 Andesias, his wife and son, we have yet to see. I was hailing Agamemnon and daughter Athena, and then the god, messenger, god, and for our story, the son and god Hyperion, very, very important is the goddess of enchantment. Sirse, Calypso, the goddess of silence, the son of Poseidon. Freak Poseidon, earth shaker, lord of the waves, hear me, if I am your son, and if you are my father, Dysias never sees his home again, or if he does, let him come alone in friend-less to a house of trouble and sorrow, and there was his prayer Poseidon heard it. Odysseus, in his ships, came to the island home of Aeolus, who is the warden of the wind. His island floats on the surface of the sea and all around it is a wall of bronze. Aeolus lives there with his wife and twelve children, six sons and six daughters, who are married to one another, and they spend all their time feasting. For a whole month Aeolus entertained Odysseus and his men, and questioned them closely about the fall of Troy. At last Odysseus patiently asked Aeolus for his help on the journey home. Without it, Odysseus, an ox hide back, tied with a silver cord, in it were all as they were needed, except for the west wind, which Aeolus commanded to give Odysseus safe passage home. At first all went well, after nine days and nine nights, the shore of Ithaca came into sight. Odysseus, who had been keeping lookout all this time, fell asleep, sure, sure, and so the foolish and greedy men undid the silver cord around the ox hide by fierce tempest arose, buffeting the ships with merciless fury. One by one they foundered, they sank to the bottom of the sea and the waves closed over them. Soon only Odysseus's ship was left. The wearing winds, the warring winds blew it all the way back to Aeolus' island. You did, answered Odysseus, but my companions have betrayed me. They opened the ox hide back and unleashed loose the tempest. I beg you, I beg you, gather the winds together again so I can go home. Odysseus, heavy at heart, turned once more to the open sea. No friendly wind filled the sails this time. Instead, the men had to pull on the oars against both wind and wave. And all the time they knew, no matter what course they steered, that Poseidon was waiting. Odysseus and his men eventually made landfall off the island of Eicia, the home of Circe, to the ship. Odysseus climbed a nearby hill to see what he could. As he stood gazing over the island, a stag crossed his path on its way to drink from the river. Odysseus flung his spear and killed it. Men, he cried, our luck is with us once again. Come, let us feast, and tomorrow we shall explore the island. Next day Odysseus divided his crew. They drew lots as to who should go first, and Eurylicus won. So he and 22 men set off inland. But before long they came to Circe's palace. It stood in a clearing in the woodland and was built of stone. Wild creatures such as lions and wolves roamed outside it. But Circe's power was so great that they did not attack the men, but fawned over them like dogs. When the party came to the doors of the palace, they could hear Circe inside, singing in a lovely, bloating voice as she worked at her loom, weaving such dazzling gossamer cloth as goddesses make. Mm-hmm. Polities said, there is a woman in the house, singing as she weaves. The whole building rings with the echoes of her voice. Come in, mixing in them drugs that made them forget their country and their loved ones in long Circe. Then she touched each of them lightly with a rod. And as she did, they turned into bristly snuffling swine, the minds of men though. But when they tried to cry for help, only grunts came out. Neuralicus saw it all and ran back to the ship with the terrible news and wanted to sail at once, abandoning polities. But Odysseus would not leave them. He made his way alone to Circe's palace. Odysseus met Hermes, the messenger god, with his golden wand, golden-winged sandals. He looked like a boy on the edge of manhood, with the first soft down still on his upper lip. Nevertheless, Odysseus bowed low, knowing that he was in the presence of a god. Hermes departed, and Odysseus continued to walk his way towards Circe's palace. When he reached the doubt to be let in, Circe welcomed him, ushered him to a chair in the hand, saying now be off to the big sty and lie down with your friends. Odysseus saw it and raised it high, as if to strike her dead. And Circe fell to her knees and spoke, and pleading to Odysseus answered, How can I trust you when you have turned my men into swine, Mr. Freedom, and to do me no further harm? And I will lie with you willingly, Circe's handmaidens prepared her bedchamber. Odysseus went back to the ship to tell Euralicus and the others the news. The men would not believe him, and wanted to put straight out to sea. But Odysseus told them, I