green withes and a fathom's length of rope, and slinging the beast
round my neck, so carried it to the ship, leaning on my spear; for
indeed it was heavy to bear, nor was it possible for me to carry
it on my shoulder with one hand. And when I was come to the ship,
I cast down my burden. Now the men were sitting with their faces
muffled, so sad were they. But when I bade them be of good cheer,
they looked up and marvelled at the great stag. And all that day
we feasted on deer's flesh and sweet wine, and at night lay down
to sleep on the shore. But when morning was come, I called my
comrades together, and spake: 'I know not, friends, where we are.
Only I know, having seen smoke yesterday from the hill, that there
is a dwelling in this island.'

"It troubled the men much to hear this, for they thought of the
Cyclops and of the Laestrygons; and they wailed aloud. Then I
divided them into two companies. I set Eurylochus [Footnote: Eu-
ryl'-o-chus.] over the one, and I myself took command of the
other, and I shook lots in a helmet to see who should go and
search out the island, and the lot of Eurylochus leapt out. So he
went, and comrades twenty and two with him. And in an open space
in the wood they found the palace of Circe. All about were wolves
and lions; yet these harmed not the men, but stood up on their
hind legs, fawning upon them, as dogs fawn upon their master when
he comes from his meal, because he brings the fragments with him
that they love. And the men were afraid. And they stood in the
porch and heard the voice of Circe as she sang with a lovely voice
and plied the loom. Then said Polites [Footnote: Po-li'-tes.], who
was dearest of all my comrades to me, in whom also I most trusted:
'Some one within plies a great loom, and sings with a loud voice.
Some goddess is she or a woman. Let us make haste and call.'