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out and gambol round their mothers； when they see them coming home
to be milked after they have been feeding all day； and the homestead
resounds with their lowing。 They seemed as glad to see me as though
they had got back to their own rugged Ithaca； where they had been born
and bred。 'Sir；' said the affectionate creatures； 'we are as glad to
see you back as though we had got safe home to Ithaca； but tell us all
about the fate of our comrades。'
〃I spoke comfortingly to them and said； 'We must draw our ship on to
the land； and hide the ship's gear with all our property in some cave；
then come with me all of you as fast as you can to Circe's house；
where you will find your comrades eating and drinking in the midst
of great abundance。'
〃On this the men would have come with me at once； but Eurylochus
tried to hold them back and said； 'Alas； poor wretches that we are；
what will become of us？ Rush not on your ruin by going to the house of
Circe； who will turn us all into pigs or wolves or lions； and we shall
have to keep guard over her house。 Remember how the Cyclops treated us
when our comrades went inside his cave； and Ulysses with them。 It
was all through his sheer folly that those men lost their lives。'
〃When I heard him I was in two minds whether or no to draw the
keen blade that hung by my sturdy thigh and cut his head off in
spite of his being a near relation of my own； but the men interceded
for him and said； 'Sir； if it may so be； let this fellow stay here and
mind the ship； but take the rest of us with you to Circe's house。'
〃On this we all went inland； and Eurylochus was not left behind
after all； but came on too； for he was frightened by the severe
reprimand that I had given him。
〃Meanwhile Circe had been seeing that the men who had been left
behind were washed and anointed with olive oil； she had also given
them woollen cloaks and shirts； and when we came we found them all
comfortably at dinner in her house。 As soon as the men saw each
other face to face and knew one another； they wept for joy and cried
aloud till the whole palace rang again。 Thereon Circe came up to me
and said； 'Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； tell your men to leave off
crying； I know how much you have all of you suffered at sea； and how
ill you have fared among cruel savages on the mainland； but that is
over now； so stay here； and eat and drink till you are once more as
strong and hearty as you were when you left Ithaca； for at present you
are weakened both in body and mind； you keep all the time thinking
of the hardships… you have suffered during your travels； so that you
have no more cheerfulness left in you。'
〃Thus did she speak and we assented。 We stayed with Circe for a
whole twelvemonth feasting upon an untold quantity both of meat and
wine。 But when the year had passed in the waning of moons and the long
days had come round； my men called me apart and said； 'Sir； it is time
you began to think about going home； if so be you are to be spared
to see your house and native country at all。'
〃Thus did they speak and I assented。 Thereon through the livelong
day to the going down of the sun we feasted our fill on meat and wine；
but when the sun went down and it came on dark the men laid themselves
down to sleep in the covered cloisters。 I； however； after I had got
into bed with Circe； besought her by her knees； and the goddess
listened to what I had got to say。 'Circe；' said I； 'please to keep
the promise you made me about furthering me on my homeward voyage。 I
want to get back and so do my men； they are always pestering me with
their complaints as soon as ever your back is turned。'
〃And the goddess answered； 'Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； you shall
none of you stay here any longer if you do not want to； but there is
another journey which you have got to take before you can sail
homewards。 You must go to the house of Hades and of dread Proserpine
to consult the ghost of the blind Theban prophet Teiresias whose
reason is still unshaken。 To him alone has Proserpine left his
understanding even in death； but the other ghosts flit about
aimlessly。'
〃I was dismayed when I heard this。 I sat up in bed and wept； and
would gladly have lived no longer to see the light of the sun； but
presently when I was tired of weeping and tossing myself about； I
said； 'And who shall guide me upon this voyage… for the house of Hades
is a port that no ship can reach。'
〃'You will want no guide；' she answered； 'raise you mast； set your
white sails； sit quite still； and the North Wind will blow you there
of itself。 When your ship has traversed the waters of Oceanus； you
will reach the fertile shore of Proserpine's country with its groves
of tall poplars and willows that shed their fruit untimely； here beach
your ship upon the shore of Oceanus； and go straight on to the dark
abode of Hades。 You will find it near the place where the rivers
Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus （which is a branch of the river Styx）
flow into Acheron； and you will see a rock near it； just where the two
roaring rivers run into one another。
〃'When you have reached this spot； as I now tell you； dig a trench a
cubit or so in length； breadth； and depth； and pour into it as a
drink…offering to all the dead； first； honey mixed with milk； then
wine； and in the third place water…sprinkling white barley meal over
the whole。 Moreover you must offer many prayers to the poor feeble
ghosts； and promise them that when you get back to Ithaca you will
sacrifice a barren heifer to them； the best you have； and will load
the pyre with good things。 More particularly you must promise that
Teiresias shall have a black sheep all to himself； the finest in all
your flocks。
〃'When you shall have thus besought the ghosts with your prayers；
offer them a ram and a black ewe； bending their heads towards
Erebus； but yourself turn away from them as though you would make
towards the river。 On this； many dead men's ghosts will come to you；
and you must tell your men to skin the two sheep that you have just
killed； and offer them as a burnt sacrifice with prayers to Hades
and to Proserpine。 Then draw your sword and sit there； so as to
prevent any other poor ghost from coming near the split blood before
Teiresias shall have answered your questions。 The seer will
presently come to you； and will tell you about your voyage… what
stages you are to make； and how you are to sail the see so as to reach
your home。'
〃It was day…break by the time she had done speaking； so she
dressed me in my shirt and cloak。 As for herself she threw a beautiful
light gossamer fabric over her shoulders； fastening it with a golden
girdle round her waist； and she covered her head with a mantle。 Then I
went about among the men everywhere all over the house； and spoke
kindly to each of them man by man： 'You must not lie sleeping here any
longer；' said I to them； 'we must be going； for Circe has told me
all about it。' And this they did as I bade them。
〃Even so； however； I did not get them away without misadventure。
We had with us a certain youth named Elpenor； not very remarkable
for sense or courage； who had got drunk and was lying on the house…top
away from the rest of the men； to sleep off his liquor in the cool。
When he heard the noise of the men bustling about； he jumped up on a
sudden and forgot all about coming down by the main staircase； so he
tumbled right off the roof and broke his neck； and his soul went
down to the house of Hades。
〃When I had got the men together I said to them； 'You think you
are about to start home again； but Circe has explained to me that
instead of this； we have got to go to the house of Hades and
Proserpine to consult the ghost of the Theban prophet Teiresias。'
〃The men were broken…hearted as they heard me； and threw
themselves on the ground groaning and tearing their hair； but they did
not mend matters by crying。 When we reached the sea shore； weeping and
lamenting our fate； Circe brought the ram and the ewe； and we made
them fast hard by the ship。 She passed through the midst of us without
our knowing it； for who can see the comings and goings of a god； if
the god does not wish to be seen？