The Odyssey &middot; Book 12

Lines 166–180

But my comrades rose up and furled the sail and stowed it in the hollow ship, and thereafter sat at the oars and made the water white with their polished oars of fir. But I with my sharp sword cut into small bits a great round cake of wax, and kneaded it with my strong hands, and soon the wax grew warm, forced by the strong pressure and the rays of the lord Helios Hyperion.1 Then I anointed with this the ears of all my comrades in turn; and they bound me in the ship hand and foot, upright in the step of the mast, and made the ropes fast at the ends to the mast itself; and themselves sitting down smote the grey sea with their oars. But when we were as far distant as a man can make himself heard when he shouts, driving swiftly on our way, the Sirens failed not to note the swift ship as it drew near, and they raised their clear-toned song: “‘Come hither, as thou farest, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans;

τόφρα δὲ καρπαλίμως ἐξίκετο νηῦς ἐυεργὴς νῆσον Σειρήνοιιν· ἔπειγε γὰρ οὖρος ἀπήμων. αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνη ἔπλετο νηνεμίη, κοίμησε δὲ κύματα δαίμων. ἀνστάντες δʼ ἕταροι νεὸς ἱστία μηρύσαντο καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν νηὶ γλαφυρῇ θέσαν, οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐρετμὰ ἑζόμενοι λεύκαινον ὕδωρ ξεστῇς ἐλάτῃσιν. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κηροῖο μέγαν τροχὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ τυτθὰ διατμήξας χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι πίεζον· αἶψα δʼ ἰαίνετο κηρός, ἐπεὶ κέλετο μεγάλη ἲς Ἠελίου τʼ αὐγὴ Ὑπεριονίδαο ἄνακτος· ἑξείης δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐπʼ οὔατα πᾶσιν ἄλειψα. οἱ δʼ ἐν νηί μʼ ἔδησαν ὁμοῦ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνῆπτον· αὐτοὶ δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.

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Lines 181–195

stay thy ship that thou mayest listen to the voice of us two. For never yet has any man rowed past this isle in his black ship until he has heard the sweet voice from our lips. Nay, he has joy of it, and goes his way a wiser man. For we know all the toils that in wide Troy the Argives and Trojans endured through the will of the gods, and we know all things that come to pass upon the fruitful earth.’ And presently Perimedes and Eurylochus arose and bound me with yet more bonds and drew them tighter. But when they had rowed past the Sirens, and we could no more hear their voice or their song, then straightway my trusty comrades took away the

ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆμεν ὅσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας, ῥίμφα διώκοντες, τὰς δʼ οὐ λάθεν ὠκύαλος νηῦς ἐγγύθεν ὀρνυμένη, λιγυρὴν δʼ ἔντυνον ἀοιδήν· δεῦρʼ ἄγʼ ἰών, πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν, νῆα κατάστησον, ἵνα νωιτέρην ὄπ ἀκούσῃς. οὐ γάρ πώ τις τῇδε παρήλασε νηὶ μελαίνῃ, πρίν γʼ ἡμέων μελίγηρυν ἀπὸ στομάτων ὄπʼ ἀκοῦσαι, ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τερψάμενος νεῖται καὶ πλείονα εἰδώς. ἴδμεν γάρ τοι πάνθʼ ὅσʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν, ἴδμεν δʼ, ὅσσα γένηται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ. ὣς φάσαν ἱεῖσαι ὄπα κάλλιμον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ ἤθελʼ ἀκουέμεναι, λῦσαί τʼ ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους ὀφρύσι νευστάζων· οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον. αὐτίκα δʼ ἀνστάντες Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε

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Lines 196–210

wax with which I had anointed their ears and loosed me from my bonds. “But when we had left the island, I presently saw smoke and a great billow, and heard a booming. Then from the hands of my men in their terror the oars flew, and splashed one and all in the swirl, and the ship stood still where it was, when they no longer plied with their hands the tapering oars. But I went through the ship and cheered my men with gentle words, coming up to each man in turn: “‘Friends, hitherto we have been in no wise ignorant of sorrow; surely this evil that besets us now is no greater than when the Cyclops penned us in his hollow cave by brutal strength; yet even thence we made our escape through my valor and counsel and wit; these dangers, too, methinks we shall some day remember. But now come, as I bid, let us all obey. Do you keep your seats on the benches

πλείοσί μʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι δέον μᾶλλόν τε πίεζον. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τάς γε παρήλασαν, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔπειτα φθογγῆς Σειρήνων ἠκούομεν οὐδέ τʼ ἀοιδῆς, αἶψʼ ἀπὸ κηρὸν ἕλοντο ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι, ὅν σφιν ἐπʼ ὠσὶν ἄλειψʼ, ἐμέ τʼ ἐκ δεσμῶν ἀνέλυσαν. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἐλείπομεν, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα καπνὸν καὶ μέγα κῦμα ἴδον καὶ δοῦπον ἄκουσα. τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατʼ ἐρετμά, βόμβησαν δʼ ἄρα πάντα κατὰ ῥόον· ἔσχετο δʼ αὐτοῦ νηῦς, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἐρετμὰ προήκεα χερσὶν ἔπειγον. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ νηὸς ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον· ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πώ τι κακῶν ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν· οὐ μὲν δὴ τόδε μεῖζον ἕπει κακόν, ἢ ὅτε Κύκλωψ εἴλει ἐνὶ σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφιν·

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Lines 211–225

and smite with your oars the deep surf of the sea, in the hope that Zeus may grant us to escape and avoid this death. And to thee, steersman, I give this command, and do thou lay it to heart, since thou wieldest the steering oar of the hollow ship. From this smoke and surf keep the ship well away and hug the cliff, lest, ere thou know it, the ship swerve off to the other side and thou cast us into destruction.’ “So I spoke, and they quickly hearkened to my words. But of Scylla I went not on to speak, a cureless bane, lest haply my comrades, seized with fear, should cease from rowing and huddle together in the hold. Then verily I forgot the hard command of Circe, whereas she bade me in no wise to arm myself; but when I had put on my glorious armour and grasped in my hand two long spears, I went to the fore-deck of the ship,

ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔνθεν ἐμῇ ἀρετῇ, βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε, ἐκφύγομεν, καί που τῶνδε μνήσεσθαι ὀίω. νῦν δʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες. ὑμεῖς μὲν κώπῃσιν ἁλὸς ῥηγμῖνα βαθεῖαν τύπτετε κληίδεσσιν ἐφήμενοι, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δώῃ τόνδε γʼ ὄλεθρον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι· σοὶ δέ, κυβερνῆθʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ βάλλευ, ἐπεὶ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς οἰήια νωμᾷς. τούτου μὲν καπνοῦ καὶ κύματος ἐκτὸς ἔεργε νῆα, σὺ δὲ σκοπέλου ἐπιμαίεο, μή σε λάθῃσι κεῖσʼ ἐξορμήσασα καὶ ἐς κακὸν ἄμμε βάλῃσθα. ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο. Σκύλλην δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἐμυθεόμην, ἄπρηκτον ἀνίην, μή πώς μοι δείσαντες ἀπολλήξειαν ἑταῖροι εἰρεσίης, ἐντὸς δὲ πυκάζοιεν σφέας αὐτούς.

