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unharmed； and think of nothing but getting home； you may yet after
much hardship reach Ithaca； but if you harm them； then I forewarn
you of the destruction both of your ship and of your comrades； and
even though you may yourself escape； you will return late； in bad
plight； after losing all your men。'
〃Here she ended； and dawn enthroned in gold began to show in heaven；
whereon she returned inland。 I then went on board and told my men to
loose the ship from her moorings； so they at once got into her； took
their places； and began to smite the grey sea with their oars。
Presently the great and cunning goddess Circe befriended us with a
fair wind that blew dead aft； and stayed steadily with us； keeping our
sails well filled； so we did whatever wanted doing to the ship's gear；
and let her go as wind and helmsman headed her。
〃Then； being much troubled in mind； I said to my men； 'My friends；
it is not right that one or two of us alone should know the prophecies
that Circe has made me； I will therefore tell you about them； so
that whether we live or die we may do so with our eyes open。 First she
said we were to keep clear of the Sirens； who sit and sing most
beautifully in a field of flowers； but she said I might hear them
myself so long as no one else did。 Therefore； take me and bind me to
the crosspiece half way up the mast； bind me as I stand upright；
with a bond so fast that I cannot possibly break away； and lash the
rope's ends to the mast itself。 If I beg and pray you to set me
free； then bind me more tightly still。'
〃I had hardly finished telling everything to the men before we
reached the island of the two Sirens； for the wind had been very
favourable。 Then all of a sudden it fell dead calm； there was not a
breath of wind nor a ripple upon the water； so the men furled the
sails and stowed them； then taking to their oars they whitened the
water with the foam they raised in rowing。 Meanwhile I look a large
wheel of wax and cut it up small with my sword。 Then I kneaded the wax
in my strong hands till it became soft； which it soon did between
the kneading and the rays of the sun…god son of Hyperion。 Then I
stopped the ears of all my men； and they bound me hands and feet to
the mast as I stood upright on the crosspiece； but they went on rowing
themselves。 When we had got within earshot of the land； and the ship
was going at a good rate； the Sirens saw that we were getting in shore
and began with their singing。
〃'Come here；' they sang； 'renowned Ulysses； honour to the Achaean
name； and listen to our two voices。 No one ever sailed past us without
staying to hear the enchanting sweetness of our song… and he who
listens will go on his way not only charmed； but wiser； for we know
all the ills that the gods laid upon the Argives and Trojans before
Troy； and can tell you everything that is going to happen over the
whole world。'
〃They sang these words most musically； and as I longed to hear
them further I made by frowning to my men that they should set me
free； but they quickened their stroke； and Eurylochus and Perimedes
bound me with still stronger bonds till we had got out of hearing of
the Sirens' voices。 Then my men took the wax from their ears and
unbound me。
〃Immediately after we had got past the island I saw a great wave
from which spray was rising； and I heard a loud roaring sound。 The men
were so frightened that they loosed hold of their oars； for the
whole sea resounded with the rushing of the waters； but the ship
stayed where it was； for the men had left off rowing。 I went round；
therefore； and exhorted them man by man not to lose heart。
〃'My friends；' said I； 'this is not the first time that we have been
in danger； and we are in nothing like so bad a case as when the
Cyclops shut us up in his cave； nevertheless； my courage and wise
counsel saved us then； and we shall live to look back on all this as
well。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； trust in Jove and row on
with might and main。 As for you； coxswain； these are your orders；
attend to them； for the ship is in your hands； turn her head away from
these steaming rapids and hug the rock； or she will give you the
slip and be over yonder before you know where you are； and you will be
the death of us。'
〃So they did as I told them； but I said nothing about the awful
monster Scylla； for I knew the men would not on rowing if I did； but
would huddle together in the hold。 In one thing only did I disobey
Circe's strict instructions… I put on my armour。 Then seizing two
strong spears I took my stand on the ship Is bows； for it was there
that I expected first to see the monster of the rock； who was to do my
men so much harm； but I could not make her out anywhere； though I
strained my eyes with looking the gloomy rock all over and over
〃Then we entered the Straits in great fear of mind； for on the one
hand was Scylla； and on the other dread Charybdis kept sucking up
the salt water。 As she vomited it up； it was like the water in a
cauldron when it is boiling over upon a great fire； and the spray
reached the top of the rocks on either side。 When she began to suck
again； we could see the water all inside whirling round and round； and
it made a deafening sound as it broke against the rocks。 We could
see the bottom of the whirlpool all black with sand and mud； and the
men were at their wit's ends for fear。 While we were taken up with
this； and were expecting each moment to be our last； Scylla pounced
down suddenly upon us and snatched up my six best men。 I was looking
at once after both ship and men； and in a moment I saw their hands and
feet ever so high above me； struggling in the air as Scylla was
carrying them off； and I heard them call out my name in one last
despairing cry。 As a fisherman； seated； spear in hand； upon some
jutting rock throws bait into the water to deceive the poor little
fishes； and spears them with the ox's horn with which his spear is
shod； throwing them gasping on to the land as he catches them one by
one… even so did Scylla land these panting creatures on her rock and
munch them up at the mouth of her den； while they screamed and
stretched out their hands to me in their mortal agony。 This was the
most sickening sight that I saw throughout all my voyages。
〃When we had passed the ＇Wandering＇ rocks； with Scylla and
terrible Charybdis； we reached the noble island of the sun…god；
where were the goodly cattle and sheep belonging to the sun
Hyperion。 While still at sea in my ship I could bear the cattle lowing
as they came home to the yards； and the sheep bleating。 Then I
remembered what the blind Theban prophet Teiresias had told me； and
how carefully Aeaean Circe had warned me to shun the island of the
blessed sun…god。 So being much troubled I said to the men； 'My men；
I know you are hard pressed； but listen while I tell you the
prophecy that Teiresias made me； and how carefully Aeaean Circe warned
me to shun the island of the blessed sun…god； for it was here； she
said； that our worst danger would lie。 Head the ship； therefore；
away from the island。'
〃The men were in despair at this； and Eurylochus at once gave me
an insolent answer。 'Ulysses