A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
51 ὀρθὸν modifies σε in 50. ἐκ δ’ αὐτοῦ : “(attached) from it,” with “it” being the mast-stay.
πείρατ’ : πεῖραρ here means “rope” or “cable” rather than “boundary.” ἀνήφθω : is 3 sg. pf.
impt. pass. of ἀνάπτω. Its subject is πείρατα.
52 ἀκούσῃς : subjunctive in a primary sequence purpose clause (§98 in Book 1). Σειρήνοιϊν :
gen. dual of Σειρήν.
53 λίσσηαι : subjunctive in a Future More Vivid construction (§247a in Book 1).
54 διδέντων : 3 pl. pres. impt. of δίδημι I bind (a parallel form of δέω).39-54 Circe gives the first description of the Sirens (cf. 12. 158-166 and 184-191). Through
the enchantment of their song, the Sirens present another threat to homecoming;
the piles of the bones of men who have died there attest to the deadly results of being
charmed by them (41-46). The verb θέλγω (40, 44) denotes one of the functions of
poetry, along with τέρπω (52); the fatal allure of the Sirens’ song (their λιγυρὴ ἀοιδή)
is that of poetry. Circe does not, however, give away the content of this song. On this
passage, see Pietro Pucci, “The Song of the Sirens,” in The Song of the Sirens: Essays
on Homer (Lanham, Boulder, New York and Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield 1997)
1-9.