Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer’s The Odyssey
Sep 4, 2026 · 12 min · 6 segments
Exhaustion forces a promise — and fear lingers beneath it. The danger now waits in hunger and time. In *The Odyssey*, Book 12, Odysseus yields to his crew’s insistence on landing at Thrinacia but…
Landon SolanoHost
Then at the last, I knew that some god was indeed imagining evil, and I uttered my voice and spake unto him winged words.
to the intent that if we light on a herd of kine or a great flock of sheep none in the evil folly of his heart may slay any sheep or ox but in quiet eat ye the meat which the deathless circe gave so i spake and straightway they swore to refrain as i commanded them now after they had sworn and done that oath we stayed our well-builded ship in the hollow harbor near to a well of sweet water and my company went forth from out the ship, and deftly got ready supper.
But when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, thereafter they fell a-weeping, as they thought upon their dear companions whom Syla had snatched from out the hollow ship, and so devoured.
And when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars crossed the zenith, Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused against them an angry wind with wondrous tempest, and shrouded in clouds land and sea alike, and from heaven sped down the night.
Now when early dawn shone forth, the rosy fingered, we beached the ship and dragged it up within a hollow cave, where were the fair dancing grounds of the nymphs and the places of their session.
Thereupon I ordered a gathering of my men and spake in their midst, saying, Friends, for as much as there is yet meat and drink in the swift ship, Let us keep our hands off those kind, lest some evil thing befall us.
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Then at the last, I knew that some god was indeed imagining evil, and I uttered my voice and spake unto him winged words.
to the intent that if we light on a herd of kine or a great flock of sheep none in the evil folly of his heart may slay any sheep or ox but in quiet eat ye the meat which the deathless circe gave so i spake and straightway they swore to refrain as i commanded them now after they had sworn and done that oath we stayed our well-builded ship in the hollow harbor near to a well of sweet water and my company went forth from out the ship, and deftly got ready supper.
But when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, thereafter they fell a-weeping, as they thought upon their dear companions whom Syla had snatched from out the hollow ship, and so devoured.
And when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars crossed the zenith, Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused against them an angry wind with wondrous tempest, and shrouded in clouds land and sea alike, and from heaven sped down the night.
Now when early dawn shone forth, the rosy fingered, we beached the ship and dragged it up within a hollow cave, where were the fair dancing grounds of the nymphs and the places of their session.
Thereupon I ordered a gathering of my men and spake in their midst, saying, Friends, for as much as there is yet meat and drink in the swift ship, Let us keep our hands off those kind, lest some evil thing befall us.
