Odyssey 10.274-306 Fagles
Elias Eells /
- Created on 2019-04-06 17:27:59
- Modified on 2019-04-06 23:25:12
- Aligned by Elias Eells
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.perseus-grc1:10.274-10.306
ὣς εἰπὼν παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης .
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα ,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα , νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς ,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ , τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη :
ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί , ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε :
πῇ δὴ αὖτ᾽ , ὦ δύστηνε , δι᾽ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος ,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών ; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ᾽ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες .
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ᾽ ἔρχεαι ; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν , μενέεις δὲ σύ γ᾽ , ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι .
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω .
τῆ , τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ , ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ .
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης .
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ , βαλέει δ᾽ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ .
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται : οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν , ὅ τοι δώσω , ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα .
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ᾽ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι , ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων .
ἡ δέ σ᾽ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι :
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν ,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ᾽ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ :
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι ,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο ,
μή σ᾽ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ .
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας , καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε .
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε , γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος :
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί : χαλεπὸν δέ τ᾽ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι , θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται .
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα ,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα , νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς ,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ , τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη :
ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί , ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε :
πῇ δὴ αὖτ᾽ , ὦ δύστηνε , δι᾽ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος ,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών ; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ᾽ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες .
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ᾽ ἔρχεαι ; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν , μενέεις δὲ σύ γ᾽ , ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι .
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω .
τῆ , τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ , ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ .
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης .
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ , βαλέει δ᾽ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ .
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται : οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν , ὅ τοι δώσω , ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα .
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ᾽ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι , ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων .
ἡ δέ σ᾽ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι :
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν ,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ᾽ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ :
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι ,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο ,
μή σ᾽ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ .
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας , καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε .
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε , γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος :
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί : χαλεπὸν δέ τ᾽ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι , θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται .
Leaving
the
ship
and
shore
,
I
headed
inland
,
clambering up through hushed , entrancing glades until ,
as I was nearing the halls of Circe skilled in spells ,
approaching her palace — Hermes god of the golden wand
crossed my path , and he looked for all the world
like a young man sporting his first beard ,
just in the prime and warm pride of youth ,
and grasped me by the hand and asked me kindly ,
' Where are you going now , my unlucky friend —
trekking over the hills alone in unfamiliar country ?
And your men are all in there , in Circe ' s palace ,
cooped like swine , hock by jowl in the sties .
Have you come to set them free ?
Well , I warn you , you won ' t get home yourself ,
you ' ll stay right there , trapped with all the rest .
But wait , I can save you , free you from that great danger .
Look , here is a potent drug . Take it to Circe ' s halls —
its power alone will shield you from the fatal day .
Let me tell you of all the witch ' s subtle craft . . .
She ' ll mix you a potion , lace the brew with drugs
but she ' ll be powerless to bewitch you , even so —
this magic herb I give will fight her spells .
Now here ' s your plan of action , step by step .
The moment Circe strikes with her long thin wand ,
you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip
and rush her fast as if to run her through !
She ' ll cower in fear and coax you to her bed —
but don ' t refuse the goddess ' bed , not then , not if
she ' s to release your friends and treat you well yourself .
But have her swear the binding oath of the blessed gods
she ' ll never plot some new intrigue to harm you ,
once you lie there naked —
never unman you , strip away your courage ! '
With that the giant-killer handed over the magic herb .
pulling it from the earth ,
and Hermes showed me all its name and nature .
Its root is black and its flower white as milk
and the gods call it moly . Dangerous for a mortal man
to pluck from the soil but not for deathless gods .
All lies within their power .
clambering up through hushed , entrancing glades until ,
as I was nearing the halls of Circe skilled in spells ,
approaching her palace — Hermes god of the golden wand
crossed my path , and he looked for all the world
like a young man sporting his first beard ,
just in the prime and warm pride of youth ,
and grasped me by the hand and asked me kindly ,
' Where are you going now , my unlucky friend —
trekking over the hills alone in unfamiliar country ?
And your men are all in there , in Circe ' s palace ,
cooped like swine , hock by jowl in the sties .
Have you come to set them free ?
Well , I warn you , you won ' t get home yourself ,
you ' ll stay right there , trapped with all the rest .
But wait , I can save you , free you from that great danger .
Look , here is a potent drug . Take it to Circe ' s halls —
its power alone will shield you from the fatal day .
Let me tell you of all the witch ' s subtle craft . . .
She ' ll mix you a potion , lace the brew with drugs
but she ' ll be powerless to bewitch you , even so —
this magic herb I give will fight her spells .
Now here ' s your plan of action , step by step .
The moment Circe strikes with her long thin wand ,
you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip
and rush her fast as if to run her through !
She ' ll cower in fear and coax you to her bed —
but don ' t refuse the goddess ' bed , not then , not if
she ' s to release your friends and treat you well yourself .
But have her swear the binding oath of the blessed gods
she ' ll never plot some new intrigue to harm you ,
once you lie there naked —
never unman you , strip away your courage ! '
With that the giant-killer handed over the magic herb .
pulling it from the earth ,
and Hermes showed me all its name and nature .
