Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/177

372—410. near me, putting on many dainties, gratifying us as well as she could from the stores at hand.] And she ordered me to eat, but it did not please my mind: but I sat thinking upon other things, and my mind brooded upon evils: but Circe, when she perceived me sitting down, and not stretching out my hands for food, but having violent grief in my mind, standing near, she spoke winged words:

Why thus, O Ulysses, dost thou sit down like unto one that is dumb, consuming thy mind? and dost not touch food, or drink? dost thou think of some other stratagem? It is no longer fit that thou shouldst fear; for I have already sworn a strong oath.'

"Thus she spoke; but I in answer addressed her: 'O Circe, what man, who is just, would endure to taste food and drink, before he had redeemed his companions, and beheld them with his eyes? But if indeed thou dost kindly command me to drink and to eat, loose them, that I may behold my beloved companions with my eyes.'

"Thus I spoke; and Circe went out from the palace, holding a rod in her hand, and she opened the gates of the stye, and drove them out, like unto swine of nine years old. They then stood opposite: but she going through them, anointed each with another drug. And the hairs flowed down from their limbs, which the pernicious poison, which venerable Circe gave them, had before produced: and they quickly became younger men than they were before, and much finer and mightier to behold. But they knew me, and each clung to me with their hands. And delightful mournings came upon all, and resounded greatly through the house: and even the goddess herself pitied us: and the divine one of goddesses standing near me addressed [me]:

O noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, now go to the swift ship, and to the shore of the sea: first of all draw ye your ship to the shore, and lay up your possessions and all your arms in caves: and do thou thyself come back, and bring thy beloved companions.'

"Thus she spoke; but my noble mind was persuaded; and I hastened to the swift ship, and the shore of the sea; then I found my beloved companions at the swift ship, lamenting miserably, shedding the warm tear. And as when field-dwelling calves all skip together opposite, around cows of the herd,