Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer’s The Odyssey
Jun 21, 2026 · 10 min · 8 segments
Magic is offered — and fails. What was meant to erase identity instead reveals it. In *The Odyssey*, Book 10 continues as Hermes gives Odysseus the divine herb moly, black-rooted with a milk-white…
Landon SolanoHost
🎵 🎵 therewith the slayer of argos gave me the plant that he had plucked from the ground and he showed me the growth thereof it was black at the root but the flower was like to milk moly the gods called it but it is hard for mortal men to dig Howbeit with the gods all things are possible.
But as for me, I held on my way to the house of Circe, and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
There I stood, and called aloud, and the goddess heard my voice, who presently came forth, and opened the shining doors, and bade me in.
So she led me in, and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly carven chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet.
And she made me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink, and she also put a charm therein, in the evil counsel of her heart." now when she had given it and i had drunk it off and was not bewitched she smote me with her wand and spake and hailed me go thy way now to the sty couch thee there with the rest of thy company so spake she but I drew my sharp sword from my thigh and sprang upon Circe as one eager to slay her.
But with a great cry she slipped under and clasped my knees, and bewailing herself, spake to me winged words.
"'Who art thou of sons of men, and whence? Where is thy city? Where are they that begat thee?' i marvel to see how thou hast drunk of this charm and wast nowise subdued nay for there lives no man else that is proof against this charm whoso hath drunk thereof and once it hath passed his lips but thou hast methinks a mind within thee that may not be enchanted Verily thou art Odysseus, ready at need, whom he of the golden wand, the slayer of Argos, full often told me was to come hither, on his way from Troy with this swift black ship.
Nay, come, put thy sword into the sheath, and thereafter let us go up into my bed, that meeting in love and sleep we may trust each the other.
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🎵 🎵 therewith the slayer of argos gave me the plant that he had plucked from the ground and he showed me the growth thereof it was black at the root but the flower was like to milk moly the gods called it but it is hard for mortal men to dig Howbeit with the gods all things are possible.
But as for me, I held on my way to the house of Circe, and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
There I stood, and called aloud, and the goddess heard my voice, who presently came forth, and opened the shining doors, and bade me in.
So she led me in, and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly carven chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet.
And she made me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink, and she also put a charm therein, in the evil counsel of her heart." now when she had given it and i had drunk it off and was not bewitched she smote me with her wand and spake and hailed me go thy way now to the sty couch thee there with the rest of thy company so spake she but I drew my sharp sword from my thigh and sprang upon Circe as one eager to slay her.
But with a great cry she slipped under and clasped my knees, and bewailing herself, spake to me winged words.
"'Who art thou of sons of men, and whence? Where is thy city? Where are they that begat thee?' i marvel to see how thou hast drunk of this charm and wast nowise subdued nay for there lives no man else that is proof against this charm whoso hath drunk thereof and once it hath passed his lips but thou hast methinks a mind within thee that may not be enchanted Verily thou art Odysseus, ready at need, whom he of the golden wand, the slayer of Argos, full often told me was to come hither, on his way from Troy with this swift black ship.
Nay, come, put thy sword into the sheath, and thereafter let us go up into my bed, that meeting in love and sleep we may trust each the other.