Its root is black and its flower white as milk
and the gods call it moly . Dangerous for a mortal man
to pluck from the soil but not for deathless gods .
All lies within their power .
Odyssey 10.274-306 Murray
Elias Eells /
- Created on 2019-04-06 18:10:09
- Modified on 2019-04-06 23:19:38
- Aligned by Elias Eells
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
ὣς εἰπὼν παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης .
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα ,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα , νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς ,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ , τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη :
ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί , ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε :
πῇ δὴ αὖτ᾽ , ὦ δύστηνε , δι᾽ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος ,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών ; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ᾽ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες .
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ᾽ ἔρχεαι ; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν , μενέεις δὲ σύ γ᾽ , ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι .
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω .
τῆ , τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ , ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ .
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης .
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ , βαλέει δ᾽ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ .
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται : οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν , ὅ τοι δώσω , ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα .
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ᾽ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι , ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων .
ἡ δέ σ᾽ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι :
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν ,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ᾽ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ :
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι ,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο ,
μή σ᾽ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ .
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας , καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε .
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε , γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος :
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί : χαλεπὸν δέ τ᾽ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι , θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα ,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα , νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς ,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ , τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη :
ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί , ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε :
πῇ δὴ αὖτ᾽ , ὦ δύστηνε , δι᾽ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος ,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών ; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ᾽ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες .
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ᾽ ἔρχεαι ; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν , μενέεις δὲ σύ γ᾽ , ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι .
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω .
τῆ , τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ , ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ .
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης .
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ , βαλέει δ᾽ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ .
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται : οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν , ὅ τοι δώσω , ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα .
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ᾽ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι , ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων .
ἡ δέ σ᾽ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι :
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν ,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ᾽ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ :
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι ,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο ,
μή σ᾽ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ .
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας , καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε .
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε , γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος :
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί : χαλεπὸν δέ τ᾽ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι , θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται
So
saying
,
I
went
up
from
the
ship
and
the
sea
.
But
when
,
as
I
went
through
the
sacred
glades
,
I
was
about
to
come
to
the
great
house
of
the
sorceress
,
Circe
,
then
Hermes
,
of
the
golden
wand
,
met
me
as
I
went
toward
the
house
,
in
the
likeness
of
a
young
man
with
the
first
down
upon
his
lip
,
in
whom
the
charm
of
youth
is
fairest
.
[
280
]
He
clasped
my
hand
,
and
spoke
,
and
addressed
me
:
"
‘Whither
now
again
,
hapless
man
,
dost
thou
go
alone
through
the
hills
,
knowing
naught
of
the
country
?
Lo
,
thy
comrades
yonder
in
the
house
of
Circe
are
penned
like
swine
in
close-barred
sties
.
And
art
thou
come
to
release
them
?
Nay
,
I
tell
thee
,
thou
shalt
not
thyself
return
,
but
shalt
remain
there
with
the
others
.
But
come
,
I
will
free
thee
from
harm
,
and
save
thee
.
Here
,
take
this
potent
herb
,
and
go
to
the
house
of
Circe
,
and
it
shall
ward
off
from
thy
head
the
evil
day
.
And
I
will
tell
thee
all
the
baneful
wiles
of
Circe
.
She
will
mix
thee
a
potion
,
and
cast
drugs
into
the
food
;
but
even
so
she
shall
not
be
able
to
bewitch
thee
,
for
the
potent
herb
that
I
shall
give
thee
will
not
suffer
it
.
And
I
will
tell
thee
all
.
When
Circe
shall
smite
thee
with
her
long
wand
,
then
do
thou
draw
thy
sharp
sword
from
beside
thy
thigh
,
and
rush
upon
Circe
,
as
though
thou
wouldst
slay
her
.
And
she
will
be
seized
with
fear
,
and
will
bid
thee
lie
with
her
.
Then
do
not
thou
thereafter
refuse
the
couch
of
the
goddess
,
that
she
may
set
free
thy
comrades
,
and
give
entertainment
to
thee
.
But
bid
her
swear
a
great
oath
by
the
blessed
gods
,
that
she
will
not
plot
against
thee
any
fresh
mischief
to
thy
hurt
,
lest
when
she
has
thee
stripped
she
may
render
thee
a
weakling
and
unmanned
.
’So
saying
,
Argeiphontes
gave
me
the
herb
,
drawing
it
from
the
ground
,
and
showed
me
its
nature
.
At
the
root
it
was
black
,
but
its
flower
was
like
milk
.
Moly
the
gods
call
it
,
and
it
is
hard
for
mortal
men
to
dig
;
but
with
the
gods
all
things
are
possible
.
Odyssey 10.274-306 Pope
Elias Eells /
- Created on 2019-04-08 19:31:41
- Modified on 2019-04-08 22:50:14
- Aligned by Elias Eells
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
ὣς εἰπὼν παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης .
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα ,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα , νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς ,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ , τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη :
ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί , ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε :
πῇ δὴ αὖτ᾽ , ὦ δύστηνε , δι᾽ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος ,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών ; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ᾽ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες .
