est word), Ulysses thought it
advisable that they should remain as they now were, and thus give warning
of their cruel dispositions, instead of going about under the guise of
men, and pretending to human sympathies, while their hearts had the
blood-thirstiness of wild beasts. So he let them howl as much as they
liked, but never troubled his head about them. And, when everything was
settled according to his pleasure, he sent to summon the remainder of his
comrades, whom he had left at the seashore. These being arrived, with the
prudent Eurylochus at their head, they all made themselves comfortable in
Circe's enchanted palace until quite rested and refreshed from the toils
and hardships of their voyage.

THE SIRENS--SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS

Translated by George Herbert Palmer

I turned me toward my ship, and called my crew to come on board and loose
the cables. Quickly they came, took places at the pins, and sitting in
order smote the foaming water with their oars. And for our aid behind our
dark-bowed ship came a fair wind to fill our sail, a welcome comrade, sent
us by fair-haired Circe, the mighty goddess, human of speech. When we had
done our work at the several ropes about the ship, we sat us down, while
wind and helmsman kept her steady.

Now to my men, with aching heart, I said, "My friends, it is not right for
only one or two to know the oracles which Circe told, that heavenly
goddess. Therefore I speak, that, knowing all, we so may die, or fleeing
death and doom, we may escape. She warns us first against the marvelous
Sirens, and bids us flee their voice and flowery meadow. Only myself she
bade to hear their song; but bind me with galling cords, to hold me firm,
upright upon the mast-block,--round it let the rope be wound. And if I
should entreat you, and bid you set me free, thereat with still more
fetters bind me fast."

Thus I, relating all my tale, talked with my comrades. Meanwhile our
stanch ship swiftly neared the Sirens' island; a fair wind swept her on.
On a sudden the wind ceased; there came a breathless calm; Heaven hushed
the waves. My comrades, rising, furled the sail, stowed it on board the
hollow ship, then sitting at their oars whitened the water with the
polished blades. But I with my sharp sword cut a great cake of wax into
small bits, which I then kneaded in my sturdy hands. Soon the wax warmed,
forced by the powerful pressure and by the rays of the exalted sun, the
lord of all. Then