have given my word to a goddess, and I cannot break it. When Odysseus and his men reached the palace, Circe welcomed them. Put aside your care, she said, eat, drink, and be merry. For a year Odysseus and his men feasted, while Odysseus kept loving company with the goddess, who bore him a son, to likeness. At last, however, they grew homesick, and Odysseus begged Circe to help them go back to Ithaca. You have offended one of the most powerful gods, said Circe, and I cannot help you. If you want to return home, you must ask advice from the wisest of all. The blind seer, Dorisius. But Dorisius is dead, Cerodisius. Yes, you must venture into Hades itself to speak with him. It will be worth the journey, for while the rest of the dead are mere fleeting shadows. Dorisius keeps his wits about him still. He alone can tell you what your future holds. Who will pilot me on such a voyage? asked Odysseus. No sailor has ever undertaken the dark journey to the house. Not worry, she replied, hoist your white sail, and the north wind will carry you where you wish to go. Once you have passed the river of the ocean, you will come to the coast of Hades with its black and blighted trees. And there you must leave your ship and walk into the land of the dead. When you come to a rock where two rivers meet, dig a trench, and fill it with milk and honey. Add sweet wine and water, and sprinkle barley meal upon must take a ram, and anew, and sacrifice them. Horns up the dead will swarm at the scent of blood, but you must hold them back with your sword until Dorisius arrives. He will answer your questions. Odysseus gathered his men and returned to the ship, but one did not come with them. Young Elpinor, having drunk too much wine, he was lying asleep on the palace roof. Hearing his companions calling for him, he leaped up, lost his footing, plummeted to the ground, and broke his neck. Odysseus meanwhile spoke to his men. No doubt you think we are heading for home, but we are not. Our destination is Hades, where the goddess has told me to seek the advice of the seer, Dorisius. Odysseus and his crew did not have to touch the oars, as the ship carried them to the dread land of the death. Odysseus' breeze filled the sail to speed them across the darkening sea to the very spot she had described. There Odysseus poured out milk, honey, sweet wine, water, and barley meal for the dead, and promised them a sacrifice when he should return to Ithaca. With many prayers and invocations, he slaughtered the ram and the you. In dark blood filled the trench, ghosts flocked to the palace of sacrifice, drawn by the vital energy, still pulsing from the heart. Odysseus would not let any of the shades feast on the blood until Dorisius came, leaning on his golden staff. Draw back, and let me drink, said Dorisius. Then I will reveal your future to you. Odysseus put up his sword, and Dorisius bent down to the streaming, steaming blood. Then he spoke, Prince Odysseus, you have come from the sunlight into the land of the shadow in order to learn of your fate. So listen, you seek a safe passage home, but this will not be easy, for you have offended the earth shaker Poseidon. First, your cunning brought down the walls of Troy, which Poseidon himself had set up. Second, you have blinded his son, the Cyclops, Polyphemus. You cannot hope to escape the anger of the gods completely, but if you are careful, you and your companions may yet come safely home. Be warned, if you arouse the wrath of the gods once more, the reward will be death and misery. If you return home at all, it will be late. You must hope it is not too late. For even now, students of many lands are arriving at your palace and wooing your wife Penelope. Your son Telemachus is still a boy. How can he protect her? I will heed your words. Whatever may befall, I shall not give up hope. He was still an infant. My son Telemachus fell from a fisherman's boat into the salt sea, yet he was not lost. A dolphin carried him on its back, safe to shore. That is why the seal on my ring shows a leaping dolphin, in the same way, surely the gods that weave my fate will bring me safely home at last. After that Odysseus led each of the shades, one by one, for his sacrifice. And as they did so, they seemed to take on substance and remember themselves again. Odysseus was stricken to see his mother and to clear among them. Mother, he cried, tell me what brought you to this dim land. It was my longing for you, my son, she replied. Odysseus reached across the trench to comfort her. Odysseus questioned all who came, and they told them their stories. Some still hugged their envies and spiked to them, like precious treasures. Some remembered golden days and tender words had thought for the future, except the blind seer, Odysseus. Sleep well. Have an even better tomorrow.