Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer’s The Odyssey
Jun 23, 2026 · 9 min · 9 segments
Comfort means nothing while loss remains unanswered. Only reunion can break the spell of fear and grief. In *The Odyssey*, Book 10, Circe questions Odysseus’ refusal to eat, insisting she has…
Landon SolanoHost
Now when Circe saw that I sat thus, and that I put not forth my hands to the meat, and that I was mightily afflicted, she drew near to me and spake to me winged words.
"Wherefore thus, Odysseus, dost thou sit there like a speechless man, consuming thine own soul, and dost not touch meat nor drink? Dost thou indeed deem there is some further guile? Nay, thou hast no cause to fear, for already I have sworn thee a strong oath not to harm thee." So spake she, but I answered her, saying, "O Circe, what righteous man would have the heart to taste meat and drink ere he had redeemed his company, and beheld them face to face? But if in good faith thou biddest me eat and drink, then let them go free, that mine eyes may behold my dear companions." So I spake, and Circe passed out through the hall with the wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the sty, and drave them forth in the shape of swine of nine seasons old.
There they stood before her, and she went through their midst, and anointed each one of them with another charm.
And lo, from their limbs the bristles dropped away, wherewith the venom had erewhile clothed them, that Lady Circe gave them.
And they became men again, younger than they were before, and goodlier far, and taller to behold.
And the roof rang round wondrously, and even the goddess herself was moved with compassion.
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Now when Circe saw that I sat thus, and that I put not forth my hands to the meat, and that I was mightily afflicted, she drew near to me and spake to me winged words.
"Wherefore thus, Odysseus, dost thou sit there like a speechless man, consuming thine own soul, and dost not touch meat nor drink? Dost thou indeed deem there is some further guile? Nay, thou hast no cause to fear, for already I have sworn thee a strong oath not to harm thee." So spake she, but I answered her, saying, "O Circe, what righteous man would have the heart to taste meat and drink ere he had redeemed his company, and beheld them face to face? But if in good faith thou biddest me eat and drink, then let them go free, that mine eyes may behold my dear companions." So I spake, and Circe passed out through the hall with the wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the sty, and drave them forth in the shape of swine of nine seasons old.
There they stood before her, and she went through their midst, and anointed each one of them with another charm.
And lo, from their limbs the bristles dropped away, wherewith the venom had erewhile clothed them, that Lady Circe gave them.
And they became men again, younger than they were before, and goodlier far, and taller to behold.
And the roof rang round wondrously, and even the goddess herself was moved with compassion.
