[Illustration:  Circe]

And as the god had spoken, even so it came to pass.  Circe welcomed Odysseus with the same treacherous smile, gave him to drink of the same cup, and struck him with her wand in the same manner; but when she saw him standing, unchanged and unmoved, threatening her with drawn sword, she feared exceedingly, and falling at his feet spake thus in pitiful tones:  “Who art thou, that thou yieldest not to the power of my drugs, which never mortal resisted before?  Art thou that Odysseus of whom Hermes spake, telling me that he should come hither on his voyage from Troy?  Put up thy sword, and thou shalt be my guest to-night, and for many days to come.”

“No guest will I be of thine,” answered Odysseus sternly, “unless thou wilt swear a great oath to do me no hurt.  Before that I will not trust thee, or receive aught at thy hands.  Hast thou not turned my men into swine, and didst thou not seek even now to put thy wicked spells upon me?”

Then Circe took the oath that was required of her, and thus secured Odysseus consented to remain.  Forthwith his beautiful hostess summoned her handmaids, sweet nymphs of rivers, and woods, and springs, and bade them make all things ready to entertain the wanderer.  With white feet tripping nimbly, and many a curious glance at the majestic stranger, the maidens hastened to obey her command.  And soon the tables, which were all of silver, were set forth with golden vessels, the chairs spread with purple tapestries, and the rich red wine mingled in a silver bowl.  Others prepared a bath for Odysseus, and when he had bathed, more than mortal health and vigour seemed to enter his limbs, such virtue had Circe shed into the water.

After that they sat down to meat; but Odysseus, whose mind was full of his comrades, left every dish untasted, and sat without uttering a word.  When she observed it, Circe rallied him for his sullenness:  “Art thou afraid to eat?” she said, smiling:  “have I not sworn to do thee no harm?  Ah! thou art thinking of thy friends.  Come, then, and I will restore them to thee.”  So she brought him to the stye where they were confined together, and opening the gate drove them all forth, a herd of bristly swine.  Then she anointed them one by one with another drug; and instantly the bristles fell away from them, and they became men again, only younger and fairer to behold than they were before.  With tears of joy they embraced Odysseus, and the whole place rang with their happy greetings, so that even Circe was moved by the tender scene.

When they had grown calmer she bade Odysseus go down to the sea, and bring back all the rest of his company to take up their abode in her house.  Being now quite reassured as to her purpose, he hesitated not to obey, and went down alone to carry the message from Circe.  Arrived at the ship he was hailed by his comrades as one returned from the dead; but putting aside their eager questions he told them to beach the vessel, stow away all her tackle, and follow him to the house of Circe, where they would find all their fellows feasting and making merry.