"Circe, the Enchantress"

From: The Odyssey

Low she sang

In her beguiling voice, while on her loom

she wove ambrosial fabric sheer and bright,

by that craft known to the goddesses of heaven.

No one would speak, until Polites - most

faithful and likeable of my officers, said:

"Dear friends, no need for stealth: here's a young

weaver

singing a pretty song to set the air

a-tingle on these lawns and paven courts.

Goddess she is, or lady. Shall we greet her?"

So reassured, they all cried out together,

and she came swiftly to the shining doors

to call them in. All but Eurylochus -

who feared a snare - the innocents went after her.

On thrones she seated them, and lounging chairs,

while she prepared a meal of cheese and barley

and amber honey mixed with Pramnian wine,

adding her own vile pinch, to make them lose

desire or thought o four dear fatherland.

Scarce had they drunk when she flew after them

with her long stick and shut them in a pigsty -

bodies, voices, heads, and bristles, all

swinish now, though minds were still unchanged.

So, squealing, in they went. And Circe tossed them

acorns, mast, and cornel berries - fodder

for hogs who rut and slumber on the earth.

Down to the shop Eurylochus came running

to cry alarm, foul magic doomed his men!

But working without dry lips to speak a word

he could not, being so shaken; blinding tears

welled in his eyes; foreboding filled his heart.

When we were frantic questioning him, at last

we heard the tale: our friends were gone. …

Eurylochus tells Odysseus what has happened and begs the captain to sail away from Circe's land. Against Eurylochus' advice, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress. On the way , he meets Hermes, who gives him a special flower (or herb) - a molu - to protect him from Circe's power. Now she will not be able to turn Odysseus into a pig as she has the others. Still, Hermes warns, Odysseus must make the enchantress swear that she will play no "witches' tricks." Even more determined, Odysseus continues toward Circe's palace. Once he arrives, Circe welcomes him and leads him to a magnificent silver-studded chair.

The lady Circe

mixed me a golden cup of honeyed wine,

adding in her mischief her unholy drug.

I drank, and the drink failed. But she came forward

aiming a stroke with her long stick and whispered:

"Down in the sty and snore among the rest!"

Without a word, I drew my sharpened sword

and in one bound held it against her throat.

She cried out, then slid under to take my knees

catching her breath to say, in her distress:

"What champion, of what country, can you be?

Where are your kinsmen and your city?

Are you not sluggish with my wine? Ah, wonder!

Never a mortal man that drank this cup

but when it passed his lips he had succumbed.

Hale must your heart be and your tempered will.

Odysseus then you are, O great contender,

of whom the glittering god with golden wand

spoke to me ever, and foretold

the black swift ship would carry you from Troy.

Put up your weapon in the sheath. We two

shall mingle and make love upon our bed.

So mutual trust may come of play and love."

To this I said:

"Circe, am I a boy,

that you should make me soft and doting now?

Here in this house you turned my men to swine;

now it is I myself you hold, enticing

into your chamber, to your dangerous bed,

to take my manhood when you have me stripped.

I mount no bed of love with you upon it.

Or swear me first a great oath, if I do,

you'll work no more enchantment to my harm."

She swore at once, outright, as I demanded, and after she had sworn, and bound herself,

I entered Circe's flawless bed of love. …

Circe's maidens bathe Odysseus and offer him a tempting meal, yet his mind remains on his captive men.

Circe regarded me, as there I sat

disconsolate, and never touched a crust.

Then she stood over me and chided me:

"Why sit at table mute, Odysseus?

Are you mistrustful of my bread and drink?

Can it be treachery that you fear again,

after the gods' great oath I swore for you?"

I turned to her at once and said:

"Circe, where is the captain who could bear to touch

this banquet, in my place? A decent man

would see his company before him first.

Put heart in me to eat and drink - you may,

by freeing my companions. I must see them."

But Circe had already turned away.

Her long staff in her hand, she left the hall

and opened up the sty. I saw here enter,

driving those men turned swine to stand before me.

She stroked them, each in turn, with some new

chrism;

and then, behold! their bristles fell away,

the coarse pelt grown upon them by her drug

melted away, and they were men again,

younger, more handsome, taller than before.

