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free； but they quickened their stroke； and Eurylochus and Perimedes
bound me with still stronger bonds till we had got out of hearing of
the Sirens' voices。 Then my men took the wax from their ears and
unbound me。
〃Immediately after we had got past the island I saw a great wave
from which spray was rising； and I heard a loud roaring sound。 The men
were so frightened that they loosed hold of their oars； for the
whole sea resounded with the rushing of the waters； but the ship
stayed where it was； for the men had left off rowing。 I went round；
therefore； and exhorted them man by man not to lose heart。
〃'My friends；' said I； 'this is not the first time that we have been
in danger； and we are in nothing like so bad a case as when the
Cyclops shut us up in his cave； nevertheless； my courage and wise
counsel saved us then； and we shall live to look back on all this as
well。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； trust in Jove and row on
with might and main。 As for you； coxswain； these are your orders；
attend to them； for the ship is in your hands； turn her head away from
these steaming rapids and hug the rock； or she will give you the
slip and be over yonder before you know where you are； and you will be
the death of us。'
〃So they did as I told them； but I said nothing about the awful
monster Scylla； for I knew the men would not on rowing if I did； but
would huddle together in the hold。 In one thing only did I disobey
Circe's strict instructions… I put on my armour。 Then seizing two
strong spears I took my stand on the ship Is bows； for it was there
that I expected first to see the monster of the rock； who was to do my
men so much harm； but I could not make her out anywhere； though I
strained my eyes with looking the gloomy rock all over and over
〃Then we entered the Straits in great fear of mind； for on the one
hand was Scylla； and on the other dread Charybdis kept sucking up
the salt water。 As she vomited it up； it was like the water in a
cauldron when it is boiling over upon a great fire； and the spray
reached the top of the rocks on either side。 When she began to suck
again； we could see the water all inside whirling round and round； and
it made a deafening sound as it broke against the rocks。 We could
see the bottom of the whirlpool all black with sand and mud； and the
men were at their wit's ends for fear。 While we were taken up with
this； and were expecting each moment to be our last； Scylla pounced
down suddenly upon us and snatched up my six best men。 I was looking
at once after both ship and men； and in a moment I saw their hands and
feet ever so high above me； struggling in the air as Scylla was
carrying them off； and I heard them call out my name in one last
despairing cry。 As a fisherman； seated； spear in hand； upon some
jutting rock throws bait into the water to deceive the poor little
fishes； and spears them with the ox's horn with which his spear is
shod； throwing them gasping on to the land as he catches them one by
one… even so did Scylla land these panting creatures on her rock and
munch them up at the mouth of her den； while they screamed and
stretched out their hands to me in their mortal agony。 This was the
most sickening sight that I saw throughout all my voyages。
〃When we had passed the ＇Wandering＇ rocks； with Scylla and
terrible Charybdis； we reached the noble island of the sun…god；
where were the goodly cattle and sheep belonging to the sun
Hyperion。 While still at sea in my ship I could bear the cattle lowing
as they came home to the yards； and the sheep bleating。 Then I
remembered what the blind Theban prophet Teiresias had told me； and
how carefully Aeaean Circe had warned me to shun the island of the
blessed sun…god。 So being much troubled I said to the men； 'My men；
I know you are hard pressed； but listen while I tell you the
prophecy that Teiresias made me； and how carefully Aeaean Circe warned
me to shun the island of the blessed sun…god； for it was here； she
said； that our worst danger would lie。 Head the ship； therefore；
away from the island。'
〃The men were in despair at this； and Eurylochus at once gave me
an insolent answer。 'Ulysses；' said he； 'you are cruel； you are very
strong yourself and never get worn out； you seem to be made of iron；
and now； though your men are exhausted with toil and want of sleep；
you will not let them land and cook themselves a good supper upon this
island； but bid them put out to sea and go faring fruitlessly on
through the watches of the flying night。 It is by night that the winds
