful Circe, Goddess amber-hair'd,             Deep-skill'd in magic song, sister by birth             Of the all-wise tes; them the Sun,             Bright luminary of the world, begat             On Perse, daughter of Oceanus.             Our vessel there, noiseless, we push'd to land             Within a spacious haven, thither led             By some celestial Pow'r. We disembark'd,             And on the coast two days and nights entire             Extended lay, worn with long toil, and each             The victim of his heart-devouring woes.             Then, with my spear and with my faulchion arm'd,             I left the ship to climb with hasty steps             An airy height, thence, hoping to espie             Some works of man, or hear, perchance, a voice.             Exalted on a rough rock's craggy point             I stood, and on the distant plain, beheld             Smoke which from Circe's palace through the gloom             Of trees and thickets rose. That smoke discern'd,             I ponder'd next if thither I should haste,             Seeking intelligence. Long time I mused,             But chose at last, as my discreter course,             To seek the sea-beach and my bark again,             And, when my crew had eaten, to dispatch             Before me, others, who should first enquire.             But, ere I yet had reach'd my gallant bark,             Some God with pity viewing me alone             In that untrodden solitude, sent forth             An antler'd stag, full-sized, into my path.             His woodland pastures left, he sought the stream,             For he was thirsty, and already parch'd             By the sun's heat. Him issuing from his haunt,             Sheer through the back beneath his middle spine,             I wounded, and the lance sprang forth beyond.             Moaning he fell, and in the dust expired.             Then, treading on his breathless trunk, I pluck'd             My weapon forth, which leaving there reclined,             I tore away the osiers with my hands             And fallows green, and to a fathom's length             Twisting the gather'd twigs into a band,             Bound fast the feet of my enormous prey,             And, flinging him athwart my neck, repair'd             Toward my sable bark, propp'd on my lance,             Which now to carry shoulder'd as before             Surpass'd my pow'r, so bulky was the load.             Arriving at the ship, there I let fall             My burthen, and with pleasant speech and kind,             Man after man addressing, cheer'd my crew.                 My friends! we suffer much, but shall not seek             The shades, ere yet our destined hour arrive.             Behold a feast! and we have wine on board--             Pine not with needless famine! rise and eat.                 I spake; they readily obey'd, and each             Issuing at my word abroad, beside             The galley stood, admiring, as he lay,             The stag, for of no common bulk was he.             At length, their eyes gratified to the full             With that glad spectacle, they laved their hands,             And preparation made of noble cheer.             That day complete, till set of sun, we spent             Feasting deliciously without restraint,             And quaffing generous wine; but when the sun             Went down, and darkness overshadow'd all,             Extended, then, on Ocean's bank we lay;             And when Aurora, daughter of the dawn,             Look'd rosy forth, convening all my crew             To council, I arose, and thus began.                 My fellow-voyagers, however worn             With num'rous hardships, hear! for neither West             Know ye, nor East, where rises, or where sets             The all-enlight'ning sun. But let us think,             If thought perchance may profit us, of which             Small hope I see; for when I lately climb'd             Yon craggy rock, plainly I could discern             The land encompass'd by the boundless Deep.             The isle is flat, and in the midst I saw             Dun smoke ascending from an oaken bow'r.                 So I, whom hearing, they all courage lost,             And at remembrance of Antiphatas             The Lstrygonian, and the Cyclops' deeds,             Ferocious feeder on the flesh of man,             Mourn'd loud and wept, but tears could nought avail.             Then numb'ring man by man, I parted them             In equal portions, and assign'd a Chief             To either band, myself to these, to those             Godlike Eurylochus. This done, we cast             The lots into the helmet, and at once             Forth sprang the lot of bold Eurylochus.             He went, and with him of my people march'd             Twenty and two, all weeping; nor ourselves             Wept less, at separation from our friends.             Low in a vale, but on an open spot,             They found the splendid house of Circe, built             With hewn and polish'd stones; compass'd she dwelt             By lions on all sides and mountain-wolves             Tamed by herself with drugs of noxious pow'rs.             Nor were they mischievous, but as my friends             Approach'd, arising on their hinder feet,             Paw'd them in blandishment, and wagg'd the tail.             As, when from feast he rises, dogs around             Their master fawn, accustom'd to receive             The sop conciliatory from his hand,             Around my people, so, those talon'd wolves             And lions fawn'd. They, terrified, that troop             Of savage monsters horrible beheld.             