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noos peitho thumos

Lines 226–240

whence I deemed that Scylla of the rock would first be seen, who was to bring ruin upon my comrades. But nowhere could I descry her, and my eyes grew weary as I gazed everywhere toward the misty rock. For on one side lay Scylla and on the other divine Charybdis terribly sucked down the salt water of the sea. Verily whenever she belched it forth, like a cauldron on a great fire she would seethe and bubble in utter turmoil, and high over head the spray would fall on the tops of both the cliffs. But as often as she sucked down the salt water of the sea, within she could all be seen in utter turmoil, and round about the rock roared terribly, while beneath the earth appeared black with sand; and pale fear seized my men. So we looked toward her and feared destruction;

καὶ τότε δὴ Κίρκης μὲν ἐφημοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς λανθανόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μʼ ἀνώγει θωρήσσεσθαι· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καταδὺς κλυτὰ τεύχεα καὶ δύο δοῦρε μάκρʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλὼν εἰς ἴκρια νηὸς ἔβαινον πρῴρης· ἔνθεν γάρ μιν ἐδέγμην πρῶτα φανεῖσθαι Σκύλλην πετραίην, ἥ μοι φέρε πῆμʼ ἑτάροισιν. οὐδέ πῃ ἀθρῆσαι δυνάμην, ἔκαμον δέ μοι ὄσσε πάντῃ παπταίνοντι πρὸς ἠεροειδέα πέτρην. ἡμεῖς μὲν στεινωπὸν ἀνεπλέομεν γοόωντες· ἔνθεν μὲν Σκύλλη, ἑτέρωθι δὲ δῖα Χάρυβδις δεινὸν ἀνερροίβδησε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ. ἦ τοι ὅτʼ ἐξεμέσειε, λέβης ὣς ἐν πυρὶ πολλῷ πᾶσʼ ἀναμορμύρεσκε κυκωμένη, ὑψόσε δʼ ἄχνη ἄκροισι σκοπέλοισιν ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔπιπτεν· ἀλλʼ ὅτʼ ἀναβρόξειε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ,

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Lines 241–255

but meanwhile Scylla seized from out the hollow ship six of my comrades who were the best in strength and in might. Turning my eyes to the swift ship and to the company of my men,1 even then I noted above me their feet and hands as they were raised aloft. To me they cried aloud, calling upon me by name for that last time in anguish of heart. And as a fisher on a jutting rock, when he casts in his baits as a snare to the little fishes, with his long pole lets down into the sea the horn of an ox of the steading,2 and then as he catches a fish flings it writhing ashore, even so were they drawn writhing up towards the cliffs. Then at her doors she devoured them shrieking and stretching out their hands toward me in their awful death-struggle. Most piteous did mine eyes behold that thing of all that I bore while I explored the paths of the sea.

πᾶσʼ ἔντοσθε φάνεσκε κυκωμένη, ἀμφὶ δὲ πέτρη δεινὸν ἐβεβρύχει, ὑπένερθε δὲ γαῖα φάνεσκε ψάμμῳ κυανέη· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει. ἡμεῖς μὲν πρὸς τὴν ἴδομεν δείσαντες ὄλεθρον· τόφρα δέ μοι Σκύλλη γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑταίρους ἓξ ἕλεθʼ, οἳ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτατοι ἦσαν. σκεψάμενος δʼ ἐς νῆα θοὴν ἅμα καὶ μεθʼ ἑταίρους ἤδη τῶν ἐνόησα πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν ὑψόσʼ ἀειρομένων· ἐμὲ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες ἐξονομακλήδην, τότε γʼ ὕστατον, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ. ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προβόλῳ ἁλιεὺς περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ἰχθύσι τοῖς ὀλίγοισι δόλον κατὰ εἴδατα βάλλων ἐς πόντον προΐησι βοὸς κέρας ἀγραύλοιο, ἀσπαίροντα δʼ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἔρριψε θύραζε, ὣς οἵ γʼ ἀσπαίροντες ἀείροντο προτὶ πέτρας·

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Lines 256–270

“Now when we had escaped the rocks, and dread Charybdis and Scylla, presently then we came to the goodly island of the god, where were the fair kine, broad of brow, and the many goodly flocks of Helios Hyperion. Then while I was still out at sea in my black ship, I heard the lowing of the cattle that were being stalled and the bleating of the sheep, and upon my mind fell the words of the blind seer, Theban Teiresias, and of Aeaean Circe, who very straitly charged me to shun the island of Helios, who gives joy to mortals. Then verily I spoke among my comrades, grieved at heart: “‘Hear my words, comrades, for all your evil plight, that I may tell you the oracles of Teiresias and of Aeaean Circe, who very straitly charged me to shun the island of Helios, who gives joy to mortals;

αὐτοῦ δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι κατήσθιε κεκληγῶτας χεῖρας ἐμοὶ ὀρέγοντας ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι· οἴκτιστον δὴ κεῖνο ἐμοῖς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι πάντων, ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησα πόρους ἁλὸς ἐξερεείνων. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πέτρας φύγομεν δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν Σκύλλην τʼ, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοῦ ἐς ἀμύμονα νῆσον ἱκόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν καλαὶ βόες εὐρυμέτωποι, πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλʼ Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο. δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἔτι πόντῳ ἐὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ μυκηθμοῦ τʼ ἤκουσα βοῶν αὐλιζομενάων οἰῶν τε βληχήν· καί μοι ἔπος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο, Κίρκης τʼ Αἰαίης, ἥ μοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε νῆσον ἀλεύασθαι τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο. δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισι μετηύδων ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·

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kradie thumos

Lines 271–285

for there, she said, was our most terrible bane. Nay, row the black ship out past the island.’ grow weary. Verily thou art wholly wrought of iron, seeing that thou sufferest not thy comrades, worn out with toil and drowsiness, to set foot on shore, where on this sea-girt isle we might once more make ready a savoury supper; but thou biddest us even as we are to wander on through the swift night, driven away from the island over the misty deep. It is from the night that fierce winds are born, wreckers of ships. How could one escape utter destruction, if haply there should suddenly come a blast of the South Wind or the blustering West Wind, which oftenest

κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι, ὄφρʼ ὑμῖν εἴπω μαντήια Τειρεσίαο Κίρκης τʼ Αἰαίης, ἥ μοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε νῆσον ἀλεύασθαι τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο· ἔνθα γὰρ αἰνότατον κακὸν ἔμμεναι ἄμμιν ἔφασκεν. ἀλλὰ παρὲξ τὴν νῆσον ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν. ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ. αὐτίκα δʼ Εὐρύλοχος στυγερῷ μʼ ἠμείβετο μύθῳ· σχέτλιός εἰς, Ὀδυσεῦ· περί τοι μένος, οὐδέ τι γυῖα κάμνεις· ἦ ῥά νυ σοί γε σιδήρεα πάντα τέτυκται, ὅς ῥʼ ἑτάρους καμάτῳ ἁδηκότας ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνῳ οὐκ ἐάᾳς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι, ἔνθα κεν αὖτε νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον, ἀλλʼ αὔτως διὰ νύκτα θοὴν ἀλάλησθαι ἄνωγας νήσου ἀποπλαγχθέντας ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.

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menos pascho

Lines 286–300

wreck ships in despite of the sovereign gods? Nay, verily for this time let us yield to black night and make ready our supper, remaining by the swift ship, and in the morning we will go aboard, and put out into the broad sea.’ “So spoke Eurylochus, and the rest of my comrades gave assent. Then verily I knew that some god was assuredly devising ill, and I spoke and addressed him with winged words: “‘Eurylochus, verily ye constrain me, who stand alone. But come now, do ye all swear to me a mighty oath, to the end that, if we haply find a herd of kine or a great flock of sheep, no man may slay either cow or sheep in the blind folly of his mind; but be content to eat the food which immortal Circe gave.’ “So I spoke; and they straightway swore that they would not, even as I bade them. But when they had sworn and made an end of the oath,

ἐκ νυκτῶν δʼ ἄνεμοι χαλεποί, δηλήματα νηῶν, γίγνονται· πῇ κέν τις ὑπεκφύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον, ἤν πως ἐξαπίνης ἔλθῃ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα, ἢ Νότου ἢ Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος, οἵ τε μάλιστα νῆα διαρραίουσι θεῶν ἀέκητι ἀνάκτων. ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισόμεσθα θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μένοντες, ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ. ὣς ἔφατʼ Εὐρύλοχος, ἐπὶ δʼ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι. καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον ὃ δὴ κακὰ μήδετο δαίμων, καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων· Εὐρύλοχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή με βιάζετε μοῦνον ἐόντα. ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον· εἴ κέ τινʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶυ μέγʼ οἰῶν εὕρωμεν, μή πού τις ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσιν

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peitho

Lines 301–315

we moored our well-built ship in the hollow harbor near a spring of sweet water, and my comrades went forth from the ship and skilfully made ready their supper. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, then they fell to weeping, as they remembered their dear comrades whom Scylla had snatched from out the hollow ship and devoured; and sweet sleep came upon them as they wept. But when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars had turned their course, Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, roused against us a fierce wind with a wondrous tempest, and hid with clouds the land and sea alike, and night rushed down from heaven. And as soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, we dragged our ship, and made her fast in a hollow cave, where were the fair dancing-floors and seats of the nymphs. Then I called my men together and spoke among them:

ἢ βοῦν ἠέ τι μῆλον ἀποκτάνῃ· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι ἐσθίετε βρώμην, τὴν ἀθανάτη πόρε Κίρκη. ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀπώμνυον, ὡς ἐκέλευον. αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον, στήσαμεν ἐν λιμένι γλαφυρῷ ἐυεργέα νῆα ἄγχʼ ὕδατος γλυκεροῖο, καὶ ἐξαπέβησαν ἑταῖροι νηός, ἔπειτα δὲ δόρπον ἐπισταμένως τετύκοντο. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο, μνησάμενοι δὴ ἔπειτα φίλους ἔκλαιον ἑταίρους, οὓς ἔφαγε Σκύλλη γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλοῦσα· κλαιόντεσσι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος. ἦμος δὲ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δʼ ἄστρα βεβήκει, ὦρσεν ἔπι ζαῆν ἄνεμον νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.

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Lines 316–330

“‘Friends, in our swift ship is meat and drink; let us therefore keep our hands from those kine lest we come to harm, for these are the cows and goodly sheep of a dread god, even of Helios, who oversees all things and overhears all things.’ “So I spoke, and their proud hearts consented. Then for a full month the South Wind blew unceasingly, nor did any other wind arise except the East and the South. and now they must needs roam about in search of game, fishes, and fowl, and whatever might come to their hands—fishing with bent hooks, for hunger pinched their bellies—then I went apart up the island that I might pray to the gods in the hope that one of them might show me a way to go.

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, νῆα μὲν ὡρμίσαμεν κοῖλον σπέος εἰσερύσαντες. ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν νυμφέων καλοὶ χοροὶ ἠδὲ θόωκοι· καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον· ὦ φίλοι, ἐν γὰρ νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε ἔστιν, τῶν δὲ βοῶν ἀπεχώμεθα, μή τι πάθωμεν· δεινοῦ γὰρ θεοῦ αἵδε βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα, Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει. ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ. μῆνα δὲ πάντʼ ἄλληκτος ἄη Νότος, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος γίγνετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνέμων εἰ μὴ Εὖρός τε Νότος τε. οἱ δʼ ἧος μὲν σῖτον ἔχον καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν, τόφρα βοῶν ἀπέχοντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ νηὸς ἐξέφθιτο ἤια πάντα, καὶ δὴ ἄγρην ἐφέπεσκον ἀλητεύοντες ἀνάγκῃ,

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pascho thumos

Lines 331–345

And when, as I went through the island, I had got away from my comrades, I washed my hands in a place where there was shelter from the wind, and prayed to all the gods that hold Olympus; but they shed sweet sleep upon my eyelids. And meanwhile Eurylochus began to give evil counsel to my comrades: “‘Hear my words, comrades, for all your evil plight. All forms of death are hateful to wretched mortals, but to die of hunger, and so meet one's doom, is the most pitiful. Nay, come, let us drive off the best of the kine of Helios and offer sacrifice to the immortals who hold broad heaven. And if we ever reach Ithaca, our native land, we will straightway build a rich temple to Helios Hyperion and put therein many goodly offerings. And if haply he be wroth at all because of his straight-horned kine, and be minded to destroy our ship, and the other gods consent,

