“‘O goddess,’ I answered, ‘how can I trust one who has robbed me of my friends? I know not what schemes thou entertainest against me. If I am to trust thee, swear to me the great oath of the gods that thou wilt not practise thine arts against me, sleeping nor waking.’
“She at once complied and I was reassured. And now she drew me down upon her couch and fondled me, while her maidens, beautiful daughters of the river and forest gods, prepared a delicious repast for me and one of them heated water for the bath. When it was ready she washed my head and shoulders herself and clothed me in rich garments. Then she led me to a table covered with delicacies. I did not partake, but leant my head upon my hand and sank into sorrowful musings. Circe urged me in vain to eat. ‘O goddess,’ I sighed, ‘how can I enjoy a feast in the house where my unhappy companions are prisoners? Until I see them freed from the terrible enchantment, thou wilt exert thyself in vain to cheer me with thy embraces and thine entertainment.’
“The goddess was touched. She went out into the pens, freed the swine, and anointed each one with a healing salve. And, oh joy! the animals stood up, the bristly hide and the long snouts disappeared, and my companions stood before me, younger and handsomer than before. They shouted for joy and fell at our feet. Then their beautiful liberator led them into the banquet hall.
“‘Listen, Ulysses,’ said Circe to me, ‘remain with me for a while and rest after all the hardships thou hast undergone. Go and beach thy ship upon the sands. Hide thy weapons and goods in the thicket, and then bring all thy worthy comrades here that I may entertain them.’
“Confiding in the sacred oath of the goddess I set out at once to fetch my companions. They rejoiced to see me returning in safety, and came running to meet me like young foals to their mother. I related my adventure, and commanded them to draw the ship on the beach and to bury the tools and follow me to the palace where they might rest and feast to their heart’s content.
“Then arose the prudent Eurylochus, still half-paralyzed with fear, and said to them: ‘Poor fellows, where are we going? The crafty sorceress will soon have transformed us all into swine, wolves, or lions. Did not Ulysses lead us into the Cyclops’ cave. Let us stay here, and let him go where he will.’ I grew crimson with anger on hearing him speak thus. I had already drawn my sword to cut off his head when my companions prevented me. ‘Let him go,’ said they; ‘we will all follow thee.’
“I then guided them to Circe’s palace, and even Eurylochus followed us at a distance. How happy they all were to find their companions, in fine garments, sitting at the festive board. They fell upon one another’s necks, and even Circe was touched at the sight. She said to us: ‘Dear comrades, stay with me until ye shall have forgotten all your troubles and regained your old-time courage.’
“Thankfully we accepted her invitation, and day by day we feasted and drank. But at length, when a year had gone by, the longing for home awakened in our breasts, and my companions urged me to think of our native land. All day I mused upon their demand, and as darkness fell I clasped the knees of the goddess and besought her to send us back to our homes. She answered graciously that she did not wish to detain me against my will, but that I must first accomplish a mission for her before I could take the direct path homewards. I gave my promise and heard with horror the following commission: ‘I wish to send thee to the underworld to inquire of the spirit of old Tiresias, who conferred upon Persephone, Queen of Hades, alone of all the shades, power to wander there a living person, while the other souls are only floating shadows.’
“I wrung my hands and groaned. Weeping I sat beside the goddess and cried: ‘Who shall show me the way thither? Never did a living man descend into Hades, and nevermore shall a living man return from thence into the light.’
“‘Fear not for thy life, nor for a guide,’ she continued. ‘Spread thy sail and let the north wind guide thee.’ She then gave me full directions as to all that I should see and do upon this visit to the lower regions.