Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca Part 6

CHAPTER XVIII ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRCe

"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, but on the seventh day we reached the city of the Laestrygonians. There the pastures are so rich in gra.s.s 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 s.h.i.+ps and killed my companions, spearing them like fish. Then they carried them ash.o.r.e to be devoured. With the greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one s.h.i.+p 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 G.o.ddess Circe, 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.

"A large stag ran down into my path, on his way to a river to drink, and I thrust my spear through him and flung him across my neck and took him to the s.h.i.+p. I threw him at the feet of my men, who were astonished at his size. They prepared a banquet at once, and we feasted upon the meat.

"That night we slept on the sh.o.r.e again, and in the morning I told them that I had seen a palace standing in a thick wood, and that I wanted to send several men there to try to get food. When my companions thought of all their comrades who had been slain they wept aloud.

But their tears were useless. I divided them into two equal bands, and we cast lots to see which party should make the adventure.

"The lot fell to Eurylochos and his band of men. They started forth, and soon came to a beautiful valley, in which was the splendid house of Circe, which was built of well-hewn stone. There were beasts of prey, lions and wolves, around it. The animals were tame; they wagged their tails and fawned like dogs, but the men were afraid of them.

Circe was weaving in the palace and singing a beautiful song. She had bright, sunny hair and a sweet voice. The men heard her as she went back and forth weaving, and they called aloud. She came to the door and threw it wide open and bade them enter.

"Eurylochos alone did not go in, for he feared that some evil would come of it. The others followed her, and Circe seated them on thrones and gave them food and wine, but in the wine she had secretly infused a magic juice which made them forget home and friends and all desire to see their native land.

"When they had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, she waved her wand over them, and at once the poor wretches were changed into grunting pigs, which she shut up in pigsties and threw acorns and other food fit for swine before them. Although thus transformed and covered with bristles, they still retained the human mind.

"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of his companions. But as they tarried so long, he hastened back to the s.h.i.+p to tell the news. Thereupon I quickly hung my sword over my shoulder and, taking my bow and arrows, hurried off alone, and soon found myself not far from Circe's palace."

CHAPTER XIX CIRCe INSTRUCTS ODYSSEUS CONCERNING HIS DESCENT TO HADES

"As I lingered in that dangerous valley there appeared to me a youth whom I knew at once to be Hermes, the messenger of the G.o.ds. He gently took hold of my hand and, looking compa.s.sionately on me, said: 'Thou most unhappy man! Why art thou roaming alone in these wild parts?

Or art thou bound on the errand of delivering thy friends who have all been changed by Circe into swine? Much do I fear that thou mayest meet with the same fate. Listen to my words and heed them well if thou wouldst destroy the treacherous schemes of Circe.

"'Take this little flower. Its name is Moly among the G.o.ds, and no wicked sorcery can hurt the man who treasures it carefully. Its root is black. Its blossom is as white as milk, and it is hard for men to tear it from the ground. Take this herb and go fearlessly into the dwelling of the sorceress; it will guard thee against all mishap.

She will bring thee a bowl of wine mingled with the juice of enchantment, but do not fear to eat or drink anything she may offer thee, and when she touches thy head with her magic wand, then rush upon her quickly with drawn sword as though about to slay her. She will crouch in fear and entreat thee with soft words to spare her.

But do not give way to her until she has pledged herself by the great oath of the G.o.ds to do thee no harm.'

"When Hermes had spoken thus he left me, to return to high Olympos, and I walked to the house of Circe with a braver heart. As I came near the palace I called out to the G.o.ddess with a loud voice, and she threw open the doors for me to enter. She bade me sit down on a beautiful throne and placed a golden foot-stool under my feet. Then she gave me the dangerous cup and I drank it off, but her charm did not work.

"Scarcely had I drained the cup when the G.o.ddess struck me with her wand and said: 'Off with you! Go to the pigsty, where friends await thy coming!' In a twinkling I had my sword in hand and rushed upon her as if to kill her. Circe shrieked with fear and fell on her knees to implore my mercy. 'Who art thou and whence dost thou come?' said Circe. 'Thou art the first man over whom my magic wine has had no power. Art thou really that Odysseus of whom Hermes told me that he was to come here after many wanderings? But put up thy sword and cease to be angry with me and let us trust each other.'