ἰχθῦς ὄρνιθάς τε, φίλας ὅ τι χεῖρας ἵκοιτο, γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός· δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀνὰ νῆσον ἀπέστιχον, ὄφρα θεοῖσιν εὐξαίμην, εἴ τίς μοι ὁδὸν φήνειε νέεσθαι. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ διὰ νήσου ἰὼν ἤλυξα ἑταίρους, χεῖρας νιψάμενος, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο, ἠρώμην πάντεσσι θεοῖς οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν· οἱ δʼ ἄρα μοι γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔχευαν. Εὐρύλοχος δʼ ἑτάροισι κακῆς ἐξήρχετο βουλῆς· κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι. πάντες μὲν στυγεροὶ θάνατοι δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι, λιμῷ δʼ οἴκτιστον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν. ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας ῥέξομεν ἀθανάτοισι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν. εἰ δέ κεν εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα, πατρίδα γαῖαν,

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Lines 346–360

rather would I lose my life once for all with a gulp at the wave, than pine slowly away in a desert isle.’ “So spoke Eurylochus, and the rest of my comrades gave assent. Straightway they drove off the best of the kine of Helios from near at hand, for not far from the dark-prowed ship were grazing the fair, sleek kine, broad of brow. Around these, then, they stood and made prayer to the gods, plucking the tender leaves from off a high-crested oak;1 for they had no white barley on board the well-benched ship. Now when they had prayed and had cut the throats of the kine and flayed them, they cut out the thigh-pieces and covered them with a double layer of fat and laid raw flesh upon them. They had no wine to pour over the blazing sacrifice, but they made libations with water, and roasted all the entrails over the fire.

αἶψά κεν Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι πίονα νηὸν τεύξομεν, ἐν δέ κε θεῖμεν ἀγάλματα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά. εἰ δὲ χολωσάμενός τι βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων νῆʼ ἐθέλῃ ὀλέσαι, ἐπὶ δʼ ἕσπωνται θεοὶ ἄλλοι, βούλομʼ ἅπαξ πρὸς κῦμα χανὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσαι, ἢ δηθὰ στρεύγεσθαι ἐὼν ἐν νήσῳ ἐρήμῃ. ὣς ἔφατʼ Εὐρύλοχος, ἐπὶ δʼ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι. αὐτίκα δʼ Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας ἐγγύθεν, οὐ γὰρ τῆλε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο βοσκέσκονθʼ ἕλικες καλαὶ βόες εὐρυμέτωποι· τὰς δὲ περίστησάν τε καὶ εὐχετόωντο θεοῖσιν, φύλλα δρεψάμενοι τέρενα δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο· οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κρῖ λευκὸν ἐυσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός. αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν, μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν

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thumos

Lines 361–375

they cut up the rest and spitted it. Then it was that sweet sleep fled from my eyelids, and I went my way to the swift ship and the shore of the sea. But when, as I went, I drew near to the curved ship, then verily the hot savour of the fat was wafted about me, and I groaned and cried aloud to the immortal gods: “‘Father Zeus and ye other blessed gods that are for ever, verily it was for my ruin that ye lulled me in pitiless sleep, while my comrades remaining behind have contrived a monstrous deed.’ “Swiftly then to Helios Hyperion came Lampetie of the long robes, bearing tidings that we had slain his kine; and straightway he spoke among the immortals, wroth at heart: “‘Father Zeus and ye other blessed gods that are for ever, take vengeance now on the comrades of Odysseus, son of Laertes, who have insolently slain my kine, in which I

δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν. οὐδʼ εἶχον μέθυ λεῖψαι ἐπʼ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσιν, ἀλλʼ ὕδατι σπένδοντες ἐπώπτων ἔγκατα πάντα. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρʼ ἐκάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο, μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν. καὶ τότε μοι βλεφάρων ἐξέσσυτο νήδυμος ὕπνος, βῆν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦα κιὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης, καὶ τότε με κνίσης ἀμφήλυθεν ἡδὺς ἀυτμή. οἰμώξας δὲ θεοῖσι μέγʼ ἀθανάτοισι γεγώνευν· Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες, ἦ με μάλʼ εἰς ἄτην κοιμήσατε νηλέι ὕπνῳ. οἱ δʼ ἕταροι μέγα ἔργον ἐμητίσαντο μένοντες. ὠκέα δʼ Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι ἄγγελος ἦλθε Λαμπετίη τανύπεπλος, ὅ οἱ βόας ἔκταμεν ἡμεῖς.

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Lines 376–390

ever took delight, when I went toward the starry heaven and when I turned back again to earth from heaven. If they do not pay me fit atonement for the kine I will go down to Hades and shine among the dead.’ “Then Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, answered him and said: ‘Helios, do thou verily shine on among the immortals and among mortal men upon the earth, the giver of grain. As for these men I will soon smite their swift ship with my bright thunder-bolt, and shatter it to pieces in the midst of the wine-dark sea.’ “This I heard from fair-haired Calypso, and she said that she herself had heard it from the messenger Hermes. “But when I had come down to the ship and to the sea I upbraided my men, coming up to each in turn, but we could find no remedy—the kine were already dead. For my men, then, the gods straightway shewed forth portents.

αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα χωόμενος κῆρ· Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες, τῖσαι δὴ ἑτάρους Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος, οἵ μευ βοῦς ἔκτειναν ὑπέρβιον, ᾗσιν ἐγώ γε χαίρεσκον μὲν ἰὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα, ἠδʼ ὁπότʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτραποίμην. εἰ δέ μοι οὐ τίσουσι βοῶν ἐπιεικέʼ ἀμοιβήν, δύσομαι εἰς Ἀίδαο καὶ ἐν νεκύεσσι φαείνω. τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς· Ἠέλιʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν σὺ μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι φάεινε καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν· τῶν δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τάχα νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ τυτθὰ βαλὼν κεάσαιμι μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ. ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἤκουσα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο· ἡ δʼ ἔφη Ἑρμείαο διακτόρου αὐτὴ ἀκοῦσαι.

