Circè’s Farewell Feast

4“ ‘Ah, daring ones! who, yet alive, have gone
Down to the abode of Hades; twice to die
Is yours, while others die but once. Yet now
Take food, drink wine, and hold a feast today,
And with the dawn of morning you shall sail;
And I will show the way, and teach you all
Its dangers, so that you may not lament
False counsels followed, either on the land
Or on the water, to your grievous harm.’

5“She spoke, and our confiding minds were swayed
Easily by her counsels. All that day
Till set of sun we sat and banqueted
Upon the abundant meats and generous wines;
And when Helios went down, and darkness came,
The crew beside the fastenings of our barque
Lay down to sleep, while Circe took my hand,
Led me apart, and made me sit, and took
Her seat before me, and inquired of all
That I had seen. I told her faithfully,
And then the mighty goddess Circe said: —