While thoughtless we indulge the genial rite,

As plenteous cates and flowing bowls invite;

Till evening Phœbus roll’d away the light;

Stretch’d on the shore in careless ease we rest,

Till ruddy morning purpled o’er the east;

Then from their anchors all our ships unbind,

And mount the decks, and call the willing wind.

Now, ranged in order on our banks we sweep.

With hasty strokes the hoarse-resounding deep;

Blind to the future, pensive with our fears,

Glad for the living, for the dead in tears.”


BOOK X.


ARGUMENT.

ADVENTURES WITH AEOLUS, THE LAESTRYGONS, AND CIRCE.


Ulysses arrives at the island of Æolus, who gives him prosperous winds, and

incloses the adverse ones in a bag, which his companions untying, they are

driven back again and rejected. Then they sail to the Laestrygons, where they

lose eleven ships, and, with only one remaining, proceed to the island of

Circe. Eurylochus is sent first with some companions, all which, except

Eurylochus, are transformed into swine. Ulysses then undertakes the adventure,

and, by the help of Mercury, who gives him the herb Moly, overcomes the

enchantress, and procures the restoration of his men. After a year’s stay

with her, he prepares, at her instigation, for his voyage to the infernal

shades.


“At length we reach’d Æolias’s sea-girt shore,

Where great Hippotades the sceptre bore,

A floating isle! high-raised by toil divine,

Strong walls of brass the rocky coast confine.

Six blooming youths, in private grandeur bred,

And six fair daughters, graced the royal bed;

These sons their sisters wed, and all remain

Their parents’ pride, and pleasure of their reign.

All day they feast, all day the bowls flow round,

And joy and music through the isle resound;

At night each pair on splendid carpets lay,

And crown’d with love the pleasures of the day.

This happy port affords our wandering fleet

A month’s reception, and a safe retreat.