’Then standing nigh me the fair goddess spake unto me:  “Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, depart now to thy swift ship and the sea-banks.  And first of all, draw ye up the ship ashore, and bestow the goods in the caves and all the gear.  And thyself return again, and bring with thee thy dear companions.”

’So spake she, and my lordly spirit consented thereto.  So I went on my way to the swift ship and the sea-banks, and there I found my dear company on the swift ship lamenting piteously, shedding big tears.  And as when calves of the homestead gather round the droves of kine that have returned to the yard, when they have had their fill of pasture, and all with one accord frisk before them, and the folds may no more contain them, but with a ceaseless lowing they skip about their dams, so flocked they all about me weeping, when their eyes beheld me.  Yea, and to their spirit it was as though they had got to their dear country, and the very city of rugged Ithaca, where they were born and reared.

’Then making lament they spake to me winged words:  “O fosterling of Zeus, we were none otherwise glad at thy returning, than if we had come to Ithaca, our own country.  Nay come, of our other companions tell us the tale of their ruin.”

’So spake they, but I answered them with soft words:  “Behold, let us first of all draw up the ship ashore, and bestow our goods in the caves and all our gear.  And do ye bestir you, one and all, to go with me, that ye may see your fellows in the sacred dwelling of Circe, eating and drinking, for they have continual store.”

’So spake I, and at once they hearkened to my words, but Eurylochus alone would have holden all my companions, and uttering his voice he spake to them winged words: 

’"Wretched men that we are! whither are we going?  Why are your hearts so set on sorrow that ye should go down to the hall of Circe, who will surely change us all to swine, or wolves, or lions, to guard her great house perforce, according to the deeds that the Cyclops wrought, when certain of our company went to his inmost fold, and with them went Odysseus, ever hardy, for through the blindness of his heart did they too perish?”

’So spake he, but I mused in my heart whether to draw my long hanger from my stout thigh, and therewith smite off his head and bring it to the dust, albeit he was very near of kin to me; but the men of my company stayed me on every side with soothing words: 

’"Prince of the seed of Zeus, as for this man, we will suffer him, if thou wilt have it so, to abide here by the ship and guard the ship; but as for us, be our guide to the sacred house of Circe.”

’So they spake and went up from the ship and the sea.  Nay, nor yet was Eurylochus left by the hollow ship, but he went with us, for he feared my terrible rebuke.

’Meanwhile Circe bathed the rest of my company in her halls with all care, and anointed them well with olive oil; and cast thick mantles and doublets about them.  And we found them all feasting nobly in the halls.  And when they saw and knew each other face to face, they wept and mourned, and the house rang around.  Then she stood near me, that fair goddess, and spake saying: