Odysseus Holds Out

37“ ‘Why sit you like one who has no power
Of speech, Odysseus, wrapt in thoughts that gnaw
Your heart, and tasting neither food nor wine?
Still do you dream of fraud? It is not well
That you should fear it longer, since I pledged
Myself against it with a mighty oath.’

38“She spoke, and I replied: ‘What man whose heart
Is faithful could endure to taste of food
Or wine till he should see his captive friends
Once more at large? If with a kind intent
You bid me eat and drink, let me behold
With mine own eyes my dear companions free.’

39“I spoke; and Circe took her wand and went
Forth from her halls, and, opening the gate
That closed the sty, drove forth what seemed a herd
Of swine in their ninth year. They ranged themselves
Before her, and she went from each to each
And shed on them another drug. Forthwith
Fell from their limbs the bristles which had grown
All over them, when mighty Circe gave
At first the baleful potion. Now again
My friends were men, and younger than before,
And of a nobler mien and statelier growth.
They knew me all; and each one pressed my hand
In his, and there were tears and sobs of joy
That sounded through the palace. Circe too
Was moved, the mighty goddess; she drew near
And stood by me, and spoke these winged words: —