Infest a god: the obedient flame withdraws:
Again the branching streams begin to spread.
And soft remurmur in their wonted bed.
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMERfrom the tenth book of the OdysseyAdventures with...Circe
Now dropped our anchors in the Aeaean bay,
Where Circe dwelt, the daughter of the Day!...
Goddess, and queen, to whom the powers belong
Of dreadful magic and commanding song.
Some god directing to this peaceful bay
Silent we came, and melancholy lay,
Spent and o’erwatched. Two days and nights rolled on,
And now the third succeeding morning shone.
I climbed a cliff, with spear and sword in hand,
Whose ridge o’erlooked a shady length of land; 10
To learn if aught of mortal works appear,
Or cheerful voice of mortal strike the ear?
From the high point I marked, in distant view,
A stream of curling smoke ascending blue,
And spiry tops, the tufted trees above,
Of Circe’s palace bosomed in the grove.
Thither to haste, the region to explore,
Was first my thought: but speeding back to shore
I deemed it best to visit first my crew,
And send our spies the dubious coast to view. 20
In equal parts I straight divide my band,
And name a chief each party to command;
I led the one, and of the other side
Appointed brave Eurylochus the guide.
Then in the brazen helm the lots we throw,
And fortune casts Eurylochus to go;
He marched with twice eleven in his train;
Pensive they march, and pensive we remain.
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