Κίρκη δ᾽ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἔμ᾽ ἥμενον οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ σίτῳ
χεῖρας ἰάλλοντα , κρατερὸν δέ με πένθος ἔχοντα ,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα :
‘

τίφθ᾽ οὕτως , Ὀδυσεῦ , κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἕζεαι ἶσος ἀναύδῳ ,
θυμὸν ἔδων , βρώμης δ᾽ οὐχ ἅπτεαι οὐδὲ ποτῆτος ;
ἦ τινά που δόλον ἄλλον ὀίεαι : οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
δειδίμεν : ἤδη γάρ τοι ἀπώμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον .
’

ὣς ἔφατ᾽ , αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον :
‘ὦ Κίρκη , τίς γάρ κεν ἀνήρ , ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη ,
πρὶν τλαίη πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος ,
πρὶν λύσασθ᾽ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι ;
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δὴ πρόφρασσα πιεῖν φαγέμεν τε κελεύεις ,
λῦσον , ἵν᾽ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους .

When Circe saw me sitting there , not stretching out my hands to the food , but weighed down with sorrow , she approached and spoke with winged words : " Odysseus , why do you sit as if you were dumb , eating your heart out , not touching the food or drink ? Are you suspicious of some new ruse ? Have no fear , I have sworn you a solemn oath already not to do you harm . "
To this I answered : " Circe , what decent man could bring himself to eat and drink before he had freed his men , and seen them face to face ? If you wish me in truth to eat and drink as you ask , then set them free and let me see my loyal friends with my own eyes .

Now when Circe noted that I sat thus , and did not put forth my hands to the food , but was burdened with sore grief , she came close to me , and spoke winged words : " ‘Why , Odysseus , dost thou sit thus like one that is dumb , eating thy heart , and dost not touch food or drink ? Dost thou haply forbode some other guile ? Nay , thou needest in no wise fear , for already have I sworn a mighty oath to do thee no harm . ’ " So she spoke , but I answered her , and said : ‘Circe , what man that is right-minded could bring himself to taste of food or drink , ere yet he had won freedom for his comrades , and beheld them before his face ? But if thou of a ready heart dost bid me eat and drink , set them free , that mine eyes may behold my trusty comrades .