s
men by the ships, while the rest set out to renew their supplies. This
party soon discovered the abode of the enchantress Circe, who, aware
of their approach, had prepared a banquet and a magic drug. Enticed by
her sweet voice, all the men save one sat down to her banquet, and ate
so greedily that the enchantress, contemptuously waving her wand over
them, bade them assume the forms of the animals they most resembled! A
moment later a herd of grunting pigs surrounded her, pigs which,
however, retained a distressing consciousness of their former human
estate.

Milk newly press'd, the sacred flour of wheat,
And honey fresh, and Pramnian wines the treat:
But venom'd was the bread, and mix'd the bowl,
With drugs of force to darken all the soul:
Soon in the luscious feast themselves they lost,
And drank oblivion of their native coast.
Instant her circling wand the goddess waves,
To hogs transforms them, and the sty receives.
No more was seen the human form divine;
Head, face, and members, bristle into swine:
Still cursed with sense, their minds remain alone,
And their own voice affrights them when they groan.

This dire transformation was viewed with horror by the man lurking
outside, who fled back to the ships, imploring Ulysses to depart.
Unwilling to desert his men, Ulysses on the contrary set out for
Circe's dwelling, meeting on the way thither Mercury in disguise, who
gave him an herb to annul the effect of Circe's drugs and directed him
how to free his companions.

Following these instructions, Ulysses entered Circe's abode, partook
of the refreshments offered him, and, when she waved her wand over
him, threatened to kill her unless she restored his men to their
wonted forms! The terrified Circe not only complied, but detained
Ulysses and his companions with her a full year. As at the end of that
time the men pleaded to return home, Ulysses told his hostess he must
leave. Then she informed him he must first visit the Cimmerian shore
and consult the shade of the blind seer Tiresias. The prospect of such
a journey greatly alarmed Ulysses, but when Circe had told him just
how to proceed, he bravely set out.

Wafted by favorable winds, Ulysses' ship soon reached the country of
eternal night. On landing there he dug a trench, and slew the black
victims Circe had given him, and with drawn sword awaited the approach
of a host of shades, among whom he recognized a man killed by accident
on Cir