And cleft in fragments, and the fragments roll’d;

The aërial region now grew warm with day,

The wax dissolved beneath the burning ray;

Then every ear I barr’d against the strain,

And from access of frenzy lock’d the brain.

Now round the masts my mates the fetters roll’d,

And bound me limb by limb with fold on fold.

Then bending to the stroke, the active train

Plunge all at once their oars, and cleave the main.


“While to the shore the rapid vessel flies,

Our swift approach the Siren choir descries;

Celestial music warbles from their tongue,

And thus the sweet deluders tune the song:


“‘Oh stay, O pride of Greece! Ulysses, stay!

Oh cease thy course, and listen to our lay!

Blest is the man ordain’d our voice to hear,

The song instructs the soul, and charms the ear.

Approach! thy soul shall into raptures rise!

Approach! and learn new wisdom from the wise!

We know whate’er the kings of mighty name

Achieved at Ilion in the field of fame;

Whate’er beneath the sun’s bright journey lies.

Oh stay, and learn new wisdom from the wise!’


“Thus the sweet charmers warbled o’er the main;

My soul takes wing to meet the heavenly strain;

I give the sign, and struggle to be free;

Swift row my mates, and shoot along the sea;

New chains they add, and rapid urge the way,

Till, dying off, the distant sounds decay;

Then scudding swiftly from the dangerous ground,

The deafen’d ear unlock’d, the chains unbound.


“Now all at once tremendous scenes unfold;

Thunder’d the deeps, the smoky billows roll’d!

Tumultuous waves embroil the bellowing flood,

All trembling, deafen’d, and aghast we stood!

No more the vessel plough’d the dreadful wave,

Fear seized the mighty, and unnerved the brave;

Each dropp’d his oar; but swift from man to man

With looks serene I turn’d, and thus began:

‘O friends! O often tried in adverse storms!

With ills familiar in more dreadful forms!

Deep in the dire Cyclopæan den you lay,