A Year with Circe and the Command to Visit Hades — Odyssey §10.428-10.500 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο.

So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.

Εὐρύλοχος δέ μοι οἶος ἐρύκανε πάντας ἑταίρους·

But Eurylochus alone held back all my companions,

καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and calling out, he spoke to them winged words:

ἆ δειλοί, πόσʼ ἴμεν; τί κακῶν ἱμείρετε τούτων;

"Ah, wretched ones, where are we going? Why do you desire these evils,

Κίρκης ἐς μέγαρον καταβήμεναι¹, ἥ κεν ἅπαντας

to go down into the hall of Circe, who will make all of us

ἢ σῦς ἠὲ λύκους ποιήσεται ἠὲ λέοντας,

either swine, or wolves, or lions,

οἵ κέν οἱ μέγα δῶμα φυλάσσοιμεν² καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,

so that we should guard her great house, even by constraint,

ὥς περ Κύκλωψ ἔρξʼ, ὅτε οἱ μέσσαυλον ἵκοντο

just as the Cyclops did, when our companions reached

ἡμέτεροι ἕταροι, σὺν δʼ ὁ θρασὺς εἵπετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·

his courtyard, and with them followed the bold Odysseus?

τούτου γὰρ καὶ κεῖνοι ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο.

For by this man's folly those men also perished."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε μετὰ φρεσὶ μερμήριξα,

So he spoke, but I pondered in my heart,

σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ,

having drawn my long-pointed sword from beside my thick thigh,

τῷ οἱ ἀποπλήξας κεφαλὴν οὖδάσδε πελάσσαι³,

whether to strike off his head and bring it to the ground,

καὶ πηῷ περ ἐόντι μάλα σχεδόν· ἀλλά μʼ ἑταῖροι

even though he was a very near kinsman. But my companions

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·

restrained me from every side with gentle words:

διογενές, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,

"O sprung from Zeus, we shall let this man be, if you bid,

αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι·

to remain here by the ship and to guard the ship;

ἡμῖν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς δώματα Κίρκης.

but do you lead us to the sacred house of Circe."

ὣς φάμενοι παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.

So saying, they went up from the ship and the sea.

οὐδὲ μὲν Εὐρύλοχος κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ λέλειπτο,

Nor indeed was Eurylochus left behind by the hollow ship,

ἀλλʼ ἕπετʼ· ἔδεισεν γὰρ ἐμὴν ἔκπαγλον ἐνιπήν.

but he followed, for he feared my dreadful rebuke.

τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους ἑτάρους ἐν δώμασι Κίρκη

Meanwhile Circe in her halls washed the other companions

ἐνδυκέως λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,

tenderly and anointed them with olive oil,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνας·

and threw woollen cloaks and tunics about them;

δαινυμένους δʼ ἐὺ πάντας ἐφεύρομεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.

and we found them all feasting well in the halls.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους εἶδον φράσσαντό τʼ ἐσάντα,

But when they saw each other and recognized each other face to face,

κλαῖον ὀδυρόμενοι, περὶ δὲ στεναχίζετο δῶμα.

they wept lamenting, and the house echoed around with groaning.

ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·

And standing near me, she spoke, the divine among goddesses:

μηκέτι νῦν θαλερὸν γόον ὄρνυτε· οἶδα καὶ αὐτὴ

"No longer now stir up big lamentation; I myself know

ἠμὲν ὅσʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθετʼ ἄλγεα ἰχθυόεντι,

both what griefs you suffered on the fish-abundant sea,

ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου.

and what harm hostile men did to you on the dry land.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον,

But come, eat food and drink wine,

εἰς ὅ κεν αὖτις θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι λάβητε,

until you receive again spirit in your breasts,

οἷον ὅτε πρώτιστον ἐλείπετε πατρίδα γαῖαν

such as when you first left your fatherland

τρηχείης Ἰθάκης. νῦν δʼ ἀσκελέες καὶ ἄθυμοι,

of rugged Ithaca. But now you are parched and spiritless,

αἰὲν ἄλης χαλεπῆς μεμνημένοι, οὐδέ ποθʼ ὕμιν

always remembering your hard wandering, and never is your

θυμὸς ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ πέποσθε.

heart in good cheer, since indeed you have suffered very many things."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

So she spoke, and our proud heart complied once more.

