"And now I was overcome by a heavy sleep, for I had been guiding the ship, not daring to trust it to the hand of any of the crew. While I lay unconscious of what was going on, my companions talked among themselves and said they believed that the bag which Æolus had given me contained vast amounts of gold and silver. And they spoke with great jealousy of the prizes which I had received wherever we had landed, while they went empty-handed.
"The more they talked to one another the more jealous and angry they grew. They untied the sack and the winds rushed out, much to their astonishment, and seized the ship, driving it round and round in a furious storm. I started out of my sleep suddenly and found the bag open I had so carefully guarded and my companions weeping bitterly.
"For a moment I had a mind to throw myself into the sea and make an end of my troubles forever. But the thought came to me that such an action would not be noble, so I hid my head in my mantle and lay down in the bottom of the ship while the violent winds and towering waves drove us back to the island we had left. We landed there again, and, having partaken of some food and wine, I sought the halls of Æolus.
"I found the king and his wife and children at table taking their evening meal. When Æolus saw me he was amazed, and asked me what had happened to me. I told him about the senseless action of my companions, and begged him to assist me once more. But with a terrible voice he replied: 'Begone as fast as thou canst out of my island. I will not befriend a man who is hated of the gods.' In this unkind way he sent me off, and we sadly entered our ships and made for the open sea, trusting to the mercy of the winds."
CHAPTER XVIII
ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRCÈ
"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, but on the seventh day we reached the city of the Læstrygonians. There the pastures are so rich in grass that the fields, which are grazed by one flock of sheep during the day, yield abundant food for another flock by night. The inhabitants were not only inhospitable, but they received us with a shower of stones, which they hurled at us and at our galleys. They broke our ships and killed my companions, spearing them like fish. Then they carried them ashore to be devoured. With the greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one ship and a few companions from the hands of these giants, and I fled with them out to the high sea.
"Sadly we continued our course until we reached an island, where the goddess Circè, a daughter of the Sun and Ocean, lived. We landed silently, and gave two days and nights to rest, for we were worn out with toil and grief. On the third day I climbed to the top of a high hill and looked over the island. Down below I saw a marble palace, surrounded by a thick forest. There was smoke rising from the grounds, so I resolved to return to my men and send out some of them to look about and explore.