The Adventure of Odysseus
(Excerpt)
Homer

After the fall of the queenly city of Troy, the victorious Greeks of Troy sailed for home led by the wise, strong and brave Odysseus, King of Ithaca.
From Ilium, as Troy is sometimes called, the winds carried Odysseus, his twelve stout ships and their crews, to Ismarus. There, being a warrior of that time, he thought it only right to plunder the town and kill the men. The women and cattle and goods he saved and divided among his men. Then wise Odysseus warned his men to pick up their heels and be off. But they, in their foolishness, would not obey. They loitered on the beach, beside the great fires, feasting and drinking wine, until the men from the neighbouring towns came down. And in the great battle that followed, several men from each ship were killed.
From that shore the rest sailed away, sick at heart. But their troubles had only begun.
Zeus, the Cloud Gatherer, called up the North Wind. And he sent a terrible tempest against the ships, covering land and sea with clouds. Then night came rushing down from the sky. In the blackness the ships plunged along, their sails ripped to shreds by the wind.
When they had recovered from the gale, Ithaca was not far off. But the sea and the current and the north-west wind caught the ships as they doubled Cape Malea, and drove them adrift past Cythera.
When they reached land again, after being beaten about by bitter winds for nine days, they were in the country of lotus – eaters. These people proved to be friendly enough. They offered Odysseus’ men some of their food. But alas, whoever tasted that honey sweetness thought no more of his ships or his home. He wanted only to stay with the lotus-eaters, idly feeding with them on the luscious fruit.
Odysseus had to tie his men and drag them back to the ships by force, while they wept and protested all the way. And before any more could taste of the lotus, he had them bending to their oars, and the ships went scudding across the gray sea.
(Odysseus and his men continue their journey and come to the land of the one-eyed giants called the Cyclops, a wild and lawless tribe. After a dramatic escape from these man-eating giants, they sail on and stop at the island of Aeolia, the home of Aeolas, ruler of the winds. Aeolas gives Odysseus a bag of oxhide where he has placed all the winds except the west wind to give the travellers a smooth and fast journey.
After sailing for nine days and nights they come in sight of their homeland and Odysseus feels free at last to sleep.
But while he is asleep, the men conspire to open the bag for they think it is full of treasure. The winds rush out and whirl the ships off to sea again, far from their native land.
After another adventure in the land of another set of fearful, man-eating giants, Odysseus sails on once more.)

On they sailed, glad to be alive, but sorrowing for their brave companions. It was then they came to the island of Circe, a goddess with beautiful hair, who spoke in the simple words of men.
Guided by a god, they silently brought their ships into the shelter of a harbour. There they went ashore, and for two days and nights gave themselves up to their sorrow.
On the third day, when the fair-haired Dawn came bringing light, Odysseus took his spear and sword and climbed a hill to look around to see if there was anyone about. From a rocky hilltop he saw smoke rising from a house hidden away in a thick grove of trees. Odysseus decided it would e best to go back to the ships on the shore give his men noonday meal, and send some of them to make a search.
When they had finished eating, Odysseus gathered the men together and said to them:
“My friends, this morning I climbed that high hill there and took a look around. I found we are on an island washed by the endless sea. And in the midst of the flatness of the island, I saw smoke arising from the middle of a grove of trees.”
At these words a sadness crushed their hearts. They thought of the dreadful giants they had just escaped, and of the violent Cyclops. They wept aloud, but what good are tears?
Sturdy Odysseus then divided his company into two bands. He himself was in command of one, while the other was under a fine warrior named Eurylochus They shook lots in a helmet, and out leaped the lot of Eurylochus. He started off with all his men grumbling. And the rest, left behind, grumbled too.
In the midst of the grove they found the house, which belonged to Circe. It was well-built of polished stones and set in a fine clearing. All around the house roame wolves and lions. They did not attack the newcomers, but jumped upon them like friendly dogs hoping for a treat.
At the outer door of the goddess, they stopped. They heard fair-haired Circe inside, singing in a sweet voice as she worked at a loom strung with wondrous fabric such as goddesses make.
Then Polites, a fine, trustworthy leader, said, “Friends, I hear someone singing sweetly at a loom. Be she a goddess or woman, let us go in and speak to her.”
At his signal, they called out. Circe came at once and opened the shining doors, bidding them all come in. Only Eurylochus stayed behind, for he feared some kind of trick.