"I answered her: 'O, G.o.ddess, how can I have faith in thy words, since thou hast changed my companions into swine and dost plot the same fate for me? Swear me the great oath that thou wilt not harm me, and I shall trust thy words.'

"Circe at once took the great oath, that she would never again try to do me any harm, and she ordered her servants to spread a feast before me. But I had no desire to eat. I sat down in silence, my mind full of grief and doubt.

"When Circe saw that I did not touch the food she said: 'Why art thou so quiet and speechless? And why dost thou not taste the food and wine? I have pledged myself by the great oath to do thee no harm!'

But I answered: 'What man with a loyal heart, O G.o.ddess, could eat and drink with any pleasure while his comrades are kept in bondage and degradation? If thou art really kind and wouldst have me enjoy this bounteous feast, O let me see my dear companions free once more!'

"The G.o.ddess took her wand and went to the pen and drove out the swine.

She then anointed them with a magic ointment, and their bristles fell off and they stood up and were men again. They knew me, and each one seized my hand, shedding tears of joy. Then I sent for the rest of my men at the s.h.i.+p, who eagerly came up, and together we entered the halls of Circe, all of us weeping with joy.

"Circe's heart was softened also, and she said to me: 'Son of Laertes, n.o.ble Odysseus, do not weep and grieve any longer. I know what hards.h.i.+ps thou hast endured on land and sea. Take courage, for thy sufferings will soon be at an end. Go down to the sea and hide thy boat near the sh.o.r.e and come back to my halls, thou and all thy men, where I will make it a happy home for all until thou art rested and ready to sail again for thy native land.'

"We stayed a whole year on the island of Circe, feasting and enjoying ourselves, and fully recovered our strength. The desire of reaching my beloved Ithaca grew stronger within me day by day, and at last I begged Circe to allow us to depart. 'I am not willing, O son of Laertes,' Circe answered, 'that thou shouldst remain here against thy wish, but it is necessary that thou shouldst, before departing from my island, descend into Hades, to the palace of Pluto and Persephone, to consult the spirit of the Theban seer, Tiresias, on whom Persephone has bestowed the priceless gift of preserving his memory even in Hades, whereas all the other souls are moving about as empty shadows.'

"Hearing this, I grew desperate and no longer had any desire to live or see the light of day. I said to the G.o.ddess: 'Who will show me the way to Hades? for no living mortal has ever gone there before.'

She replied: 'Do not worry about a guide, Odysseus, for there will be no need of one. Launch thy boat, unfurl the sails, and quietly sit down. The north wind will waft thee to the sh.o.r.e of Hades. There flows the river Styx, black and terrible. It flows between the poplars and willows in the groves of Persephone, and meets the broad waters of Okeanos. Sail up its dark stream until thou dost reach the rock where its two branches meet and swirl and roar. There leave thy boat and dig a ditch in the ground, a foot deep and a foot wide, in which thou shalt pour honey, milk, wine, and water as an offering to the dead.

"'At the same time pray to the G.o.ds of Hades, and promise the shades of the dead that after thou hast arrived in Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice to them a whole heifer, the best of thy flock, and to Tiresias especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male and a female, kill them, and burn them as a sacrifice to the nations of the dead.

"'At once there will arrive the souls of the departed. They will come by thousands, anxious to drink of the blood, that they may have their minds again. But draw thy sword and hold them back until the spirit of Tiresias arrives. He will tell thee how to get back to thy native land.'

"As Circe said this the daylight appeared, and I woke my companions and told them to make ready to go with me. We started at once for our s.h.i.+p, and got everything in readiness to leave. I told them that before setting out for our own country we had, by the advice of Circe, to go down to Hades in order to consult the seer Tiresias about our journey. When they heard this they sat down, and wept, and began to tear the hair from their heads.

"Circe meantime came up by stealth, and put two sheep into the s.h.i.+p, and we sailed sadly away."

