Funeral and Return

1“Now when our barque had left Oceanus
And entered the great deep, we reached the isle
Aeaea, where Eos, child of dawn,
Abides, and holds her dances, and Helios
Goes up from earth. We landed there and drew
Our galley up the beach; we disembarked
And laid us down to sleep beside the sea,
And waited for the holy Eos to rise.

2“Then when the rosy-fingered Eos appeared,
The child of dawn, I sent my comrades forth
To bring from Circe’s halls Elpenor’s corse.
And where a headland stretched into the deep
We hewed down trees, and held the funeral rites
With many tears; and having there consumed
The body and the arms with fire, we built
A tomb, and reared a column to the dead,
And on its summit fixed a tapering oar.

3“All this was duly done; yet was the news
Of our return from Hades not concealed
From Circe. She attired herself in haste
And came; her maids came with her, bringing bread
And store of meats and generous wine; and thus
Spoke the wise goddess, standing in the midst: —