Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/204

168 on. Immediately then the wind ceased, and there was a windless calm, and a deity hushed the winds to sleep. And my companions rising up, furled the sails of the ship, and placed them in the hollow ship; and they sitting on their oars, whitened the water with their polished blades of fir. But I having cut in small pieces a large circle of wax with the sharp brass, pressed it with my strong hands: and the wax immediately became warm, for the great force compelled it, and the shining of the sun, the king, the son of Him that journeys on high: and I anointed it in turn upon the ears of all my companions. But they bound me both hands and feet together in the ship, upright in the mast-hole, and they fastened cables from it; and they themselves sitting down smote the hoary sea with their oars. But when we were so far distant as one makes himself heard shouting out, going on swiftly, the ship passing the sea quickly, driving near, did not escape them, but they prepared a tuneful song.

Come hither, O much-praised Ulysses, great glory of the Grecians, stop thy ship, that thou mayest hear our voice; for no one has yet passed by here in a black ship, before he has heard the sweet voice from our mouths; but he goes away delighted, and acquainted with more things. For we ken all things, whatever the Grecians and Trojans suffered by the will of the gods in spacious Troy; and we know whatever things are done in the food-abounding earth.'

"Thus they spoke, uttering a sweet sound; but my heart wished to hear them, and I ordered my companions to loose me, nodding with my eye-brows; but they falling forward rowed; and Perimedes and Eurylochus immediately rising, bound me with more bonds, and pressed me still more. But when it passed by them, and we no longer heard the voice of the Sirens, nor their song, my beloved companions immediately took away the wax, which I anointed on their ears, and loosed me from the bonds. But when we had now left the island, immediately I saw smoke and a vast wave, and heard a noise. The oars flew from the hands of them terrified; and all making a noise [went] down the stream; but the ship was stopped there, since they no longer urged the extended oars with their hands. But I went through the ship, and incited my companions with mild words, standing near each man:

O my friends, we are not by any means ignorant of mis-