Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer’s The Odyssey
Jun 20, 2026 · 8 min · 7 segments
As danger closes in, help arrives from an unexpected quarter. What seemed a solitary march becomes a test guided by divine counsel. In *The Odyssey*, Book 10, Odysseus nears Circe’s hall alone…
Landon SolanoHost
But lo, when in my faring through the sacred glades, I was now drawing near to the great hall of the enchantress Circe.
Then did Hermes, of the golden wand, meet me as I approached the house, in the likeness of a young man with the first down on his lip, the time when youth is most gracious.
Ah, hapless man, wither away again, all alone through the wolds, thou that knowest not this country, and thy company yonder in the hall of Circe, are penned in the guise of swine, in their deep lairs abiding.
Is it in hope to free them that thou art come hither? Nay, methinks thou thyself shalt never return, but remain there with the others.
lo take this herb of virtue and go to the dwelling of circe that it may keep from thy head the evil day and i will tell thee all the magic slight of circe she will mix thee a potion and cast drugs into the mess but not even so shall she be able to enchant thee so helpful is this charmed herb that i shall give thee and i will tell thee all when it shall be that circe smites thee with her long wand even then draw out thy sharp sword from thy thigh and spring on her as one eager to slay her and she will shrink away and be instant with thee to lie with her henceforth disdain not thou the bed of the goddess that she may deliver thy company and kindly entertain thee but command her to swear a mighty oath to the blessed gods that she will plan naught else of mischief to thine own hurt, lest she make thee a dastard and unmanned when she hath thee naked.
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But lo, when in my faring through the sacred glades, I was now drawing near to the great hall of the enchantress Circe.
Then did Hermes, of the golden wand, meet me as I approached the house, in the likeness of a young man with the first down on his lip, the time when youth is most gracious.
Ah, hapless man, wither away again, all alone through the wolds, thou that knowest not this country, and thy company yonder in the hall of Circe, are penned in the guise of swine, in their deep lairs abiding.
Is it in hope to free them that thou art come hither? Nay, methinks thou thyself shalt never return, but remain there with the others.
lo take this herb of virtue and go to the dwelling of circe that it may keep from thy head the evil day and i will tell thee all the magic slight of circe she will mix thee a potion and cast drugs into the mess but not even so shall she be able to enchant thee so helpful is this charmed herb that i shall give thee and i will tell thee all when it shall be that circe smites thee with her long wand even then draw out thy sharp sword from thy thigh and spring on her as one eager to slay her and she will shrink away and be instant with thee to lie with her henceforth disdain not thou the bed of the goddess that she may deliver thy company and kindly entertain thee but command her to swear a mighty oath to the blessed gods that she will plan naught else of mischief to thine own hurt, lest she make thee a dastard and unmanned when she hath thee naked.
