Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/200

164 dead Elpenor. And immediately cutting trunks, where the shore projected the farthest, we buried [him] in sorrow, shedding the warm tear. But when the corpse was burnt, and the arms of the dead, having built a tomb, and having erected a column over it, we fixed the well-fitted oar at the top of the tomb.

"We indeed went through every thing; nor yet returning from Hades did we escape Circe, but she came very quickly, hastening: and her female attendants with her brought bread, and much flesh, and dark-red wine. And she, the divine one of goddesses, standing in the middle of us, addressed us:

Wretched ones! who alive have come under the house of Pluto, twice dead, when other men die but once. But come, eat food and drink wine here through the whole day; and ye shall sail together with morn appearing; but I will show you the way; and will instruct you in every thing; that ye may not grieve at all, suffering harm either on the sea or on land by some grievous bad counsel.'

"Thus she spoke; but our noble mind was forthwith persuaded. Thus, then, during the whole day until sun-set, we sat feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine; but when the sun had sunk, and darkness came on, they indeed slept near the cables of the ship; but she, taking me by the hand, at a distance from my dear companions, made me sit down, and reclined opposite, and inquired every thing of me; and I related all things rightly to her. And then indeed venerable Circe addressed me with words:

All these things indeed have thus been performed; but do thou listen, how I will tell thee, and a deity himself will make thee remember it. First indeed thou wilt come to the Sirens, who charm all men, whoever comes to them. Whosoever through ignorance has approached and heard the voice of the Sirens, by no means do his wife and infant children stand near him when he returns home, nor do they rejoice. But the Sirens, sitting in a meadow, soothe him with a shrill song, and around there is a large heap of bones of men rotting, and skins waste away round about. But sail beyond; and anoint the ears of thy companions, moulding sweet wax, lest any one of the others should hear; but do thou thyself hear, if thou