§12.1αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ποταμοῖο λίπεν ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο §12.2νηῦς, ἀπὸ δʼ ἵκετο κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο §12.3νῆσόν τʼ Αἰαίην, ὅθι τʼ Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης §12.4οἰκία καὶ χοροί εἰσι καὶ ἀντολαὶ Ἠελίοιο, §12.5νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν, §12.6ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης· §12.7ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ποταμοῖο λίπεν ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο But when the ship had left the stream of the River Oceanus, νηῦς, ἀπὸ δʼ ἵκετο κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο and came back to the wave of the wide-wayed sea, νῆσόν τʼ Αἰαίην, ὅθι τʼ Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης and to the island of Aeaea, where are the dwellings and the dancing lawns οἰκία καὶ χοροί εἰσι καὶ ἀντολαὶ Ἠελίοιο, of early-ruling Dawn, and the risings of the Sun; νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν, there, having run our ship onto the sands, we beached her, ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης· and we ourselves stepped out upon the break of the sea; ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν. there we fell asleep and awaited the divine Dawn.
§12.8ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, §12.9δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν ἐς δώματα Κίρκης §12.10οἰσέμεναι νεκρόν, Ἐλπήνορα τεθνηῶτα.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, And when the early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν ἐς δώματα Κίρκης then indeed I sent forward my companions to the house of Circe, οἰσέμεναι νεκρόν, Ἐλπήνορα τεθνηῶτα. to bring the corpse of the dead Elpenor.
§12.11φιτροὺς δʼ αἶψα ταμόντες, ὅθʼ ἀκροτάτη πρόεχʼ ἀκτή, §12.12θάπτομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.
φιτροὺς δʼ αἶψα ταμόντες, ὅθʼ ἀκροτάτη πρόεχʼ ἀκτή, And quickly cutting logs where the headland jutted out highest, θάπτομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες. we buried him, sorrowing, shedding big tears.
§12.13αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νεκρός τʼ ἐκάη καὶ τεύχεα νεκροῦ, §12.14τύμβον χεύαντες καὶ ἐπὶ στήλην ἐρύσαντες §12.15πήξαμεν ἀκροτάτῳ τύμβῳ ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νεκρός τʼ ἐκάη καὶ τεύχεα νεκροῦ, But when the corpse was burned, and the armor of the dead, τύμβον χεύαντες καὶ ἐπὶ στήλην ἐρύσαντες having heaped up a mound and dragged a gravestone upon it, πήξαμεν ἀκροτάτῳ τύμβῳ ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν. we planted his well-shaped oar on the very top of the mound.
§12.16ἡμεῖς μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα διείπομεν· οὐδʼ ἄρα Κίρκην §12.17ἐξ Ἀίδεω ἐλθόντες ἐλήθομεν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὦκα §12.18ἦλθʼ ἐντυναμένη· ἅμα δʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον αὐτῇ §12.19σῖτον καὶ κρέα πολλὰ καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
ἡμεῖς μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα διείπομεν· οὐδʼ ἄρα Κίρκην We indeed were busy with each of these things; yet Circe did not fail to note ἐξ Ἀίδεω ἐλθόντες ἐλήθομεν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὦκα our coming back from Hades, but very quickly ἦλθʼ ἐντυναμένη· ἅμα δʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον αὐτῇ she came, having arrayed herself; and with her, handmaids bore σῖτον καὶ κρέα πολλὰ καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν. bread and abundant meat and sparkling red wine.
§12.20ἡ δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ στᾶσα μετηύδα δῖα θεάων· §12.21σχέτλιοι, οἳ ζώοντες ὑπήλθετε δῶμʼ Ἀίδαο, §12.22δισθανέες, ὅτε τʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαξ θνῄσκουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.
ἡ δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ στᾶσα μετηύδα δῖα θεάων· And standing in our midst, the divine goddess spoke among us: σχέτλιοι, οἳ ζώοντες ὑπήλθετε δῶμʼ Ἀίδαο, "Wretched men, who alive have gone down to the house of Hades, δισθανέες, ὅτε τʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαξ θνῄσκουσʼ ἄνθρωποι. twice-dying, whereas other men die but once.
§12.23ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον §12.24αὖθι πανημέριοι· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι §12.25πλεύσεσθʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δείξω ὁδὸν ἠδὲ ἕκαστα §12.26σημανέω, ἵνα μή τι κακορραφίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ §12.27ἢ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς ἀλγήσετε πῆμα παθόντες.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον But come, eat food and drink wine αὖθι πανημέριοι· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι here all day long; and at the appearing of dawn πλεύσεσθʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δείξω ὁδὸν ἠδὲ ἕκαστα you shall sail; and I will show the way and declare σημανέω, ἵνα μή τι κακορραφίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ each thing, so that you may not through some painful, evil design ἢ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς ἀλγήσετε πῆμα παθόντες. suffer harm and come to grief either on sea or on land." ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
§12.28ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
So she spoke, and our noble heart was persuaded.
§12.29ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα §12.30ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· §12.31ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν, §12.32οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός,
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 went down and darkness came on, οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός, they lay down to sleep by the stern-cables of the ship.
§12.33ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ἑταίρων §12.34εἷσέ τε καὶ προσέλεκτο καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα· §12.35αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῇ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.
ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ἑταίρων But she took me by the hand, apart from my dear companions, εἷσέ τε καὶ προσέλεκτο καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα· and made me sit down, and lay beside me and questioned me of everything; αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῇ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα. and I told her all the story in order.
§12.36καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα πότνια Κίρκη· §12.37ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω πάντα πεπείρανται, σὺ δʼ ἄκουσον, §12.38ὥς τοι ἐγὼν ἐρέω, μνήσει δέ σε καὶ θεὸς αὐτός.
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα πότνια Κίρκη· Then indeed the lady Circe spoke to me with words: ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω πάντα πεπείρανται, σὺ δʼ ἄκουσον, "All these things have been thus accomplished; but do you listen to ὥς τοι ἐγὼν ἐρέω, μνήσει δέ σε καὶ θεὸς αὐτός. what I shall tell you, and a god himself shall bring it to your mind.
§12.39Σειρῆνας μὲν πρῶτον ἀφίξεαι, αἵ ῥά τε πάντας §12.40ἀνθρώπους θέλγουσιν, ὅτις σφεας εἰσαφίκηται.
Σειρῆνας μὲν πρῶτον ἀφίξεαι, αἵ ῥά τε πάντας First you will come to the Sirens, who charm all ἀνθρώπους θέλγουσιν, ὅτις σφεας εἰσαφίκηται. men, whosoever comes to them.
§12.41ὅς τις ἀιδρείῃ πελάσῃ καὶ φθόγγον ἀκούσῃ §12.42Σειρήνων, τῷ δʼ οὔ τι γυνὴ καὶ νήπια τέκνα §12.43οἴκαδε νοστήσαντι παρίσταται οὐδὲ γάνυνται, §12.44ἀλλά τε Σειρῆνες λιγυρῇ θέλγουσιν ἀοιδῇ §12.45ἥμεναι ἐν λειμῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφιν θὶς §12.46ἀνδρῶν πυθομένων, περὶ δὲ ῥινοὶ μινύθουσι.
ὅς τις ἀιδρείῃ πελάσῃ καὶ φθόγγον ἀκούσῃ Whosoever in ignorance draws near and hears the voice Σειρήνων, τῷ δʼ οὔ τι γυνὴ καὶ νήπια τέκνα of the Sirens, him his wife and infant children οἴκαδε νοστήσαντι παρίσταται οὐδὲ γάνυνται, do not welcome on his return home, nor do they rejoice, ἀλλά τε Σειρῆνες λιγυρῇ θέλγουσιν ἀοιδῇ but the Sirens charm him with their clear song, ἥμεναι ἐν λειμῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφιν θὶς as they sit in a meadow, and around them is a great heap of bones ἀνδρῶν πυθομένων, περὶ δὲ ῥινοὶ μινύθουσι. of rotting men, and the skins shrivel about them.