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Lines 391–405

The hides crawled, the flesh, both roast and raw, bellowed upon the spits, and there was a lowing as of kine. then the wind ceased to blow tempestuously, and we straightway went on board, and put out into the broad sea when we had set up the mast and hoisted the white sail. “But when we had left that island and no other land appeared, but only sky and sea, then verily the son of Cronos set a black cloud above the hollow ship, and the sea grew dark beneath it. She ran on for no long time, for straightway came the shrieking West Wind, blowing with a furious tempest, and the blast of the wind snapped both the fore-stays of the mast,

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν, νείκεον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλον ἐπισταδόν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, βόες δʼ ἀποτέθνασαν ἤδη. τοῖσιν δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ τέραα προύφαινον· εἷρπον μὲν ῥινοί, κρέα δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσι μεμύκει, ὀπταλέα τε καὶ ὠμά, βοῶν δʼ ὣς γίγνετο φωνή. ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι δαίνυντʼ Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας· ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων, καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο λαίλαπι θύων, ἡμεῖς δʼ αἶψʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήκαμεν εὐρέι πόντῳ, ἱστὸν στησάμενοι ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λεύκʼ ἐρύσαντες. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλʼ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα, δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίων

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Lines 406–420

so that the mast fell backward and all its tackling was strewn in the bilge. On the stern of the ship the mast struck the head of the pilot and crushed all the bones of his skull together, and like a diver he fell from the deck and his proud spirit left his bones. Therewith Zeus thundered and hurled his bolt upon the ship, and she quivered from stem to stern, smitten by the bolt of Zeus, and was filled with sulphurous smoke, and my comrades fell from out the ship. Like sea-crows they were borne on the waves about the black ship, and the god took from them their returning. But I kept pacing up and down the ship till the surge tore the sides from the keel, and the wave bore her on dismantled and snapped the mast off at the keel; but over the mast had been flung the back-stay fashioned of ox-hide; with this I lashed the two together, both keel and mast,

νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς. ἡ δʼ ἔθει οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον· αἶψα γὰρ ἦλθε κεκληγὼς Ζέφυρος μεγάλῃ σὺν λαίλαπι θύων, ἱστοῦ δὲ προτόνους ἔρρηξʼ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα ἀμφοτέρους· ἱστὸς δʼ ὀπίσω πέσεν, ὅπλα τε πάντα εἰς ἄντλον κατέχυνθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρυμνῇ ἐνὶ νηὶ πλῆξε κυβερνήτεω κεφαλήν, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἄραξε πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς κάππεσʼ ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ. Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηὶ κεραυνόν· ἡ δʼ ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ, ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο, πέσον δʼ ἐκ νηὸς ἑταῖροι. οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαιναν κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο, θεὸς δʼ ἀποαίνυτο νόστον. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ νηὸς ἐφοίτων, ὄφρʼ ἀπὸ τοίχους

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nostos thumos

Lines 421–435

and sitting on these was borne by the direful winds. I came to the cliff of Scylla and to dread Charybdis. She verily sucked down the salt water of the sea, but I, springing up to the tall fig-tree, laid hold of it, and clung to it like a bat. Yet I could in no wise plant my feet firmly or climb upon the tree, for its roots spread far below and its branches hung out of reach above, long and great, and overshadowed Charybdis. There I clung steadfastly until she should vomit forth mast and keel again, and to my joy they came at length. At the hour when a man rises from the assembly for his supper,

λῦσε κλύδων τρόπιος, τὴν δὲ ψιλὴν φέρε κῦμα, ἐκ δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἄραξε ποτὶ τρόπιν. αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐπίτονος βέβλητο, βοὸς ῥινοῖο τετευχώς· τῷ ῥʼ ἄμφω συνέεργον, ὁμοῦ τρόπιν ἠδὲ καὶ ἱστόν, ἑζόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν. ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Ζέφυρος μὲν ἐπαύσατο λαίλαπι θύων, ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ Νότος ὦκα, φέρων ἐμῷ ἄλγεα θυμῷ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι τὴν ὀλοὴν ἀναμετρήσαιμι Χάρυβδιν. παννύχιος φερόμην, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντι ἦλθον ἐπὶ Σκύλλης σκόπελον δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν. ἡ μὲν ἀνερροίβδησε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ μακρὸν ἐρινεὸν ὑψόσʼ ἀερθείς, τῷ προσφὺς ἐχόμην ὡς νυκτερίς. οὐδέ πῃ εἶχον οὔτε στηρίξαι ποσὶν ἔμπεδον οὔτʼ ἐπιβῆναι· ῥίζαι γὰρ ἑκὰς εἶχον, ἀπήωροι δʼ ἔσαν ὄζοι,

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algea thumos

Lines 436–450

one that decides the many quarrels of young men that seek judgment, even at that hour those spars appeared from out Charybdis. And I let go hands and feet from above and plunged down into the waters out beyond the long spars, and sitting on these I rowed onward with my hands. But as for Scylla, the father of gods and men did not suffer her again to catch sight of me, else should I never have escaped utter destruction. “Thence for nine days was I borne, and on the tenth night the gods brought me to Ogygia, where the fair-tressed Calypso dwells, dread goddess of human speech, who gave me welcome and tendance. But why should I tell thee this tale? For it was but yesterday that I told it in thy hall to thyself and to thy noble wife. It is an irksome thing, meseems, to tell again a plain-told tale.”

μακροί τε μεγάλοι τε, κατεσκίαον δὲ Χάρυβδιν. νωλεμέως δʼ ἐχόμην, ὄφρʼ ἐξεμέσειεν ὀπίσσω ἱστὸν καὶ τρόπιν αὖτις· ἐελδομένῳ δέ μοι ἦλθον ὄψʼ· ἦμος δʼ ἐπὶ δόρπον ἀνὴρ ἀγορῆθεν ἀνέστη κρίνων νείκεα πολλὰ δικαζομένων αἰζηῶν, τῆμος δὴ τά γε δοῦρα Χαρύβδιος ἐξεφαάνθη. ἧκα δʼ ἐγὼ καθύπερθε πόδας καὶ χεῖρε φέρεσθαι, μέσσῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησα παρὲξ περιμήκεα δοῦρα, ἑζόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι διήρεσα χερσὶν ἐμῇσι. Σκύλλην δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔασε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε εἰσιδέειν· οὐ γάρ κεν ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον. ἔνθεν δʼ ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα, ἥ μʼ ἐφίλει τʼ ἐκόμει τε. τί τοι τάδε μυθολογεύω;

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Lines 451–453

ἤδη γάρ τοι χθιζὸς ἐμυθεόμην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ σοί τε καὶ ἰφθίμῃ ἀλόχῳ· ἐχθρὸν δέ μοί ἐστιν αὖτις ἀριζήλως εἰρημένα μυθολογεύειν.

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Circe to Companions Of Odysseus · divine

Lines 21–27

ye shall set sail, and I will point out the way and declare to you each thing, in order that ye may not suffer pain and woes through wretched ill-contriving either by sea or on land.’ “So she spoke, and our proud hearts consented. So then all day long till set of sun

σχέτλιοι, οἳ ζώοντες ὑπήλθετε δῶμʼ Ἀίδαο, δισθανέες, ὅτε τʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαξ θνῄσκουσʼ ἄνθρωποι. ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον αὖθι πανημέριοι· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι πλεύσεσθʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δείξω ὁδὸν ἠδὲ ἕκαστα σημανέω, ἵνα μή τι κακορραφίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ ἢ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς ἀλγήσετε πῆμα παθόντες.

