erform'd, nor Cyclops, wretch
"Inhuman, now to tempt this unknown land
"Refuse. The choice by lot is fix'd. The lot
"Me sends, and with me sends Polites true;
"Eurylochus; and poor Elphenor, fond
"Too much of wine; with twice nine comrades mote,
"To seek the dome Circean. Thither come;
"We at the entrance stand: a thousand wolves,
"And bears, and lionesses, with wolves mixt,
"Meet us, and terror in our bosoms strike.
"But ground for terror none: of all the crew
"None try our limbs to wound, but friendly wave
"Their arching tails, and fawningly attend
"Our steps; till by the menial train receiv'd,
"Through marbled halls to where their mistress sate,
"Our troop is led. She, in a bright recess,
"Upon a lofty throne of state, was plac'd,
"Cloth'd in a splendid robe; a golden veil
"Around her head, and o'er her shoulders thrown.
"Nereids, and nymphs around (whose fingers quick
"The wool ne'er drew, nor form'd the following thread)
"Were plants arranging, and selecting flowers,
"And various teinted herbs, confus'dly mixt
"In baskets. She compleats the work they do;
"And well she knows the latent power each leaf
"Possesses; well their force combin'd she knows:
"And all the nice-weigh'd herbs inspects with care.
"When us she spy'd, and salutations pass'd
"Mutual; her forehead brighten'd, and she gave
"Our every wish. Nor waited more, but bade
"The beverage of the roasted grain be mix'd;
"And added honey, all the strength of wine,
"And curdy milk, and juices, which beneath
"Such powerful sweetness undetected lay.
"The cup from her accursed hand, I take,
"And, soon as thirsty I, with parch'd mouth drink,
"And the dire goddess with her wand had strok'd
"My head (I blush while I the rest relate)
"Roughen'd with bristles, I begin to grow;
"Nor now can speak; hoarse grunting comes for words;
"And all my face bends downwards to the ground;
"Callous I feel my mouth become, in form
"A crooked snout; and feel my brawny neck
"Swell o'er my chest; and what but now the cup
"Had grasp'd, that part does marks of feet imprint;
"With all my fellows treated thus, so great
"The medicine's potency, close was I shut
"Within a sty: there I, Eurylochus
"Alone unalter'd to a hog, beheld!
"He only had the offer'd cup refus'd.
"Which had he not avoided, he as one
"The bristly herd had join'd; nor had our chief,
"The great Ulysses, by hi