that it was equally the fault of himself and his companions.
But the opportunity is gone; the sum total of conditions, all bagged
and tied up, and put into his hands, presents itself only once.
Moreover the sleep of Ulysses, just at the nick of destiny, showed an
internal weakness; he became careless, almost insolent under such
circumstances; he manifested a similar trait to that which led to the
curse of the Cyclops. Again he hears a malediction, now uttered by his
former host: "Get thee out of my island quickly, most guilty of men,
hated by the Gods!" Thus AEolus regards the man before him, and
reinforces the curse of Polyphemus. But if Ulysses had to fall asleep
by sheer fatigue (which construction the passage hardly demands), then
he did not look properly after his companions, making them the sharers
of his knowledge. A foolish question has been asked here and much
discussed: How did Ulysses know what his companions said during his
sleep? Easily enough; but the answer is not worth the candle.

AEolus, therefore, refuses to receive Ulysses and his companions a
second time; they have fallen, they must experience the full meaning of
their conduct; they must go to Circe, and some of them, at least, be
changed into swine, till they know the nature of their deed. AEolus
cannot receive them, they have destroyed his gift; they would repeat
their act, if he gave all into their hands again, without the deeper
penalty. The law thus is clear; they, having disregarded the fixed
control of appetite and passion, which the King of the Island imparts,
are swept back into brutishness.

Many have been the interpretations of this marvelous King and his
children and his island. The supporters of the physical theory of
mythology have maintained that the twelve sons and daughters are the
twelve months of the year, six of summer and six of winter, while
AEolus, the father, is the Sun who produces them. Others regard AEolus as
a mortal king, who, on account of certain traits or certain deeds, was
transformed into the fabled monarch of the winds. There has been much
dispute over the location of AEolia; the most of those who have searched
for its geographical site are in favor of one of the Lipari Islands, on
the northern coast of Sicily. Finally Virgil has somewhat transformed
the legend and put it into his AEneid.

II.

Ulysses and his companions now had to use the oar on seas without wind;
"their spirit was worn out," hope had fled