Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/171

131—169. all turned up the sea [with their oars] together, dreading destruction. And my ship gladly fled the lofty rocks into the sea; but the others perished there together. But from thence we sailed onward, sorrowing in our heart, glad [at our escape] from death, [but sorry at] having lost our dear companions. And we came to the island Ææa; but fair-haired Circe, a clever goddess, possessing human speech, dwelt there, own sister to all-wise Æætas; and both were born from the Sun who gives light to mortals, and from a mother Perse, whom Ocean begot as his daughter. But there we were led up on the shore silently in the ship to the ship-receiving haven; and some god conducted us. There then disembarking, we lay two days and two nights, consuming our mind with labour and grief together.

"But when at length the fair-haired morn produced the third day, then I, taking my spear and sharp sword, quickly went up from the ship to a place of look-out, if by any means I could perceive the works of men, and could hear their voice. And I stood, having ascended a rugged promontory. And there appeared to me smoke from the wide-wayed earth, in the palace of Circe, through the dense thickets and wood. And then I meditated in my soul and in my mind to go and inquire, when I beheld the black smoke. But thus, on considering, it seemed to me to be better that I should, first going to the swift ship and the shore of the sea, give a supper to my companions, and send them on to inquire. But when I was now coming near to the ship rowed on both sides, then some one of the gods pitied me, who was alone, who sent a large lofty-horned stag into my very path: it came down to the river from the pasture in the wood, to drink (for already the strength of the sun seized hold of him): but I struck him, as he was going out, at the spine in the middle of the back: and the brazen spear passed right through him; and he fell moaning in the dust, and life fled away. But I stepping upon him, drew the brazen spear out of the wound; again reclining it on the earth, I left it: but I drew twigs and osiers, and having woven a well-twisted cable on both sides as long as an ell, I bound together the feet of the terrible monster. And I went to the black ship, carrying it across my neck,