And now, before the Goddess' gates arrived,             They heard the voice of Circe singing sweet             Within, while, busied at the loom, she wove             An ample web immortal, such a work             Transparent, graceful, and of bright design             As hands of Goddesses alone produce.             Thus then Polites, Prince of men, the friend             Highest in my esteem, the rest bespake.                 Ye hear the voice, comrades, of one who weaves             An ample web within, and at her task             So sweetly chaunts that all the marble floor             Re-echoes; human be she or divine             I doubt, but let us call, that we may learn.                 He ceas'd; they call'd; soon issuing at the sound,             The Goddess open'd wide her splendid gates,             And bade them in; they, heedless, all complied,             All save Eurylochus, who fear'd a snare.             She, introducing them, conducted each             To a bright throne, then gave them Pramnian wine,             With grated cheese, pure meal, and honey new,             But medicated with her pois'nous drugs             Their food, that in oblivion they might lose             The wish of home. She gave them, and they drank,--             When, smiting each with her enchanting wand,             She shut them in her sties. In head, in voice,             In body, and in bristles they became             All swine, yet intellected as before,             And at her hand were dieted alone             With acorns, chestnuts, and the cornel-fruit,             Food grateful ever to the grovelling swine.                 Back flew Eurylochus toward the ship,             To tell the woeful tale; struggling to speak,             Yet speechless, there he stood, his heart transfixt             With anguish, and his eyes deluged with tears.             Me boding terrours occupied. At length,             When, gazing on him, all had oft enquired,             He thus rehearsed to us the dreadful change.                 Renown'd Ulysses! as thou bad'st, we went             Through yonder oaks; there, bosom'd in a vale,             But built conspicuous on a swelling knoll             With polish'd rock, we found a stately dome.             Within, some Goddess or some woman wove             An ample web, carolling sweet the while.             They call'd aloud; she, issuing at the voice,             Unfolded, soon, her splendid portals wide,             And bade them in. Heedless they enter'd, all,             But I remain'd, suspicious of a snare.             Ere long the whole band vanish'd, none I saw             Thenceforth, though, seated there, long time I watch'd.                 He ended; I my studded faulchion huge             Athwart my shoulder cast, and seized my bow,             Then bade him lead me thither by the way             Himself had gone; but with both hands my knees             He clasp'd, and in wing'd accents sad exclaim'd.                 My King! ah lead me not unwilling back,             But leave me here; for confident I judge             That neither thou wilt bring another thence,             Nor come thyself again. Haste--fly we swift             With these, for we, at least, may yet escape.                 So he, to whom this answer I return'd.             Eurylochus! abiding here, eat thou             And drink thy fill beside the sable bark;             I go; necessity forbids my stay.                 So saying, I left the galley and the shore.             But ere that awful vale ent'ring, I reach'd             The palace of the sorceress, a God             Met me, the bearer of the golden wand,             Hermes. He seem'd a stripling in his prime,             His cheeks cloath'd only with their earliest down,             For youth is then most graceful; fast he lock'd             His hand in mine, and thus, familiar, spake.                 Unhappy! whither, wand'ring o'er the hills,             Stranger to all this region, and alone,             Go'st thou? Thy people--they within the walls             Are shut of Circe, where as swine close-pent             She keeps them. Comest thou to set them free?             I tell thee, never wilt thou thence return             Thyself, but wilt be prison'd with the rest.             Yet hearken--I will disappoint her wiles,             And will preserve thee. Take this precious drug;             Possessing this, enter the Goddess' house             Boldly, for it shall save thy life from harm.             Lo! I reveal to thee the cruel arts             Of Circe; learn them. She will mix for thee             A potion, and will also drug thy food             With noxious herbs; but she shall not prevail             By all her pow'r to change thee; for the force             Superior of this noble plant, my gift,             Shall baffle her. Hear still what I advise.             When she shall smite thee with her slender rod,             With faulchion drawn and with death-threat'ning looks             Rush on her; she will bid thee to her bed             Affrighted; then beware. Decline not thou             Her love, that she may both release thy friends,             And may with kindness entertain thyself.             But force her swear the dreaded oath of heav'n             That she will other mischief none devise             Against thee, lest she strip thee of thy might,             And, quenching all thy virtue, make thee vile.                 So spake the Argicide, and from the earth             That plant extracting, placed it in my hand,             Then taught me all its pow'rs. Black was the root,             Milk-white the blossom; Moly is its name             In heav'n; not easily by mortal man             Dug forth, but all is easy to the Gods.             Then, Hermes through the island-woods repair'd             To heav'n, and I to Circe's dread abode,             In gloomy musings busied as I went.             