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Circe to Odysseus · divine

Lines 37–110

beguile all men whosoever comes to them. Whoso in ignorance draws near to them and hears the Sirens' voice, he nevermore returns, that his wife and little children may stand at his side rejoicing, but the Sirens beguile him with their clear-toned song, as they sit in a meadow, and about them is a great heap of bones of mouldering men, and round the bones the skin is shrivelling. But do thou row past them, and anoint the ears of thy comrades with sweet wax, which thou hast kneaded, lest any of the rest may hear. But if thou thyself hast a will to listen, let them bind thee in the swift ship hand and foot upright in the step of the mast, and let the ropes be made fast at the ends to the mast itself, that with delight thou mayest listen to the voice of the two Sirens. And if thou shalt implore and bid thy comrades to loose thee, then let them bind thee with yet more bonds. But when thy comrades shall have rowed past these, thereafter I shall not fully say on which side thy course is to lie, but do thou thyself ponder it in mind, and I will tell thee of both ways. For on the one hand are beetling crags, and against them roars the great wave of dark-eyed Amphitrite; the Planctae1 do the blessed gods call these. Thereby not even winged things may pass, no, not the timorous doves that bear ambrosia to father Zeus, but the smooth rock ever snatches away one even of these, and the father sends in another to make up the tale. And thereby has no ship of men ever yet escaped that has come thither, but the planks of ships and bodies of men are whirled confusedly by the waves of the sea and the blasts of baneful fire. One seafaring ship alone has passed thereby, that Argo famed of all, on her voyage from Aeetes, and even her the wave would speedily have dashed there against the great crags, had not Here sent her through, for that Jason was dear to her. This never melts away, nor does clear sky ever surround that peak in summer or in harvest time. No mortal man could scale it or set foot upon the top, not though he had twenty hands and feet; for the rock is smooth, as if it were polished. And in the midst of the cliff is a dim cave, turned to the West, toward Erebus, even where you shall steer your hollow ship, glorious Odysseus. Not even a man of might could shoot an arrow from the hollow ship so as to reach into that vaulted cave. Therein dwells Scylla, yelping terribly. Her voice is indeed but as the voice of a new-born whelp, but she herself is an evil monster, nor would anyone be glad at sight of her, no, not though it were a god that met her. Verily she has twelve feet, all misshapen,1 and six necks, exceeding long, and on each one an awful head, and therein three rows of teeth, thick and close, and full of black death. Up to her middle she is hidden in the hollow cave, but she holds her head out beyond the dread chasm, and fishes there, eagerly searching around the rock for dolphins and sea-dogs and whatever greater beast she may haply catch, such creatures as deep-moaning Amphitrite rears in multitudes past counting. By her no sailors yet may boast that they have fled unscathed in their ship, for with each head she carries off a man, snatching him from the dark-prowed ship. “‘But the other cliff, thou wilt note, Odysseus, is lower—they are close to each other; thou couldst even shoot an arrow across—and on it is a great fig tree with rich foliage, but beneath this divine Charybdis sucks down the black water. Thrice a day she belches it forth, and thrice she sucks it down terribly. Mayest thou not be there when she sucks it down, for no one could save thee from ruin, no, not the Earth-shaker. Nay, draw very close to Scylla's cliff, and drive thy ship past quickly; for it is better far to mourn six comrades in thy ship than all together.’

ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω πάντα πεπείρανται, σὺ δʼ ἄκουσον, ὥς τοι ἐγὼν ἐρέω, μνήσει δέ σε καὶ θεὸς αὐτός. Σειρῆνας μὲν πρῶτον ἀφίξεαι, αἵ ῥά τε πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλγουσιν, ὅτις σφεας εἰσαφίκηται. ὅς τις ἀιδρείῃ πελάσῃ καὶ φθόγγον ἀκούσῃ Σειρήνων, τῷ δʼ οὔ τι γυνὴ καὶ νήπια τέκνα οἴκαδε νοστήσαντι παρίσταται οὐδὲ γάνυνται, ἀλλά τε Σειρῆνες λιγυρῇ θέλγουσιν ἀοιδῇ ἥμεναι ἐν λειμῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφιν θὶς ἀνδρῶν πυθομένων, περὶ δὲ ῥινοὶ μινύθουσι. ἀλλὰ παρεξελάαν, ἐπὶ δʼ οὔατʼ ἀλεῖψαι ἑταίρων κηρὸν δεψήσας μελιηδέα, μή τις ἀκούσῃ τῶν ἄλλων· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἀκουέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, δησάντων σʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω, ὄφρα κε τερπόμενος ὄπʼ ἀκούσῃς Σειρήνοιιν. εἰ δέ κε λίσσηαι ἑτάρους λῦσαί τε κελεύῃς, οἱ δέ σʼ ἔτι πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι διδέντων. αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τάς γε παρὲξ ἐλάσωσιν ἑταῖροι, ἔνθα τοι οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω, ὁπποτέρη δή τοι ὁδὸς ἔσσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς θυμῷ βουλεύειν· ἐρέω δέ τοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν. ἔνθεν μὲν γὰρ πέτραι ἐπηρεφέες, προτὶ δʼ αὐτὰς κῦμα μέγα ῥοχθεῖ κυανώπιδος Ἀμφιτρίτης· Πλαγκτὰς δή τοι τάς γε θεοὶ μάκαρες καλέουσι. τῇ μέν τʼ οὐδὲ ποτητὰ παρέρχεται οὐδὲ πέλειαι τρήρωνες, ταί τʼ ἀμβροσίην Διὶ πατρὶ φέρουσιν, ἀλλά τε καὶ τῶν αἰὲν ἀφαιρεῖται λὶς πέτρη· ἀλλʼ ἄλλην ἐνίησι πατὴρ ἐναρίθμιον εἶναι. τῇ δʼ οὔ πώ τις νηῦς φύγεν ἀνδρῶν, ἥ τις ἵκηται, ἀλλά θʼ ὁμοῦ πίνακάς τε νεῶν καὶ σώματα φωτῶν κύμαθʼ ἁλὸς φορέουσι πυρός τʼ ὀλοοῖο θύελλαι. οἴη δὴ κείνη γε παρέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς, Ἀργὼ πᾶσι μέλουσα, παρʼ Αἰήταο πλέουσα. καὶ νύ κε τὴν ἔνθʼ ὦκα βάλεν μεγάλας ποτὶ πέτρας, ἀλλʼ Ἥρη παρέπεμψεν, ἐπεὶ φίλος ἦεν Ἰήσων. οἱ δὲ δύω σκόπελοι ὁ μὲν οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει ὀξείῃ κορυφῇ, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφιβέβηκε κυανέη· τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἐρωεῖ, οὐδέ ποτʼ αἴθρη κείνου ἔχει κορυφὴν οὔτʼ ἐν θέρει οὔτʼ ἐν ὀπώρῃ. οὐδέ κεν ἀμβαίη βροτὸς ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἐπιβαίη, οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ χεῖρές τε ἐείκοσι καὶ πόδες εἶεν· πέτρη γὰρ λίς ἐστι, περιξεστῇ ἐικυῖα. μέσσῳ δʼ ἐν σκοπέλῳ ἔστι σπέος ἠεροειδές, πρὸς ζόφον εἰς Ἔρεβος τετραμμένον, ᾗ περ ἂν ὑμεῖς νῆα παρὰ γλαφυρὴν ἰθύνετε, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ. οὐδέ κεν ἐκ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς αἰζήιος ἀνὴρ τόξῳ ὀιστεύσας κοῖλον σπέος εἰσαφίκοιτο. ἔνθα δʼ ἐνὶ Σκύλλη ναίει δεινὸν λελακυῖα. τῆς ἦ τοι φωνὴ μὲν ὅση σκύλακος νεογιλῆς γίγνεται, αὐτὴ δʼ αὖτε πέλωρ κακόν· οὐδέ κέ τίς μιν γηθήσειεν ἰδών, οὐδʼ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειεν. τῆς ἦ τοι πόδες εἰσὶ δυώδεκα πάντες ἄωροι, ἓξ δέ τέ οἱ δειραὶ περιμήκεες, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ σμερδαλέη κεφαλή, ἐν δὲ τρίστοιχοι ὀδόντες πυκνοὶ καὶ θαμέες, πλεῖοι μέλανος θανάτοιο. μέσση μέν τε κατὰ σπείους κοίλοιο δέδυκεν, ἔξω δʼ ἐξίσχει κεφαλὰς δεινοῖο βερέθρου, αὐτοῦ δʼ ἰχθυάᾳ, σκόπελον περιμαιμώωσα, δελφῖνάς τε κύνας τε, καὶ εἴ ποθι μεῖζον ἕλῃσι κῆτος, ἃ μυρία βόσκει ἀγάστονος Ἀμφιτρίτη. τῇ δʼ οὔ πώ ποτε ναῦται ἀκήριοι εὐχετόωνται παρφυγέειν σὺν νηί· φέρει δέ τε κρατὶ ἑκάστῳ φῶτʼ ἐξαρπάξασα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο. τὸν δʼ ἕτερον σκόπελον χθαμαλώτερον ὄψει, Ὀδυσσεῦ. πλησίον ἀλλήλων· καί κεν διοϊστεύσειας. τῷ δʼ ἐν ἐρινεὸς ἔστι μέγας, φύλλοισι τεθηλώς· τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ δῖα Χάρυβδις ἀναρροιβδεῖ μέλαν ὕδωρ. τρὶς μὲν γάρ τʼ ἀνίησιν ἐπʼ ἤματι, τρὶς δʼ ἀναροιβδεῖ δεινόν· μὴ σύ γε κεῖθι τύχοις, ὅτε ῥοιβδήσειεν· οὐ γάρ κεν ῥύσαιτό σʼ ὑπὲκ κακοῦ οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων. ἀλλὰ μάλα Σκύλλης σκοπέλῳ πεπλημένος ὦκα νῆα παρὲξ ἐλάαν, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν ἓξ ἑτάρους ἐν νηὶ ποθήμεναι ἢ ἅμα πάντας.

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nostos thumos

Odysseus to Circe

Lines 112–114

εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή μοι τοῦτο, θεά, νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες, εἴ πως τὴν ὀλοὴν μὲν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι Χάρυβδιν, τὴν δέ κʼ ἀμυναίμην, ὅτε μοι σίνοιτό γʼ ἑταίρους.

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Circe to Odysseus · divine

Lines 116–141

there is no defence; to flee from her is bravest. For if thou tarriest to arm thyself by the cliff, I fear lest she may again dart forth and attack thee with as many heads and seize as many men as before. Nay, row past with all thy might, and call upon Crataiis, the mother of Scylla, who bore her for a bane to mortals. Then will she keep her from darting forth again. “‘And thou wilt come to the isle Thrinacia. There in great numbers feed the kine of Helios and his goodly flocks, seven herds of kine and as many fair flocks of sheep, and fifty in each. These bear no young, nor do they ever die, and goddesses are their shepherds, fair-tressed nymphs, Phaethusa and Lampetie, whom beautiful Neaera bore to Helios Hyperion. These their honored mother, when she had borne and reared them, sent to the isle Thrinacia to dwell afar, and keep the flocks of their father and his sleek kine. If thou leavest these unharmed and heedest thy homeward way, verily ye may yet reach Ithaca, though in evil plight. But if thou harmest them, then I foretell ruin for thy ship and for thy comrades, and even if thou shalt thyself escape, late shalt thou come home and in evil case, after losing all thy comrades.’ “So she spoke, and presently came golden-throned Dawn. Then the beautiful goddess departed up the island, but I went to the ship and roused my comrades

σχέτλιε, καὶ δὴ αὖ τοι πολεμήια ἔργα μέμηλε καὶ πόνος· οὐδὲ θεοῖσιν ὑπείξεαι ἀθανάτοισιν; ἡ δέ τοι οὐ θνητή, ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατον κακόν ἐστι, δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε καὶ ἄγριον οὐδὲ μαχητόν· οὐδέ τις ἔστʼ ἀλκή· φυγέειν κάρτιστον ἀπʼ αὐτῆς. ἢν γὰρ δηθύνῃσθα κορυσσόμενος παρὰ πέτρῃ, δείδω, μή σʼ ἐξαῦτις ἐφορμηθεῖσα κίχῃσι τόσσῃσιν κεφαλῇσι, τόσους δʼ ἐκ φῶτας ἕληται. ἀλλὰ μάλα σφοδρῶς ἐλάαν, βωστρεῖν δὲ Κράταιιν, μητέρα τῆς Σκύλλης, ἥ μιν τέκε πῆμα βροτοῖσιν· ἥ μιν ἔπειτʼ ἀποπαύσει ἐς ὕστερον ὁρμηθῆναι. Θρινακίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφίξεαι· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ βόσκοντʼ Ἠελίοιο βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα, ἑπτὰ βοῶν ἀγέλαι, τόσα δʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά, πεντήκοντα δʼ ἕκαστα. γόνος δʼ οὐ γίγνεται αὐτῶν, οὐδέ ποτε φθινύθουσι. θεαὶ δʼ ἐπιποιμένες εἰσίν, νύμφαι ἐυπλόκαμοι, Φαέθουσά τε Λαμπετίη τε, ἃς τέκεν Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι δῖα Νέαιρα. τὰς μὲν ἄρα θρέψασα τεκοῦσά τε πότνια μήτηρ Θρινακίην ἐς νῆσον ἀπῴκισε τηλόθι ναίειν, μῆλα φυλασσέμεναι πατρώια καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς. τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι, ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε· εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον, νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις· αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς, ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους.

