“Then I took my sword of bronze and slung it over my shoulders; I also took my bow, and told Eurylochus to come back with me and shew me the way.  But he laid hold of me with both his hands and spoke piteously, saying, ’Sir, do not force me to go with you, but let me stay here, for I know you will not bring one of them back with you, nor even return alive yourself; let us rather see if we cannot escape at any rate with the few that are left us, for we may still save our lives.’

“‘Stay where you are, then,’ answered I, ’eating and drinking at the ship, but I must go, for I am most urgently bound to do so.’

“With this I left the ship and went up inland.  When I got through the charmed grove, and was near the great house of the enchantress Circe, I met Mercury with his golden wand, disguised as a young man in the hey-day of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his face.  He came up to me and took my hand within his own, saying, ’My poor unhappy man, whither are you going over this mountain top, alone and without knowing the way?  Your men are shut up in Circe’s pigstyes, like so many wild boars in their lairs.  You surely do not fancy that you can set them free?  I can tell you that you will never get back and will have to stay there with the rest of them.  But never mind, I will protect you and get you out of your difficulty.  Take this herb, which is one of great virtue, and keep it about you when you go to Circe’s house, it will be a talisman to you against every kind of mischief.

“’And I will tell you of all the wicked witchcraft that Circe will try to practice upon you.  She will mix a mess for you to drink, and she will drug the meal with which she makes it, but she will not be able to charm you, for the virtue of the herb that I shall give you will prevent her spells from working.  I will tell you all about it.  When Circe strikes you with her wand, draw your sword and spring upon her as though you were going to kill her.  She will then be frightened, and will desire you to go to bed with her; on this you must not point blank refuse her, for you want her to set your companions free, and to take good care also of yourself, but you must make her swear solemnly by all the blessed gods that she will plot no further mischief against you, or else when she has got you naked she will unman you and make you fit for nothing.’

“As he spoke he pulled the herb out of the ground and shewed me what it was like.  The root was black, while the flower was as white as milk; the gods call it Moly, and mortal men cannot uproot it, but the gods can do whatever they like.