his will to take up his night-quarters on shore. But he first exacted from
them an oath that they would neither maim nor kill any of the cattle which
they saw grazing, but content themselves with such food as Circe had
stowed their vessel with when they parted from Aeaea. This they man by man
severally promised, imprecating the heaviest curses on whoever should
break it; and mooring their bark within a creek, they went to supper,
contenting themselves that night with such food as Circe had given them,
not without many sad thoughts of their friends whom Scylla had devoured,
the grief of which kept them great part of the night waking.

In the morning Ulysses urged them again to a religious observance of the
oath that they had sworn, not in any case to attempt the blood of those
fair herds which they saw grazing, but to content themselves with the
ship's food; for the god who owned those cattle sees and hears all.

They faithfully obeyed, and remained in that good mind for a month, during
which they were confined to that station by contrary winds, till all the
wine and the bread were gone which they had brought with them. When their
victuals were gone, necessity compelled them to stray in quest of whatever
fish or fowl they could snare, which that coast did not yield in any great
abundance. Then Ulysses prayed to all the gods that dwelt in bountiful
heaven, that they would be pleased to yield them some means to stay their
hunger without having recourse to profane and forbidden violations; but
the ears of heaven seemed to be shut, or some god incensed plotted his
ruin; for at midday, when he should chiefly have been vigilant and
watchful to prevent mischief, a deep sleep fell upon the eyes of Ulysses,
during which he lay totally insensible of all that passed in the world,
and what his friends or what his enemies might do for his welfare or
destruction. Then Eurylochus took his advantage. He was the man of most
authority with them after Ulysses. He represented to them all the misery