Their eyes upon me, each one took my hands,

and wild regret and longing pierced them through,

so the room rang with sobs, and even Circe

pitied that transformation. Exquisite

the goddess looked as she stood near me, saying:

"Son of Laertes and the gods of old,

Odysseus master mariner and soldier,

go to the sea beach and sea-breasting ship;

drag it ashore, full length upon the land;

stow gear and stores in rock-holes under cover;

return; be quick; bring all your dear companions."

Now, being a man, I could not help consenting.

So I went down to the sea beach and the ship,

where I found all my other men on board,

weeping, in despair along the benches.

Sometimes in farmyards when the cows return

well fed from pasture to the barn, one sees

the pens give way before the calves in tumult,

breaking through to cluster about their mothers.

bumping together, bawling. Just that way

my crew poured round me when they saw me

come -

their faces wet with tears as if they saw

their homeland, and the crags of Ithaca,

even the very town where they were born.

And weeping still they all cried out in greeting:

"Prince, what joy this is, your safe return!

Now Ithaca seems here, and we in Ithaca!

But tell us now, what death befell our friends?"

And, speaking gently, I replied:

"First we must get the ship high on the shingle,

and stow our gear and stores in clefts of rock

for cover. Then follow me, to see

your shipmates in the magic house of Circe

eating and drinking, endlessly regaled."

They turned back, as commanded, to this work;

only one lagged, and tried to hold the others:

Eurylochus it was, who blurted out:

"Where now, poor remnants? Is it devil's work

you long for? Will you go to Circe's hall?

Swine, wolves, and lions she will make us all,

beasts of her courtyard, bound by her enchantment.

Remember those the Cyclops held, remember shipmates who made that visit with Odysseus!

The daring man! They died for his foolishness!"

When I heard this I had a mind to draw the blade that swung against my side and chop him,

bowling his head upon the ground - kinsman

or no kinsman, close to me though he was.

But others came between, saying, to stop me,

"Prince, we can leave him, if you say the word;

let him stay here on guard. As for ourselves,

show us the way to Circe's magic hall."

So all turned inland, leaving shore and ship,

and Eurylochus - he, too, came on behind,

fearing the rough edge of my tongue. Meanwhile

at Circe's hands the rest were gently bathed,

anointed with sweet oil, and dressed afresh

in tunics and new cloaks with fleecy linings.

We found them all at supper when we came.

But greeting their old friends once more, the crew

the room rang with sobs. Then, Circe, loveliest

of all immortals, came to counsel me:

"Son of Laertes and the gods of old,

Odysseus, master mariner and soldier,

enough of weeping fits. I know - I, too -

what you endured upon the inhuman sea,

what odds you met on land from hostile men.

Remain with me, and share my meat and wine;

restore behind your ribs those gallant hearts that served you in the old days, when you sailed

form stony Ithaca. Now parched and spent,

your cruel wandering is all you think of,

never of joy, after so many blows."

As we were men we could not help consenting.

So day by day we lingered, feasting long

on roasts and wine, until a year grew fat.

But when the passing months and wheeling seasons

brought the long summery days, the pause of

summer,

my shipmates one day summoned me and said;

"Captain, shake off this trance, and think of home -

if home indeed awaits us,

if we shall ever see

Your own well timbered hall on Ithaca."

They made me feel a pang, and I agreed.

That day, and all day long, from dawn to sundown,

we feasted on roast meat and ruddy wine,

and after sunset when the dusk came on

my men slept in the shadowy hall, but I

went through the dark to Circe's flawless bed

and took the goddess' knees in supplication,

urging, as she bent to hear:

"O Circe,

now you must keep your promise; it is time.

Help me make sail for home. Day after day

my longing quickens, and my company

give me no peace, but wear my heart away

pleading when you are not at hand to hear."

The loveliest of goddesses replied:

"Son of Laertes and the gods of old,

Odysseus, master mariner and soldier,

you shall not stay here longer against your will;

but home you may not go

unless you take a strange way round and come to the cold homes of Death and pale Persephone.

You shall hear prophecy from the rapt shade

of blind Tiresias of Thebes, forever

charged with reason even among the dead;

to him alone, of all the flitting ghosts,

Persephone has given a mind undarkened."

At this I felt a weight like stone within me,

and, moaning, pressed my length against the bed,

with no desire to see the day light more. …

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