CHAPTER XX THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS IN HADES

"With a heavy heart we sailed from Circe's island bound for the gloomy Hades. As the wind was favorable, we soon reached the place of which the G.o.ddess had told us. There we left the s.h.i.+p and did those things which Circe had counselled us to do. As soon as the dark blood of the sheep began to flow into the trench countless souls came flocking from Hades and begged to taste of the blood, that their mortal minds might be restored to them.

"Young wives and girls, old men and young warriors who had fallen in battle, airy forms, ghosts of all kinds of people, flitted like bats around me in that dark place with fearful cries, and I turned pale with fear. I drew my sword and waved them back until I should question the soul of Tiresias.

"But first came the soul of Elpenor, one of my companions who had gone with me to the palace of Circe. We had left him dead in the halls of the G.o.ddess, since we had no time to bury him. Now, when I saw him a great pity stirred my heart, and I shed tears and said to him: 'Elpenor, how didst thou come into these dread regions of darkness?

Thou hast come more quickly on foot than I in my quick s.h.i.+p.'

"The phantom knew me, for, being as yet unburied, he was not one of the shades, and had not lost his memory or voice, nor did he need to drink of the blood. He moaned and replied: 'n.o.ble Odysseus, it was an evil fate which the G.o.ds had decreed for me. I drank too much wine and that caused my death. I lay down to sleep on the roof of Circe's palace and could not remember the way to the stairs when thou didst call us to the s.h.i.+ps. In my haste I fell from the roof and broke my neck, and my soul came down to Hades.

"'I pray thee now by all those whom thou dost love--thy wife, thy father, and thy son--that thou leave not my body unburied in the palace halls, lest I bring on thee the anger of the G.o.ds. But on thy return to Circe's isle burn my body, together with my armor, and pile up a mound of earth over my ashes. Plant my oar upon my tomb--the oar with which I used to row while I was living.'

"I made the promise, but at this moment the soul of my mother, whom I had left hale and strong among the living when I went to the war, approached and tried to get at the trench. I wept to see her, but with a heavy heart I forbade her coming nearer until I had spoken with Tiresias. At this moment troops of souls came flocking out of Hades, and from the countless throng the Theban seer came leaning on a golden staff, and he ordered me to lay aside my sword and permit him to drink of the blood.

"When he had drunk, he spoke to me and said: 'Odysseus, man of many woes, why dost thou leave the light of the sun and come down among the dead? Doubtless thy heart's desire is to return safely home. But much suffering is in store for thee. Poseidon will not permit it, because thou hast blinded his son, Polyphemus. Still, thou mayest overcome all difficulties and see Ithaca at last, if thou dost not harm the cattle and fat sheep of the Sun on the island of Trinacria.

"'But if thou dost kill them and eat of their flesh, I warn thee that nothing will save thy comrades or thy s.h.i.+ps. Even then thou mayest be saved, but it will be on a strange s.h.i.+p, alone, and after dreadful sufferings. And at home thou wilt find other misfortunes awaiting thee.

"'There will be a mob of lawless men rioting in thy house, squandering thy riches, and trying to get thy wife to marry one of them. Thou shalt kill these violent men in thy halls by craft or in open fight.

After that thou shalt reach a good and prosperous old age, and find a peaceful death far away from the sea. All that I tell thee shall surely happen.'"

CHAPTER XXI ODYSSEUS CONVERSES WITH HIS MOTHER AND AGAMEMNON

"When Tiresias had gone, my mother came back to the dark trench and drank of the blood. She knew me at once and cried out: 'Oh, my child, how didst thou ever come down to this gloomy place alive? Art thou on thy way home from Troy? And hast thou not seen Ithaca yet, nor thy wife and child?'

"I answered her: 'Dear mother, I was compelled to come down here in order to consult the soul of the prophet Tiresias about my return; for I have not yet touched foot to Grecian soil. I have been driven about on strange seas from year to year, and have suffered misfortune after misfortune. Oh, tell me, my mother, how didst thou die? Did some lingering disease waste thy life, or didst thou meet a sudden, painless death?