Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/173

210—248. they found the house of Circe built in the woods with polished stones, in a lofty situation. And around her were mountain wolves, and lions, which she herself had tamed, since she had given [them] evil drugs. Nor did they rush against the men, but they stood up fawning around them with their long tails. As when dogs fawn about their master when coming from a feast, for he always brings things soothing to their mind. So the strong-hoofed wolves and lions fawned around them; but they were afraid when they beheld the terrible monsters. And they stood in the gates of the fair-haired goddess: and they heard Circe within singing with a beautiful voice, busied over a large immortal web: such as are the slender, graceful, and illustrious works of goddesses. But Polites, the chief of men, began speaking to them, who was the most familiar of my companions, and the most prudent:

O my friends, some one indeed within is going over the great web and singing beautifully, (and all the pavement sounds around,) either a goddess or woman; but let us quickly shout out.'

"Thus then he spoke; and they calling shouted out. And she immediately coming out opened the shining doors and calls them; but they all followed together through their ignorance: but Eurylochus remained, thinking that it was a stratagem. And leading them in, she made them sit down on benches and thrones. And she mixed cheese and meal and pale honey with Pramnian wine for them; but she mingled grievous drugs in the food, that they might altogether forget their paternal land. But when she had given it and they drank it off, immediately then striking them with a rod, she shut them up in styes. But they had the heads, and voice, and hairs, and body of swine; but their understanding was firm, as before. Thus they weeping were shut up: but Circe threw near them mast and acorn, and cornel fruit to eat, such things as ground-wallowing swine always eat. But Eurylochus immediately came to the swift black ship, to tell the news of his companions, and of their bitter fate. Nor was he able to speak out any word, although desirous, afflicted at heart with great grief: and his eyes were filled with tears, and his mind thought of mourning. But when we all marvelled, in-