and bewail their sad doom to wander as shades in
the changeless gloom of the underworld; they eagerly struggle to seize
and quaff the cup offered to them by the attendants at the altar.
Achilles rushes forward and accuses Odysseus of {409} cowardice; he has
fatally wounded his friend in the back; he is the slave of Kirke!
Odysseus draws his sword, the living and the dead heroes fight; the
other shadows press forward with wild yells upon Odysseus, who,
overpowered, falls senseless to the ground. With vivid lightning and
pealing thunder the scene is quickly shrouded in darkness and the
curtain falls.

Act III.

The scene changes again to Kirke's enchanted garden. On the steps of
the palace Odysseus lies sleeping with his head resting on Kirke's
knee. He murmurs names in his dreams. Kirke listens, hoping to hear
her own name, but only hears that of Penelopeia. Enraged, the
enchantress roughly wakens him. The hero is himself again. He
exclaims: "Away to my native land! to my wife! to my hearth and home!"
A wild struggle begins between the two. Kirke strives with all her
arts and blandishments to enchain him, to keep him. Odysseus resists;
he has gained the victory over himself, he is no longer in the power of
the syren; his will is inflexible. All in vain does she strive to
charm him by the delights of her garden; the songs and dances of her
maidens; her sweetest caresses. He turns from her with loathing, he
curses her. At last Kirke's love turns to fierce hatred; she changes
her garden into a desert; she calls upon Helios to come and slay her
recreant lover. The sun god appears indeed, but says Zeus has
forbidden him to injure Odysseus. In mad {410} frenzy Kirke tears his
bow and arrow from Helios; she will kill her false lover herself; but
her heart misgives her, the arrow sinks from her hand. At the same
moment, Hermes, as messenger of the Gods appears and cries: "Set the
hero of Ilium free!" Kirke, subdued, requires Odysseus to unsay the
curse he had spoken against her. "Be it so!" he solemnly says; and he
is free.

He is now joined by his remaining companions, they have found their
arms; they arm Odysseus; the ship is ready to sail; they all hasten
away. Helios remains to console Kirke; he foretells that she shall
have a son; a heroic child; she sinks smiling on a flower covered
couch; Helios lulls her to sleep. In the distance is seen the ship
with the heroes sailing joyously away.

The son