§12.47ἀλλὰ παρεξελάαν, ἐπὶ δʼ οὔατʼ ἀλεῖψαι ἑταίρων §12.48κηρὸν δεψήσας μελιηδέα, μή τις ἀκούσῃ §12.49τῶν ἄλλων· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἀκουέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, §12.50δησάντων σʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε §12.51ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω, §12.52ὄφρα κε τερπόμενος ὄπʼ ἀκούσῃς Σειρήνοιιν.
ἀλλὰ παρεξελάαν, ἐπὶ δʼ οὔατʼ ἀλεῖψαι ἑταίρων But drive past them, and anoint the ears of your companions κηρὸν δεψήσας μελιηδέα, μή τις ἀκούσῃ with sweet wax, kneading it, so that none of the others τῶν ἄλλων· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἀκουέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, may hear; but if you yourself wish to listen, δησάντων σʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε let them bind you hand and foot in the swift ship, ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω, upright in the mast-step, and let the rope-ends be fastened to the mast itself, ὄφρα κε τερπόμενος ὄπʼ ἀκούσῃς Σειρήνοιιν. so that with delight you may hear the voice of the two Sirens.
§12.53εἰ δέ κε λίσσηαι ἑτάρους λῦσαί τε κελεύῃς, §12.54οἱ δέ σʼ ἔτι πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι διδέντων.
εἰ δέ κε λίσσηαι ἑτάρους λῦσαί τε κελεύῃς, And if you should implore your companions and bid them loose you, οἱ δέ σʼ ἔτι πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι διδέντων. then let them bind you with yet more bonds.
§12.55αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τάς γε παρὲξ ἐλάσωσιν ἑταῖροι, §12.56ἔνθα τοι οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω, §12.57ὁπποτέρη δή τοι ὁδὸς ἔσσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς §12.58θυμῷ βουλεύειν· ἐρέω δέ τοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τάς γε παρὲξ ἐλάσωσιν ἑταῖροι, But when your companions have driven past them, ἔνθα τοι οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω, then I will no longer tell you fully ὁπποτέρη δή τοι ὁδὸς ἔσσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς which of the two ways shall be yours, but do you yourself θυμῷ βουλεύειν· ἐρέω δέ τοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν. take counsel in your heart; but I will tell you of both.
§12.59ἔνθεν μὲν γὰρ πέτραι ἐπηρεφέες, προτὶ δʼ αὐτὰς §12.60κῦμα μέγα ῥοχθεῖ κυανώπιδος Ἀμφιτρίτης· §12.61Πλαγκτὰς δή τοι τάς γε θεοὶ μάκαρες καλέουσι.
ἔνθεν μὲν γὰρ πέτραι ἐπηρεφέες, προτὶ δʼ αὐτὰς For on the one side are overhanging rocks, and against them κῦμα μέγα ῥοχθεῖ κυανώπιδος Ἀμφιτρίτης· a great wave roars of dark-eyed Amphitrite; Πλαγκτὰς δή τοι τάς γε θεοὶ μάκαρες καλέουσι. the blessed gods call these the Wandering Rocks.
§12.62τῇ μέν τʼ οὐδὲ ποτητὰ παρέρχεται οὐδὲ πέλειαι §12.63τρήρωνες, ταί τʼ ἀμβροσίην Διὶ πατρὶ φέρουσιν, §12.64ἀλλά τε καὶ τῶν αἰὲν ἀφαιρεῖται λὶς πέτρη· §12.65ἀλλʼ ἄλλην ἐνίησι πατὴρ ἐναρίθμιον εἶναι.
τῇ μέν τʼ οὐδὲ ποτητὰ παρέρχεται οὐδὲ πέλειαι By this way not even winged things pass, nor even the timorous doves τρήρωνες, ταί τʼ ἀμβροσίην Διὶ πατρὶ φέρουσιν, that carry ambrosia to father Zeus, ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ τῶν αἰὲν ἀφαιρεῖται λὶς πέτρη· but even of them the smooth rock ever takes one away, ἀλλʼ ἄλλην ἐνίησι πατὴρ ἐναρίθμιον εἶναι. but the father sends in another to make up the number.