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against them。 As hounds crowd round their master when they see him
coming from dinner… for they know he will bring them something… even
so did these wolves and lions with their great claws fawn upon my men；
but the men were terribly frightened at seeing such strange creatures。
Presently they reached the gates of the goddess's house； and as they
stood there they could hear Circe within； singing most beautifully
as she worked at her loom； making a web so fine； so soft； and of
such dazzling colours as no one but a goddess could weave。 On this
Polites； whom I valued and trusted more than any other of my men；
said； 'There is some one inside working at a loom and singing most
beautifully； the whole place resounds with it； let us call her and see
whether she is woman or goddess。'
〃They called her and she came down； unfastened the door； and bade
them enter。 They； thinking no evil； followed her； all except
Eurylochus； who suspected mischief and stayed outside。 When she had
got them into her house； she set them upon benches and seats and mixed
them a mess with cheese； honey； meal； and Pramnian but she drugged
it with wicked poisons to make them forget their homes； and when
they had drunk she turned them into pigs by a stroke of her wand；
and shut them up in her pigsties。 They were like pigs…head； hair；
and all； and they grunted just as pigs do； but their senses were the
same as before； and they remembered everything。
〃Thus then were they shut up squealing； and Circe threw them some
acorns and beech masts such as pigs eat； but Eurylochus hurried back
to tell me about the sad fate of our comrades。 He was so overcome with
dismay that though he tried to speak he could find no words to do
so； his eyes filled with tears and he could only sob and sigh； till at
last we forced his story out of him； and he told us what had
happened to the others。
〃'We went；' said he； as you told us； through the forest； and in
the middle of it there was a fine house built with cut stones in a
place that could be seen from far。 There we found a woman； or else she
was a goddess； working at her loom and singing sweetly； so the men
shouted to her and called her； whereon she at once came down； opened
the door； and invited us in。 The others did not suspect any mischief
so they followed her into the house； but I stayed where I was； for I
thought there might be some treachery。 From that moment I saw them
no more； for not one of them ever came out； though I sat a long time
watching for them。'
〃Then I took my sword of bronze and slung it over my shoulders； I
also took my bow； and told Eurylochus to come back with me and show me
the way。 But he laid hold of me with both his hands and spoke
piteously； saying； 'Sir； do not force me to go with you； but let me
stay here； for I know you will not bring one of them back with you；
nor even return alive yourself； let us rather see if we cannot
escape at any rate with the few that are left us； for we may still
save our lives。'
〃'Stay where you are； then； 'answered I； 'eating and drinking at the
ship； but I must go； for I am most urgently bound to do so。'
〃With this I left the ship and went up inland。 When I got through
the charmed grove； and was near the great house of the enchantress
Circe； I met Mercury with his golden wand； disguised as a young man in
the hey…day of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his
face。 He came up to me and took my hand within his own； saying； 'My
poor unhappy man； whither are you going over this mountain top；
alone and without knowing the way？ Your men are shut up in Circe's
pigsties； like so many wild boars in their lairs。 You surely do not
fancy that you can set them free？ I can tell you that you will never
get back and will have to stay there with the rest of them。 But
never mind； I will protect you and get you out of your difficulty。
Take this herb； which is one of great virtue； and keep it about you
when you go to Circe's house； it will be a talisman to you against
every kind of mischief。
〃'And I will tell you of all the wicked witchcraft that Circe will
try to practise upon you。 She will mix a mess for you to drink； and
she will drug the meal with which she makes it； but she will not be
able to charm you； for the virtue of the herb that I shall give you
will prevent her spells from working。 I will tell you all about it。
When Circe strikes you with her wand； draw your sword and spring
upon her as though you were goings to kill her。 She will then be
frightened and will desire you to go to bed with her； on this you must
not point blank refuse her； for you want her to set your companions
free； and to take good care also of yourself； but you make her swear
solemnly by all the blessed that she will plot no further mischief
against you； or else when she has got you naked she will unman you and
make you fit for nothing。'
〃As he spoke he pulled the herb out of the ground an showed me
what it was like。 The root was black； while the flower was as white as
milk； the gods call it Moly； and mortal men cannot uproot it； but
the gods can do whatever they like。
〃Then Mercury went back to high Olympus passing over the wooded
island； but I fared onward to the house of Circe； and my heart was
clouded with care as I walked along。 When I got to the gates I stood
there and called the goddess； and as soon as she heard me she came
down； opened the door； and asked me to come in； so I followed her…
much troubled in my mind。 She set me on a richly decorated seat inlaid
with silver； there was a footstool also under my feet； and she mixed a
mess in a golden goblet for me to drink； but she drugged it； for she
meant me mischief。 When she had given it me； and I had drunk it
without its charming me； she struck she； struck me with her wand。
'There now；' she cried； 'be off to the pigsty； and make your lair with
the rest of them。'
〃But I rushed at her with my sword drawn as though I would kill her；
whereon she fell with a loud scream； clasped my knees； and spoke
piteously； saying； 'Who and whence are you？ from what place and people
have you come？ How can it be that my drugs have no power to charm you？
Never yet was any man able to stand so much as a taste of the herb I
gave you； you must be spell…proof； surely you can be none other than
the bold hero Ulysses； who Mercury always said would come here some
day with his ship while on his way home form Troy； so be it then；
sheathe your sword and let us go to bed； that we may make friends
and learn to trust each other。'
〃And I answered； 'Circe； how can you expect me to be friendly with
you when you have just been turning all my men into pigs？ And now that
you have got me here myself； you mean me mischief when you ask me to
go to bed with you； and will unman me and make me fit for nothing。 I
shall certainly not consent to go to bed with you unless you will
first take your solemn oath to plot no further harm against me。'
〃So she swore at once as I had told her； and when she had
completed her oath then I went to bed with her。
〃Meanwhile her four servants； who are her housemaids； set about
their work。 They are the children of the groves and fountains