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our knowing it； for who can see the comings and goings of a god； if
the god does not wish to be seen？
BOOK XI。
THEN； when we had got down to the sea shore we drew our ship into
the water and got her mast and sails into her； we also put the sheep
on board and took our places； weeping and in great distress of mind。
Circe； that great and cunning goddess； sent us a fair wind that blew
dead aft and stayed steadily with us keeping our sails all the time
well filled； so we did whatever wanted doing to the ship's gear and
let her go as the wind and helmsman headed her。 All day long her sails
were full as she held her course over the sea； but when the sun went
down and darkness was over all the earth； we got into the deep
waters of the river Oceanus； where lie the land and city of the
Cimmerians who live enshrouded in mist and darkness which the rays
of the sun never pierce neither at his rising nor as he goes down
again out of the heavens； but the poor wretches live in one long
melancholy night。 When we got there we beached the ship； took the
sheep out of her； and went along by the waters of Oceanus till we came
to the place of which Circe had told us。
〃Here Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims； while I drew my
sword and dug the trench a cubit each way。 I made a drink…offering
to all the dead； first with honey and milk； then with wine； and
thirdly with water； and I sprinkled white barley meal over the
whole； praying earnestly to the poor feckless ghosts； and promising
them that when I got back to Ithaca I would sacrifice a barren
heifer for them； the best I had； and would load the pyre with good
things。 I also particularly promised that Teiresias should have a
black sheep to himself； the best in all my flocks。 When I had prayed
sufficiently to the dead； I cut the throats of the two sheep and let
the blood run into the trench； whereon the ghosts came trooping up
from Erebus… brides； young bachelors； old men worn out with toil；
maids who had been crossed in love； and brave men who had been
killed in battle； with their armour still smirched with blood； they
came from every quarter and flitted round the trench with a strange
kind of screaming sound that made me turn pale with fear。 When I saw
them coming I told the men to be quick and flay the carcasses of the
two dead sheep and make burnt offerings of them； and at the same
time to repeat prayers to Hades and to Proserpine； but I sat where I
was with my sword drawn and would not let the poor feckless ghosts
come near the blood till Teiresias should have answered my questions。
〃The first ghost 'that came was that of my comrade Elpenor； for he
had not yet been laid beneath the earth。 We had left his body
unwaked and unburied in Circe's house； for we had had too much else to
do。 I was very sorry for him； and cried when I saw him： 'Elpenor；'
said I； 'how did you come down here into this gloom and darkness？
You have here on foot quicker than I have with my ship。'
〃'Sir；' he answered with a groan； 'it was all bad luck； and my own
unspeakable drunkenness。 I was lying asleep on the top of Circe's
house； and never thought of coming down again by the great staircase
but fell right off the roof and broke my neck； so my soul down to
the house of Hades。 And now I beseech you by all those whom you have
left behind you； though they are not here； by your wife； by the father
who brought you up when you were a child； and by Telemachus who is the
one hope of your house； do what I shall now ask you。 I know that
when you leave this limbo you will again hold your ship for the Aeaean
island。 Do not go thence leaving me unwaked and unburied behind you；
or I may bring heaven's anger upon you； but burn me with whatever
armour I have； build a barrow for me on the sea shore； that may tell
people in days to come what a poor unlucky fellow I was； and plant
over my grave the oar I used to row with when I was yet alive and with
my messmates。' And I said； 'My poor fellow； I will do all that you
have asked of me。'
〃Thus； then； did we sit and hold sad talk with one another； I on the
one side of the trench with my sword held over the blood； and the
ghost of my comrade saying all this to me from the other side。 Then
came the ghost of my dead mother Anticlea； daughter to Autolycus。 I
had left her alive when I set out for Troy and was moved to tears when
I saw her； but even so； for all my sorrow I would not let her come
near the blood till I had asked my questions of Teiresias。
〃Then came also the ghost of Theban Teiresias； with his golden
sceptre in his hand。 He knew me and said； 'Ulysses； noble son of
Laertes； why； poor man； have you left the light of day and come down
to visit the dead in this sad place？ Stand back from the trench and
withdraw your sword that I may drink of the blood and answer your
questions truly。'
〃So I drew back； and sheathed my sword； whereon when he had drank of
the blood he began with his prophecy。
〃You want to know；' said he； 'about your return home； but heaven
will make this hard for you。 I do not think that you will escape the
eye of Neptune； who still nurses his bitter grudge against you for
having blinded his son。 Still； after much suffering you may get home
if you can restrain yourself and your companions when your ship
reaches the Thrinacian island； where you will find the sheep and
cattle belonging to the sun； who sees and gives ear to everything。
If you leave these flocks unharmed and think of nothing but of getting
home； you may yet after much hardship reach Ithaca； but if you harm
them； then I forewarn you of the destruction both of your ship and
of your men。 Even though you may yourself escape； you will return in
bad plight after losing all your men； ＇in another man's ship； and
you will find trouble in your house； which will be overrun by
high…handed people； who are devouring your substance under the pretext
of paying court and making presents to your wife。
〃'When you get home you will take your revenge on these suitors； and
after you have killed them by force or fraud in your own house； you
must take a well…made oar and carry it on and on； till you come to a
country where the people have never heard of the sea and do not even
mix salt with their food； nor do they know anything about ships； and
oars that are as the wings of a ship。 I will give you this certain
token which cannot escape your notice。 A wayfarer will meet you and
will say it must be a winnowing shovel that you have got upon your
shoulder； on this you must fix the oar in the ground and sacrifice a
ram； a bull； and a boar to Neptune。 Then go home and offer hecatombs
to an the gods in heaven one after the other。 As for yourself； death
shall come to you from the sea； and your life shall ebb away very
gently when you are full of years and peace of mind； and your people
shall bless you。 All that I have said will come true＇。'
〃'This；' I answered； 'must be as it may please heaven； but tell me
and tell me and tell me true； I see my poor mother's ghost close by
us； she is sitting by the blood without saying a word； and though I am
her own son she does not remember me and speak to me； tell me； Sir；
how I can make her know me。'
〃'That；' said he； 'I can soon do Any ghost that you let taste of the
blood will talk with you like a reasonable being； but if you do not
let them have any blood they will go away again。'
〃On this the ghost of Teiresias went back to the house of Hades； for
his prophecyings had now been spoken； but I sat still where I was
until my mother came up and tasted the blood。 Then she knew me at once
and spoke fondly to me； saying； 'My son； how did you come down to this
abode of darkness while you are still alive？ It is a hard thing for
the living to see these places； for between us and them there are
great and terrible waters； and there is Oceanus； which no man can
cross on foot； but he must have a good ship to take him。 Are you all
this time trying to find your way home from Troy； and have you never
yet got back to Ithaca nor seen your wife in your own house？'
〃'Mother；' said I； 'I was forced to come here to consult the ghost
of the Theban prophet Teir