Within the vestibule arrived, where dwelt             The beauteous Goddess, staying there my steps,             I call'd aloud; she heard me, and at once             Issuing, threw her splendid portals wide,             And bade me in. I follow'd, heart-distress'd.             Leading me by the hand to a bright throne             With argent studs embellish'd, and beneath             Footstool'd magnificent, she made me sit.             Then mingling for me in a golden cup             My bev'rage, she infused a drug, intent             On mischief; but when I had drunk the draught             Unchanged, she smote me with her wand, and said.                 Hence--seek the sty. There wallow with thy friends.             She spake; I drawing from beside my thigh             My faulchion keen, with death-denouncing looks             Rush'd on her; she with a shrill scream of fear             Ran under my rais'd arm, seized fast my knees,             And in wing'd accents plaintive thus began.                 Who? whence? thy city and thy birth declare.             Amazed I see thee with that potion drench'd,             Yet uninchanted; never man before             Once pass'd it through his lips, and liv'd the same;             But in thy breast a mind inhabits, proof             Against all charms. Come then--I know thee well.             Thou art Ulysses artifice-renown'd,             Of whose arrival here in his return             From Ilium, Hermes of the golden wand             Was ever wont to tell me. Sheath again             Thy sword, and let us, on my bed reclined,             Mutual embrace, that we may trust thenceforth             Each other, without jealousy or fear.                 The Goddess spake, to whom I thus replied.             O Circe! canst thou bid me meek become             And gentle, who beneath thy roof detain'st             My fellow-voyagers transform'd to swine?             And, fearing my escape, invit'st thou me             Into thy bed, with fraudulent pretext             Of love, that there, enfeebling by thy arts             My noble spirit, thou may'st make me vile?             No--trust me--never will I share thy bed             Till first, O Goddess, thou consent to swear             The dread all-binding oath, that other harm             Against myself thou wilt imagine none.                 I spake. She swearing as I bade, renounced             All evil purpose, and (her solemn oath             Concluded) I ascended, next, her bed             Magnificent. Meantime, four graceful nymphs             Attended on the service of the house,             Her menials, from the fountains sprung and groves,             And from the sacred streams that seek the sea.             Of these, one cast fine linen on the thrones,             Which, next, with purple arras rich she spread;             Another placed before the gorgeous seats             Bright tables, and set on baskets of gold.             The third, an argent beaker fill'd with wine             Delicious, which in golden cups she served;             The fourth brought water, which she warm'd within             An ample vase, and when the simm'ring flood             Sang in the tripod, led me to a bath,             And laved me with the pleasant stream profuse             Pour'd o'er my neck and body, till my limbs             Refresh'd, all sense of lassitude resign'd.             When she had bathed me, and with limpid oil             Anointed me, and cloathed me in a vest             And mantle, next, she led me to a throne             Of royal state, with silver studs emboss'd,             And footstool'd soft beneath; then came a nymph             With golden ewer charged and silver bowl,             Who pour'd pure water on my hands, and placed             The polish'd board before me, which with food             Various, selected from her present stores,             The cat'ress spread, then, courteous, bade me eat.             But me it pleas'd not; with far other thoughts             My spirit teem'd, on vengeance more intent.             Soon, then, as Circe mark'd me on my seat             Fast-rooted, sullen, nor with outstretch'd hands             Deigning to touch the banquet, she approach'd,             And in wing'd accents suasive thus began.                 Why sits Ulysses like the Dumb, dark thoughts             His only food? loaths he the touch of meat,             And taste of wine? Thou fear'st, as I perceive,             Some other snare, but idle is that fear,             For I have sworn the inviolable oath.                 She ceas'd, to whom this answer I return'd.             How can I eat? what virtuous man and just,             O Circe! could endure the taste of wine             Or food, till he should see his prison'd friends             Once more at liberty? If then thy wish             That I should eat and drink be true, produce             My captive people; let us meet again.                 So I; then Circe, bearing in her hand             Her potent rod, went forth, and op'ning wide             The door, drove out my people from the sty,             In bulk resembling brawns of the ninth year.             They stood before me; she through all the herd             Proceeding, with an unctuous antidote             Anointed each, and at the wholesome touch             All shed the swinish bristles by the drug             Dread Circe's former magic gift, produced.             Restored at once to manhood, they appear'd             More vig'rous far, and sightlier than before.             They knew me, and with grasp affectionate             Hung on my hand. Tears follow'd, but of joy,             And with loud cries the vaulted palace rang.             Even the awful Goddess felt, herself,             Compassion, and, approaching me, began.                 