“Whither away? listen and stay: mariner, mariner, fly no more.”[1]
[1] These few lines of the Sirens’ song have been taken from Lord Tennyson’s beautiful poem “The Sea Fairies.”
Then, as if drawn by the long cadenced notes as by cords, Ulysses gathered up his mighty strength and strove with his bonds.
But the sailors had done their work too well, and the rope only cut deeply into the flesh.
The white arms were stretched out to him in supplication, the song grew more full of unearthly beauty than before—and the ship was slowly passing by.
Ulysses called out to the crew in an agony of command and entreaty.
One of the men happened to look up and saw his face. He grinned, nudged his companion, and turned away.
The song grew fainter, the three tall figures dwindled. The face of Ulysses grew ashen, and when at length they came to him and cut the ropes he said no word.
He went alone to the prow of the vessel and looked out over the fair sun-bathed sea, and there were tears in his eyes, and his mouth was softer and more tremulous than it was wont to be.
So they came away from Parthenope, Ligeia and Leucosia, the Sirens.