’Therewith the slayer of Argos gave me the plant that he had plucked from the ground, and he showed me the growth thereof.  It was black at the root, but the flower was like to milk.  Moly the gods call it, but it is hard for mortal men to dig; howbeit with the gods all things are possible.

’Then Hermes departed toward high Olympus, up through the woodland isle, but as for me I held on my way to the house of Circe, and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.  So I halted in the portals of the fair-tressed goddess; there I stood and called aloud and the goddess heard my voice, who presently came forth and opened the shining doors and bade me in, and I went with her heavy at heart.  So she led me in and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly carven chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet.  And she made me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink, and she also put a charm therein, in the evil counsel of her heart.

’Now when she had given it and I had drunk it off and was not bewitched, she smote me with her wand and spake and hailed me: 

’"Go thy way now to the stye, couch thee there with the rest of thy company.”

’So spake she, but I drew my sharp sword from my thigh and sprang upon Circe, as one eager to slay her.  But with a great cry she slipped under, and clasped my knees, and bewailing herself spake to me winged words: 

’"Who art thou of the sons of men, and whence?  Where is thy city?  Where are they that begat thee?  I marvel to see how thou hast drunk of this charm, and wast nowise subdued.  Nay, for there lives no man else that is proof against this charm, whoso hath drunk thereof, and once it hath passed his lips.  But thou hast, methinks, a mind within thee that may not be enchanted.  Verily thou art Odysseus, ready at need, whom he of the golden wand, the slayer of Argos, full often told me was to come hither, on his way from Troy with his swift black ship.  Nay come, put thy sword into the sheath, and thereafter let us go up into my bed, that meeting in love and sleep we may trust each the other.”

’So spake she, but I answered her, saying:  “Nay, Circe, how canst thou bid me be gentle to thee, who hast turned my company into swine within thy halls, and holding me here with a guileful heart requirest me to pass within thy chamber and go up into thy bed, that so thou mayest make me a dastard and unmanned when thou hast me naked?  Nay, never will I consent to go up into thy bed, except thou wilt deign, goddess, to swear a mighty oath, that thou wilt plan nought else of mischief to mine own hurt.”

’So I spake, and she straightway swore the oath not to harm me, as I bade her.  But when she had sworn and had done that oath, then at last I went up into the beautiful bed of Circe.