ἔνθα μὲν ἤματα πάντα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν

There indeed day after day for a whole year

ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·

we sat feasting on abundant meat and sweet wine;

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐνιαυτὸς ἔην, περὶ δʼ ἔτραπον ὧραι

but when a year had passed, and the seasons turned around,

μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα μακρὰ τελέσθη,

as the months waned and the long days were completed,

καὶ τότε μʼ ἐκκαλέσαντες ἔφαν ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·

then indeed my trusty companions called me out and said:

δαιμόνιʼ, ἤδη νῦν μιμνήσκεο πατρίδος αἴης,

"O wondrous man, now at last remember your fatherland,

εἴ τοι θέσφατόν ἐστι σαωθῆναι καὶ ἱκέσθαι

if indeed it is ordained for you to be saved and to reach

οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

your high-roofed house and your fatherland."

ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

So they spoke, and my proud heart complied.

ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

So then all day long until the setting of the sun

ἥμεθα, δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·

we sat feasting on abundant meat and sweet wine;

ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,

but when the sun set and darkness came on,

οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.

they lay down to sleep in the shadowy halls.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπιβὰς περικαλλέος εὐνῆς

But I, having gone onto the beautiful bed of Circe,

γούνων ἐλλιτάνευσα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς·

clasped her knees in supplication, and the goddess heard my voice;

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

and calling out, I spoke to her winged words:

ὢ Κίρκη, τέλεσόν μοι ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέστης,

"O Circe, fulfill for me the promise which you undertook,

οἴκαδε πεμψέμεναι· θυμὸς δέ μοι ἔσσυται ἤδη,

to send me home; for my heart is already eager,

ἠδʼ ἄλλων ἑτάρων, οἵ μευ φθινύθουσι φίλον κῆρ

and that of my other companions, who waste my dear heart

ἀμφʼ ἔμʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ὅτε που σύ γε νόσφι γένηαι.

by lamenting around me whenever you are apart."

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·

So I spoke, and she at once answered, the divine among goddesses:

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,

μηκέτι νῦν ἀέκοντες ἐμῷ ἐνὶ μίμνετε οἴκῳ.

no longer remain now unwillingly in my house.

ἀλλʼ ἄλλην χρὴ πρῶτον ὁδὸν τελέσαι καὶ ἱκέσθαι

But you must first complete another journey and reach

εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης,

the house of Hades and dread Persephone,

ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,

to consult the soul of Theban Teiresias,

μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, τοῦ τε φρένες ἔμπεδοί εἰσι·

the blind prophet, whose mind is stable;

τῷ καὶ τεθνηῶτι νόον πόρε Περσεφόνεια,

to whom even in death Persephone granted intelligence,

οἴῳ πεπνῦσθαι⁴, τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀίσσουσιν.

that he alone should have understanding, while the others flit about as shadows."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ·

So she spoke, and my dear heart was broken;

κλαῖον δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ

I sat weeping on the bed, nor did my heart

ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.

wish any longer to live and to see the light of the sun.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενος τʼ ἐκορέσθην,

But when I had had my fill of weeping and rolling,

καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

then indeed I answered her with words and said:

Syntax notes4 items

10.431καταβήμεναι
The infinitive καταβήμεναι (Aorist active) functions as an appositive explaining the preceding phrase τί κακῶν ἱμείρετε τούτων ("why do you desire these evils?"), detailing the action of "going down into the hall of Circe."
10.434φυλάσσοιμεν
The optative φυλάσσοιμεν with κέν in the relative clause expresses an anticipated result or potential consequence with a sense of necessity ("who would guard her great house, even by constraint").
10.440πελάσσαι
The infinitive πελάσσαι (Aorist active) expresses purpose or intention depending on μερμήριξα ("pondered"), representing the thoughts of Odysseus considering "whether to bring his head to the ground."
10.495πεπνῦσθαι
The infinitive πεπνῦσθαι (Perfect middle/passive) expresses the result or privilege granted by Persephone (indicated by πόρε), defining his unique capacity "that he alone should have understanding/be wise."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:10.428-10.500