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ᾽ ἔρχεαι ; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν , μενέεις δὲ σύ γ᾽ , ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι .
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω .
τῆ , τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ , ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ .
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης .
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ , βαλέει δ᾽ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ .
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται : οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν , ὅ τοι δώσω , ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα .
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ᾽ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι , ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων .
ἡ δέ σ᾽ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι :
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν ,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ᾽ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ :
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι ,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο ,
μή σ᾽ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ .
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας , καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε .
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε , γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος :
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί : χαλεπὸν δέ τ᾽ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι , θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα ,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα , νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς ,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ , τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη :
ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί , ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε :
πῇ δὴ αὖτ᾽ , ὦ δύστηνε , δι᾽ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος ,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών ; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδ᾽ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες .
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρ᾽ ἔρχεαι ; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν , μενέεις δὲ σύ γ᾽ , ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι .
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω .
τῆ , τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ , ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ .
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης .
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ , βαλέει δ᾽ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ .
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται : οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν , ὅ τοι δώσω , ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα .
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σ᾽ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι , ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων .
ἡ δέ σ᾽ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι :
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν ,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θ᾽ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ :
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι ,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο ,
μή σ᾽ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ .
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας , καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε .
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε , γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος :
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί : χαλεπὸν δέ τ᾽ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι , θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται
This
said
,
and
scornful
turning
from
the
shore
My haughty step , I stalk ' d the valley o ' er .
Till now approaching nigh the magic bower ,
Where dwelt the enchantress skill ' d in herbs of power ,
A form divine forth issued from the wood
( Immortal Hermes with the golden rod )
In human semblance . On his bloomy face
Youth smiled celestial , with each opening grace .
He seized my hand , and gracious thus began :
' Ah whither roam ' st thou , much-enduring man ?
O blind to fate ! what led thy steps to rove
The horrid mazes of this magic grove ?
Each friend you seek in yon enclosure lies ,
All lost their form , and habitants of sties .
Think ' st thou by wit to model their escape ?
Sooner shalt thou , a stranger to thy shape ,
Fall prone their equal : first thy danger know ,
Then take the antidote the gods bestow .
The plant I give through all the direful bower
Shall guard thee , and avert the evil hour .
Now hear her wicked arts : Before thy eyes
The bowl shall sparkle , and the banquet rise ;
Take this , nor from the faithless feast abstain ,
For temper ' d drugs and poison shall be vain .
Soon as she strikes her wand , and gives the word ,
Draw forth and brandish thy refulgent sword ,
And menace death : those menaces shall move
Her alter ' d mind to blandishment and love .
Nor shun the blessing proffer ' d to thy arms ,
Ascend her bed , and taste celestial charms ;
So shall thy tedious toils a respite find ,
And thy lost friends return to human kind .
But swear her first by those dread oaths that tie
The powers below , the blessed in the sky ;
Lest to thee naked secret fraud be meant ,
Or magic bind thee cold and impotent .
" Thus while he spoke , the sovereign plant he drew
Where on the all-bearing earth unmark ' d it grew ,
And show ' d its nature and its wondrous power :
Black was the root , but milky white the flower ;
Moly the name , to mortals hard to find ,
But all is easy to the ethereal kind .
My haughty step , I stalk ' d the valley o ' er .
Till now approaching nigh the magic bower ,
Where dwelt the enchantress skill ' d in herbs of power ,
A form divine forth issued from the wood
( Immortal Hermes with the golden rod )
In human semblance . On his bloomy face
Youth smiled celestial , with each opening grace .
He seized my hand , and gracious thus began :
' Ah whither roam ' st thou , much-enduring man ?
O blind to fate ! what led thy steps to rove
The horrid mazes of this magic grove ?
Each friend you seek in yon enclosure lies ,
All lost their form , and habitants of sties .
Think ' st thou by wit to model their escape ?
Sooner shalt thou , a stranger to thy shape ,
Fall prone their equal : first thy danger know ,
Then take the antidote the gods bestow .
The plant I give through all the direful bower
Shall guard thee , and avert the evil hour .
Now hear her wicked arts : Before thy eyes
The bowl shall sparkle , and the banquet rise ;
Take this , nor from the faithless feast abstain ,
For temper ' d drugs and poison shall be vain .
Soon as she strikes her wand , and gives the word ,
Draw forth and brandish thy refulgent sword ,
And menace death : those menaces shall move
Her alter ' d mind to blandishment and love .
Nor shun the blessing proffer ' d to thy arms ,
Ascend her bed , and taste celestial charms ;
So shall thy tedious toils a respite find ,
And thy lost friends return to human kind .
But swear her first by those dread oaths that tie
The powers below , the blessed in the sky ;
Lest to thee naked secret fraud be meant ,
Or magic bind thee cold and impotent .
" Thus while he spoke , the sovereign plant he drew
Where on the all-bearing earth unmark ' d it grew ,
And show ' d its nature and its wondrous power :
Black was the root , but milky white the flower ;
Moly the name , to mortals hard to find ,
But all is easy to the ethereal kind .