blow hardest and do so much damage； how can we escape should one of
those sudden squalls spring up from South West or West； which so often
wreck a vessel when our lords the gods are unpropitious？ Now；
therefore； let us obey the of night and prepare our supper here hard
by the ship； to…morrow morning we will go on board again and put out
to sea。'
〃Thus spoke Eurylochus； and the men approved his words。 I saw that
heaven meant us a mischief and said； 'You force me to yield； for you
are many against one； but at any rate each one of you must take his
solemn oath that if he meet with a herd of cattle or a large flock
of sheep； he will not be so mad as to kill a single head of either；
but will be satisfied with the food that Circe has given us。'
〃They all swore as I bade them； and when they had completed their
oath we made the ship fast in a harbour that was near a stream of
fresh water； and the men went ashore and cooked their suppers。 As soon
as they had had enough to eat and drink； they began talking about
their poor comrades whom Scylla had snatched up and eaten； this set
them weeping and they went on crying till they fell off into a sound
sleep。
〃In the third watch of the night when the stars had shifted their
places； Jove raised a great gale of wind that flew a hurricane so that
land and sea were covered with thick clouds； and night sprang forth
out of the heavens。 When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn；
appeared； we brought the ship to land and drew her into a cave wherein
the sea…nymphs hold their courts and dances； and I called the men
together in council。
〃'My friends；' said I； 'we have meat and drink in the ship； let us
mind； therefore； and not touch the cattle； or we shall suffer for
it； for these cattle and sheep belong to the mighty sun； who sees
and gives ear to everything。 And again they promised that they would
obey。
〃For a whole month the wind blew steadily from the South； and
there was no other wind； but only South and East。 As long as corn
and wine held out the men did not touch the cattle when they were
hungry； when； however； they had eaten all there was in the ship；
they were forced to go further afield； with hook and line； catching
birds； and taking whatever they could lay their hands on； for they
were starving。 One day； therefore； I went up inland that I might
pray heaven to show me some means of getting away。 When I had gone far
enough to be clear of all my men； and had found a place that was
well sheltered from the wind； I washed my hands and prayed to all
the gods in Olympus till by and by they sent me off into a sweet
sleep。
〃Meanwhile Eurylochus had been giving evil counsel to the men；
'Listen to me；' said he； 'my poor comrades。 All deaths are bad
enough but there is none so bad as famine。 Why should not we drive
in the best of these cows and offer them in sacrifice to the
immortal Rods？ If we ever get back to Ithaca； we can build a fine
temple to the sun…god and enrich it with every kind of ornament； if；
however； he is determined to sink our ship out of revenge for these
homed cattle； and the other gods are of the same mind； I for one would
rather drink salt water once for all and have done with it； than be
starved to death by inches in such a desert island as this is。'
〃Thus spoke Eurylochus； and the men approved his words。 Now the
cattle； so fair and goodly； were feeding not far from the ship； the
men； therefore drove in the best of them； and they all stood round
them saying their prayers； and using young oak…shoots instead of
barley…meal； for there was no barley left。 When they had done
praying they killed the cows and dressed their carcasses； they cut out
the thigh bones； wrapped them round in two layers of fat； and set some
pieces of raw meat on top of them。 They had no wine with which to make
drink…offerings over the sacrifice while it was cooking； so they
kept pouring on a little water from time to time while the inward
meats were being grilled； then； when the thigh bones were burned and
they had tasted the inward meats； they cut the rest up small and put
the pieces upon the spits。
〃By this time my deep sleep had left me； and I turned back to the
ship and to the sea shore。 As I drew near I began to smell hot roast
meat； so I groaned out a prayer to the immortal gods。 'Father Jove；' I
exclaimed； 'and all you other gods who live in everlasting bliss；
you have done me a cruel mischief by the sleep into which you have
sent me； see what fine work these men of mine have been making in my
absence。'
〃Meanwhile Lampetie went straight off to the sun and told him we had
been killing his cows； whereon he fl