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away from the island。'
〃The men were in despair at this； and Eurylochus at once gave me
an insolent answer。 'Ulysses；' said he； 'you are cruel； you are very
strong yourself and never get worn out； you seem to be made of iron；
and now； though your men are exhausted with toil and want of sleep；
you will not let them land and cook themselves a good supper upon this
island； but bid them put out to sea and go faring fruitlessly on
through the watches of the flying night。 It is by night that the winds
blow hardest and do so much damage； how can we escape should one of
those sudden squalls spring up from South West or West； which so often
wreck a vessel when our lords the gods are unpropitious？ Now；
therefore； let us obey the of night and prepare our supper here hard
by the ship； to…morrow morning we will go on board again and put out
to sea。'
〃Thus spoke Eurylochus； and the men approved his words。 I saw that
heaven meant us a mischief and said； 'You force me to yield； for you
are many against one； but at any rate each one of you must take his
solemn oath that if he meet with a herd of cattle or a large flock
of sheep； he will not be so mad as to kill a single head of either；
but will be satisfied with the food that Circe has given us。'
〃They all swore as I bade them； and when they had completed their
oath we made the ship fast in a harbour that was near a stream of
fresh water； and the men went ashore and cooked their suppers。 As soon
as they had had enough to eat and drink； they began talking about
their poor comrades whom Scylla had snatched up and eaten； this set
them weeping and they went on crying till they fell off into a sound
sleep。
〃In the third watch of the night when the stars had shifted their
places； Jove raised a great gale of wind that flew a hurricane so that
land and sea were covered with thick clouds； and night sprang forth
out of the heavens。 When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn；
appeared； we brought the ship to land and drew her into a cave wherein
the sea…nymphs hold their courts and dances； and I called the men
together in council。
〃'My friends；' said I； 'we have meat and drink in the ship； let us
mind； therefore； and not touch the cattle； or we shall suffer for
it； for these cattle and sheep belong to the mighty sun； who sees
and gives ear to everything。 And again they promised that they would
obey。
〃For a whole month the wind blew steadily from the South； and
there was no other wind； but only South and East。 As long as corn
and wine held out the men did not touch the cattle when they were
hungry； when； however； they had eaten all there was in the ship；
they were forced to go further afield； with hook and line； catching
birds； and taking whatever they could lay their hands on； for they
were starving。 One day； therefore； I went up inland that I might
pray heaven to show me some means of getting away。 When I had gone far
enough to be clear of all my men； and had found a place that was
well sheltered from the wind； I washed my hands and prayed to all
the gods in Olympus till by and by they sent me off into a sweet
sleep。
〃Meanwhile Eurylochus had been giving evil counsel to the men；
'Listen to me；' said he； 'my poor comrades。 All deaths are bad
enough but there is none so bad as famine。 Why should not we drive
in the best of these cows and offer them in sacrifice to the
immortal Rods？ If we ever get back to Ithaca； we can build a fine
temple to the sun…god and enrich it with every kind of ornament； if；
however； he is determined to sink our ship out of revenge for these
homed cattle； and the other gods are of the same mind； I for one would
rather drink salt water once for all and have done with it； than be
starved to death by inches in such a desert island as this is。'
〃Thus spoke Eurylochus； and the men approved his words。 Now the
cattle； so fair and goodly； were feeding not far from the ship； the
men； therefore drove in the best of them； and they all stood round
them saying their prayers； and using young oak…shoots instead of
barley…meal； for there was no barley left。 When they had done
praying they killed the cows and dressed their carcasses； they cut out
the thigh bones； wrapped them round in two layers of fat； and set some
pieces of raw meat on top of them。 They had no wine with which to make
drink…offerings over the sacrifice while it was cooking； so they
kept pouring on a little water from time to time while the inward
meats were being grilled； then； when the thigh bones were burned and
they had tasted the inward meats； they cut the rest up small and put
the pieces upon the spits。
〃By this time my deep sleep had left me； and I turned back to the
ship and to the sea shore。 As I drew near I began to smell hot roast
meat； so I groaned out a prayer to the immortal gods。 'Father Jove；' I
exclaimed； 'and all you other gods who live in everlasting bliss；
you have done me a cruel mischief by the sleep into which you have
sent me； see what fine work these men of mine have been making in my
absence。'
〃Meanwhile Lampetie went straight off to the sun and told him we had
been killing his cows； whereon he flew into a great rage； and said
to the immortals； 'Father Jove； and all you other gods who live in
everlasting bliss； I must have vengeance on the crew of Ulysses' ship：
they have had the insolence to kill my cows； which were the one
thing I loved to look upon； whether I was going up heaven or down
again。 If they do not square accounts with me about my cows； I will go
down to Hades and shine there among the dead。'
〃'Sun；' said Jove； 'go on shining upon us gods and upon mankind over
the fruitful earth。 I will shiver their ship into little pieces with a
bolt of white lightning as soon as they get out to sea。'
〃I was told all this by Calypso； who said she had heard it from
the mouth of Mercury。
〃As soon as I got down to my ship and to the sea shore I rebuked
each one of the men separately； but we could see no way out of it； for
the cows were dead already。 And indeed the gods began at once to
show signs and wonders among us； for the hides of the cattle crawled
about； and the joints upon the spits began to low like cows； and the
meat； whether cooked or raw； kept on making a noise just as cows do。
〃For six days my men kept driving in the best cows and feasting upon
them； but when Jove the son of Saturn had added a seventh day； the
fury of the gale abated； we therefore went on board； raised our masts；
spread sail； and put out to sea。 As soon as we were well away from the
island； and could see nothing but sky and sea； the son of Saturn
raised a black cloud over our ship； and the sea grew dark beneath
it。 We not get on much further； for in another moment we were caught
by a terrific squall from the West that snapped the forestays of the
mast so that it fell aft； while all the ship's gear tumbled about at
the bottom of the vessel。 The mast fell upon the head of the
helmsman in the ship's stern； so that the bones of his head were
crushed to pieces； and he fell overboard as though he were diving；
with no more life left in him。
〃Then Jove let fly with his thunderbolts； and the ship went