She gave them all comfortable seats and made them a dish of cheese and meal and yellow honey mixed with wine. But with it she also mixed harmful drugs to make them forget their native land. When they had swallowed the strange brew, she tapped ach man with her wand. In a flash they were turned one and all to animals. Circe herded them into the stalls and threw them food, such as they would eat.
Now Eurylochus hurried back to the ship to bring news of his companions and their sad fate. When Odysseus heard how his men had vanished into the house in the grove, he buckled on his great bronze sword and slung his bow about him. But Eurylochus clasped him about the knees and pleaded with him to escape while he could with the men who were left.
“You stay here, Eurylochus,” Odysseus said, “Stay here eating and drinking beside the ship. But as for me, I must go on, for something drives me there.”
So up he went from the seashore, into the enchanted woods. There he met Hermes, the messenger of the gods, appearing in the likeness of a young man. Hermes took Odysseus by the hand and said, “Where are you going, unhappy man? Your companions are shut up in Circe’s stalls. And you are in danger of landing there yourself, never to return.”
“Still, if you insist upon going, I will help you to keep safe. Take this herb, and when you get to Circe’s house, drop it into the brew she serves you. It will keep you from an evil fate.”
Hermes gave Odysseus an herb he picked from the ground, black of root, white of flower. The gods called it moly and made it difficult for mortal men to find.
This done, Hermes departed toward Olympus. Odysseus went on to Circe’s house, with a troubled heart.
At her doorway he stopped and called out loudly. At once the beautiful goddess came and opened the shining doors to him.
Odysseus followed her, and she led him to affine carved chair with knobs of siler, with a footstool for his feet. She mixed him a brew, dropping in her evil drugs. He drank it off, but was not bewitched. Still she tapped him with her wand and said, “Off to the stall with you, too!”
Then Odysseus drew his sharp sword and leaped at her as if to kill her. But she cried out and threw herself at his knees, saying, “Who are you? Where is your home? There has never been a man who could drink my enchanted brew and not be completely bewitched. Surely you must be Odysseus, the man who is ready for anything! For Hermes has told me you would stop here on your way home from Troy. Come now, put up your sword and let be true friends.”
But Odysseus answered, “How can you ask for my friendship when you have turned my men into animals? I can never be your friend until you swear by all the gods that you will never hurt me.”
So Circe swore a long and mighty oath.
Meanwhile, her four maids, the nymphs of springs and woods and sacred rivers, have been at work in her hall. One had spread fine coverings upon the seats, linen and purple cloths. Another drew up silver tables to the chairs, and set golden baskets on them. The third mixed wine in a silver mixer, brought water and warmed it in a great cauldron over a fire she built.
Circe led Odysseus to a bath and poured warm, pleasant water over his head and shoulders, until his weariness melted away. When she had bathed him and rubbed him with olive oil, she gave him a fine cloak and doublet to wear. Then she led him to a chair made ready, and a handmaid brought him water for his hands in a handsome golden bowl. Others filled the table with delicacies, which Circe bade him to eat.
But Odysseus could find no pleasure in the feast, and sat bowed in deep thought.
“Why do you sit there like a stick?” Circe asked. “Why will you not eat and drink? Do you still fear some sort of trick? I have given my solemn oath!”
“Oh, Circe,” Odysseus answered, “what man worthy of the name could eat and drink before his companions have been freed and brought before his eyes? If you really want me to eat and drink, let me see my friends.”
Then Circe took her wand and went into the stall and drove out all the animals. When they had stood before her, she went among them, sprinkling over them another charm. At once they were turned back to men again, but younger and more handsome than before.
When they saw Odysseus, they grasped him by the hand and shouted for joy until hall rang with sound.
Even Circe was moved, and she said, “ Oh, Odysseus, go to your ship. Draw it safely up on the shore and put all your goods in a cave. Then bring ll the rest of your men with you, that I may entertain them as I should.”
This Odysseus did. When all the men had baths and fresh clothing given to them in Circe’s house, they joined the others feasting merrily in the hall. And when they saw each other face to face again, truly the roof rang!
Then Circe came to Odysseus, and said, “Odysseus, I know how many trials you have suffered in the seas, and how many cruel enemies have attacked you on the land. Stay here now and eat and drink until your spirits have returned. For you are all wasted and downhearted.”
So there they stayed a full year, feasting on meat and sweet wine.