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nostos pascho

Lines 154–164

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ χρὴ ἕνα ἴδμεναι οὐδὲ δύʼ οἴους θέσφαθʼ ἅ μοι Κίρκη μυθήσατο, δῖα θεάων· ἀλλʼ ἐρέω μὲν ἐγών, ἵνα εἰδότες ἤ κε θάνωμεν ἤ κεν ἀλευάμενοι θάνατον καὶ κῆρα φύγοιμεν. Σειρήνων μὲν πρῶτον ἀνώγει θεσπεσιάων φθόγγον ἀλεύασθαι καὶ λειμῶνʼ ἀνθεμόεντα. οἶον ἔμʼ ἠνώγει ὄπʼ ἀκουέμεν· ἀλλά με δεσμῷ δήσατʼ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὐτόθι μίμνω, ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω. εἰ δέ κε λίσσωμαι ὑμέας λῦσαί τε κελεύω, ὑμεῖς δὲ πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι πιέζειν.

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Siren to Odysseus

Lines 184–191

δεῦρʼ ἄγʼ ἰών, πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν, νῆα κατάστησον, ἵνα νωιτέρην ὄπ ἀκούσῃς. οὐ γάρ πώ τις τῇδε παρήλασε νηὶ μελαίνῃ, πρίν γʼ ἡμέων μελίγηρυν ἀπὸ στομάτων ὄπʼ ἀκοῦσαι, ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τερψάμενος νεῖται καὶ πλείονα εἰδώς. ἴδμεν γάρ τοι πάνθʼ ὅσʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν, ἴδμεν δʼ, ὅσσα γένηται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.

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Lines 208–221

penned us in his hollow cave by brutal strength; yet even thence we made our escape through my valor and counsel and wit; these dangers, too, methinks we shall some day remember. But now come, as I bid, let us all obey. Do you keep your seats on the benches and smite with your oars the deep surf of the sea, in the hope that Zeus may grant us to escape and avoid this death. And to thee, steersman, I give this command, and do thou lay it to heart, since thou wieldest the steering oar of the hollow ship. From this smoke and surf keep the ship well away and hug the cliff, lest, ere thou know it, the ship swerve off to the other side and thou cast us into destruction.’ “So I spoke, and they quickly hearkened to my words. But of Scylla I went not on to speak, a cureless bane, lest haply my comrades, seized with fear, should cease

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πώ τι κακῶν ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν· οὐ μὲν δὴ τόδε μεῖζον ἕπει κακόν, ἢ ὅτε Κύκλωψ εἴλει ἐνὶ σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔνθεν ἐμῇ ἀρετῇ, βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε, ἐκφύγομεν, καί που τῶνδε μνήσεσθαι ὀίω. νῦν δʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες. ὑμεῖς μὲν κώπῃσιν ἁλὸς ῥηγμῖνα βαθεῖαν τύπτετε κληίδεσσιν ἐφήμενοι, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δώῃ τόνδε γʼ ὄλεθρον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι· σοὶ δέ, κυβερνῆθʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ βάλλευ, ἐπεὶ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς οἰήια νωμᾷς. τούτου μὲν καπνοῦ καὶ κύματος ἐκτὸς ἔεργε νῆα, σὺ δὲ σκοπέλου ἐπιμαίεο, μή σε λάθῃσι κεῖσʼ ἐξορμήσασα καὶ ἐς κακὸν ἄμμε βάλῃσθα.

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noos peitho thumos

Lines 271–276

for there, she said, was our most terrible bane. Nay, row the black ship out past the island.’

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Eurylochus to Odysseus

Lines 279–293

grow weary. Verily thou art wholly wrought of iron, seeing that thou sufferest not thy comrades, worn out with toil and drowsiness, to set foot on shore, where on this sea-girt isle we might once more make ready a savoury supper; but thou biddest us even as we are to wander on through the swift night, driven away from the island over the misty deep. It is from the night that fierce winds are born, wreckers of ships. How could one escape utter destruction, if haply there should suddenly come a blast of the South Wind or the blustering West Wind, which oftenest wreck ships in despite of the sovereign gods? Nay, verily for this time let us yield to black night and make ready our supper, remaining by the swift ship, and in the morning we will go aboard, and put out into the broad sea.’ “So spoke Eurylochus, and the rest of my comrades gave assent.

σχέτλιός εἰς, Ὀδυσεῦ· περί τοι μένος, οὐδέ τι γυῖα κάμνεις· ἦ ῥά νυ σοί γε σιδήρεα πάντα τέτυκται, ὅς ῥʼ ἑτάρους καμάτῳ ἁδηκότας ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνῳ οὐκ ἐάᾳς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι, ἔνθα κεν αὖτε νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον, ἀλλʼ αὔτως διὰ νύκτα θοὴν ἀλάλησθαι ἄνωγας νήσου ἀποπλαγχθέντας ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ. ἐκ νυκτῶν δʼ ἄνεμοι χαλεποί, δηλήματα νηῶν, γίγνονται· πῇ κέν τις ὑπεκφύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον, ἤν πως ἐξαπίνης ἔλθῃ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα, ἢ Νότου ἢ Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος, οἵ τε μάλιστα νῆα διαρραίουσι θεῶν ἀέκητι ἀνάκτων. ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισόμεσθα θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μένοντες, ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ.

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menos peitho

Odysseus to Eurylochus

Lines 297–302

no man may slay either cow or sheep in the blind folly of his mind; but be content to eat the food which immortal Circe gave.’ “So I spoke; and they straightway swore that they would not, even as I bade them. But when they had sworn and made an end of the oath,

Εὐρύλοχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή με βιάζετε μοῦνον ἐόντα. ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον· εἴ κέ τινʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶυ μέγʼ οἰῶν εὕρωμεν, μή πού τις ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσιν ἢ βοῦν ἠέ τι μῆλον ἀποκτάνῃ· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι ἐσθίετε βρώμην, τὴν ἀθανάτη πόρε Κίρκη.

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Lines 320–323

ὦ φίλοι, ἐν γὰρ νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε ἔστιν, τῶν δὲ βοῶν ἀπεχώμεθα, μή τι πάθωμεν· δεινοῦ γὰρ θεοῦ αἵδε βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα, Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.

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