Aeolus, the Lestrigonians, and Circè
Arrival of Ulysses at the land of Aeolus, who gives him the winds in a bag—Folly of the seamen, who untie the bag while Ulysses is asleep—A tempest—Disastrous encounter with the gigantic laestrigons—Arrival at the island of Circè—Transformation of the Greeks to swine, and recovery of their former shape—Preparations for a journey to the region of the dead.
“We reached the Aeolian isle, where Aeolus, Dear to the gods, a son of Hippotas, Made his abode. It was a floating isle; A wall of brass enclosed it, and smooth rocks Edged it around. Twelve children in his halls Were born, six daughters and six blooming sons; He gave his daughters to his sons for wives. And they with their dear father and his queen Banquet from day to day, with endless change Of meats before them. In his halls all day The sound of pipes is in the perfumed air; At night the youths beside their modest wives Sleep on fair couches spread with tapestry. So coming to his town and fair abode, I found a friendly welcome. One full month The monarch kept me with him, and inquired Of all that might concern the fate of Troy, The Argive fleet, and the return to Greece, And just as it befell I told him all. And when I spake to him of going thence, And prayed him to dismiss me, he complied, And helped to make us ready for the sea. The bladder of a bullock nine years old He gave, in which he had compressed and bound The stormy winds of air; for Saturn’s son Had given him empire o’er the winds, with power To calm them or to rouse them at his will. This in our roomy galley he made fast With a bright chain of silver, that no breath Of ruder air might blow. He only left The west wind free to waft our ships and us Upon our way. But that was not to be; We perished by a folly of our own.