’"Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, no more now wake this plenteous weeping:  myself I know of all the pains ye endured upon the teeming deep, and the great despite done you by unkindly men upon the land.  Nay come, eat ye meat and drink wine, till your spirit shall return to you again, as it was when first ye left your own country of rugged Ithaca; but now are ye wasted and wanting heart, mindful evermore of your sore wandering, nor has your heart ever been merry, for very grievous hath been your trial.”

’So spake she, and our lordly spirit consented thereto.  So there we sat day by day for the full circle of a year, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine.  But when now a year had gone, and the seasons returned as the months waned, and the long days came in their course, then did my dear company call me forth, and say: 

’"Good sir, now is it high time to mind thee of thy native land, if it is ordained that thou shalt be saved, and come to thy lofty house and thine own country.”

’So spake they and my lordly spirit consented thereto.  So for that time we sat the livelong day till the going down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine.  But when the sun sank and darkness came on, they laid them to rest throughout the shadowy halls.

’But when I had gone up into the fair bed of Circe, I besought her by her knees, and the goddess heard my speech, and uttering my voice I spake to her winged words:  “Circe, fulfil for me the promise which thou madest me to send me on my homeward way.  Now is my spirit eager to be gone, and the spirit of my company, that wear away my heart as they mourn around me, when haply thou art gone from us.”

’So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon:  “Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, tarry ye now no longer in my house against your will; but first must ye perform another journey, and reach the dwelling of Hades and of dread Persephone to seek to the spirit of Theban Teiresias, the blind soothsayer, whose wits abide steadfast.  To him Persephone hath given judgment, even in death, that he alone should have understanding; but the other souls sweep shadow-like around.”

’Thus spake she, but as for me, my heart was broken, and I wept as I sat upon the bed, and my soul had no more care to live and to see the sunlight.  But when I had my fill of weeping and grovelling, then at the last I answered and spake unto her saying:  “And who, Circe, will guide us on this way? for no man ever yet sailed to hell in a black ship.”

’So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon:  “Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, nay, trouble not thyself for want of a guide, by thy ship abiding, but set up the mast and spread abroad the white sails and sit thee down; and the breeze of the North Wind will bear thy vessel on her way.  But when thou hast now sailed in thy ship across the stream Oceanus,