Laertes' noble son, for wiles renown'd!             Hence to the shore, and to thy gallant bark;             First, hale her safe aground, then, hiding all             Your arms and treasures in the caverns, come             Thyself again, and hither lead thy friends.             So spake the Goddess, and my gen'rous mind             Persuaded; thence repairing to the beach,             I sought my ship; arrived, I found my crew             Lamenting miserably, and their cheeks             With tears bedewing ceaseless at her side.             As when the calves within some village rear'd             Behold, at eve, the herd returning home             From fruitful meads where they have grazed their fill,             No longer in the stalls contain'd, they rush             With many a frisk abroad, and, blaring oft,             With one consent, all dance their dams around,             So they, at sight of me, dissolved in tears             Of rapt'rous joy, and each his spirit felt             With like affections warm'd as he had reach'd             Just then his country, and his city seen,             Fair Ithaca, where he was born and rear'd.             Then in wing'd accents tender thus they spake.                 Noble Ulysses! thy appearance fills             Our soul with transports, such as we should feel             Arrived in safety on our native shore.             Speak--say how perish'd our unhappy friends?                 So they; to whom this answer mild I gave.             Hale we our vessel first ashore, and hide             In caverns all our treasures and our arms,             Then, hasting hence, follow me, and ere long             Ye shall behold your friends, beneath the roof             Of Circe banqueting and drinking wine             Abundant, for no dearth attends them there.                 So I; whom all with readiness obey'd,             All save Eurylochus; he sought alone             To stay the rest, and, eager, interposed.                 Ah whither tend we, miserable men?             Why covet ye this evil, to go down             To Circe's palace? she will change us all             To lions, wolves or swine, that we may guard             Her palace, by necessity constrain'd.             So some were pris'ners of the Cyclops erst,             When, led by rash Ulysses, our lost friends             Intruded needlessly into his cave,             And perish'd by the folly of their Chief.                 He spake, whom hearing, occupied I stood             In self-debate, whether, my faulchion keen             Forth-drawing from beside my sturdy thigh,             To tumble his lopp'd head into the dust,             Although he were my kinsman in the bonds             Of close affinity; but all my friends             As with one voice, thus gently interposed.                 Noble Ulysses! we will leave him here             Our vessel's guard, if such be thy command,             But us lead thou to Circe's dread abode.                 So saying, they left the galley, and set forth             Climbing the coast; nor would Eurylochus             Beside the hollow bark remain, but join'd             His comrades by my dreadful menace awed.             Meantime the Goddess, busily employ'd,             Bathed and refresh'd my friends with limpid oil,             And clothed them. We, arriving, found them all             Banqueting in the palace; there they met;             These ask'd, and those rehearsed the wond'rous tale,             And, the recital made, all wept aloud             Till the wide dome resounded. Then approach'd             The graceful Goddess, and address'd me thus.                 Laertes' noble son, for wiles renown'd!             Provoke ye not each other, now, to tears.             I am not ignorant, myself, how dread             Have been your woes both on the fishy Deep,             And on the land by force of hostile pow'rs.             But come--Eat now, and drink ye wine, that so             Your freshen'd spirit may revive, and ye             Courageous grow again, as when ye left             The rugged shores of Ithaca, your home.             For now, through recollection, day by day,             Of all your pains and toils, ye are become             Spiritless, strengthless, and the taste forget             Of pleasure, such have been your num'rous woes.                 She spake, whose invitation kind prevail'd,             And won us to her will. There, then, we dwelt             The year complete, fed with delicious fare             Day after day, and quaffing gen'rous wine.             But when (the year fulfill'd) the circling hours             Their course resumed, and the successive months             With all their tedious days were spent, my friends,             Summoning me abroad, thus greeted me.                 Sir! recollect thy country, if indeed             The fates ordain thee to revisit safe             That country, and thy own glorious abode.                 So they; whose admonition I receiv'd             Well-pleas'd. Then, all the day, regaled we sat             At Circe's board with sav'ry viands rare,             And quaffing richest wine; but when, the sun             Declining, darkness overshadow'd all,             Then, each within the dusky palace took             Custom'd repose, and to the Goddess' bed             Magnificent ascending, there I urged             My earnest suit, which gracious she receiv'd,             And in wing'd accents earnest thus I spake.                 O Circe! let us prove thy promise true;             Dismiss us hence. My own desires, at length,             Tend homeward vehement, and the desires             No less of all my friends, who with complaints             Unheard by thee, wear my sad heart away.                 So I; to whom the Goddess in return.             Laertes' noble son, Ulysses famed             For deepest wisdom! dwell not longer here,             Thou and thy followers, in my abode             Reluctant; but your next must be a course             Far diff'rent; hence departing, ye must seek             The dreary house of Ades and of dread             Persephone there to consult the Seer             Theban Tiresias, prophet blind, but blest             With faculties which death itself hath spared.             To him alone, of all the dead, Hell's Queen             Gives still to prophesy, while others flit             Mere forms, the shadows of what once they were.                 She spake, and by her words dash'd from my soul             All courage; weeping on the bed I sat,             Reckless of life and of the light of day.             But when, with tears and rolling to and fro             Satiate, I felt relief, thus I replied.                 O Circe! with what guide shall I perform             This voyage, unperform'd by living man?                 I spake, to whom the Goddess quick replied.             Brave Laertiades! let not the fear             To want a guide distress thee. Once on board,             Your mast erected, and your canvas white             Unfurl'd, sit thou; the breathing North shall waft             Thy vessel on. But when ye shall have cross'd             The broad expanse of Ocean, and shall reach             The oozy shore, where grow the poplar groves             And fruitless willows wan of Proserpine,             Push thither through the gulphy Deep thy bark,             And, landing, haste to Pluto's murky abode.             There, into Acheron runs not alone             Dread Pyriphlegethon, but Cocytus loud,             From Styx derived; there also stands a rock,             At whose broad base the roaring rivers meet.             There, thrusting, as I bid, thy bark ashore,             O Hero! scoop the soil, op'ning a trench             Ell-broad on ev'ry side; then pour around             Libation consecrate to all the dead,             First, milk with honey mixt, then luscious wine,             Then water, sprinkling, last, meal over all.             Next, supplicate the unsubstantial forms             Fervently of the dead, vowing to slay,             (Return'd to Ithaca) in thy own house,             An heifer barren yet, fairest and best             Of all thy herds, and to enrich the pile             With delicacies such as please the shades;             But, in peculiar, to Tiresias vow             A sable ram, noblest of all thy flocks.             When thus thou hast propitiated with pray'r             All the illustrious nations of the dead,             Next, thou shalt sacrifice to them a ram             And sable ewe, turning the face of each             Right toward Erebus, and look thyself,             Meantime, askance toward the river's course.             Souls num'rous, soon, of the departed dead             Will thither flock; then, strenuous urge thy friends,             Flaying the victims which thy ruthless steel             Hath slain, to burn them, and to sooth by pray'r             Illustrious Pluto and dread Proserpine.             While thus is done, thou seated at the foss,             Faulchion in hand, chace thence the airy forms             Afar, nor suffer them to approach the blood,             Till with Tiresias thou have first conferr'd.             Then, glorious Chief! the Prophet shall himself             Appear, who will instruct thee, and thy course             Delineate, measuring from place to place             Thy whole return athwart the fishy flood.                 While thus she spake, the golden dawn arose,             When, putting on me my attire, the nymph             Next, cloath'd herself, and girding to her waist             With an embroider'd zone her snowy robe             Graceful, redundant, veil'd her beauteous head.             Then, ranging the wide palace, I aroused             My followers, standing at the side of each--             Up! sleep no longer! let us quick depart,             For thus the Goddess hath, herself, advised.                 So I, whose early summons my brave friends             With readiness obey'd. Yet even thence             I brought not all my crew. There was a youth,             Youngest of all my train, Elpenor; one             Not much in estimation for desert             In arms, nor prompt in understanding more,             Who overcharged with wine, and covetous             Of cooler air, high on the palace-roof             Of Circe slept, apart from all the rest.             Awaken'd by the clamour of his friends             Newly arisen, he also sprang to rise,             And in his haste, forgetful where to find             The deep-descending stairs, plunged through the roof.             With neck-bone broken from the vertebr             Outstretch'd he lay; his spirit sought the shades.                 Then, thus to my assembling friends I spake.             Ye think, I doubt not, of an homeward course,             But Circe points me to the drear abode             Of Proserpine and Pluto, to consult             The spirit of Tiresias, Theban seer.                 I ended, and the hearts of all alike             Felt consternation; on the earth they sat             Disconsolate, and plucking each his hair,             Yet profit none of all their sorrow found.                 But while we sought my galley on the beach             With tepid tears bedewing, as we went,             Our cheeks, meantime the Goddess to the shore             Descending, bound within the bark a ram             And sable ewe, passing us unperceived.             For who hath eyes that can discern a God             Going or coming, if he shun the view?