Book 9
It is a rugged land,
but good at raising children. To my eyes
no country could be sweeter.
Odysseus to Alcinous (don't need name, just the king) about Ithaca, his home 241
But while I slept my men began to mutter,
saying the great Aeolus gave me gifts--
silver and gold that I was taking home.
With glances to his neighbor, each complained...
Odysseus is talking about his men on their way home. His men open the bag, and all the winds rush out. As a consequence, they go in the wrong direction. 260
Use wax to plug
your sailors' ears as you row past, so they
are deaf to them. But if you wish to hear them,
your men must fasten you to your ship's mast...
Circe warning Odysseus about the Sirens. p302
I sacked
the town and killed the men. We took their wives
and shared their riches equally among us.
Then I said we must run away. Those fools
refused to listen.
Odysseus about the town they landed in after the Trojan war; "those fools" are his men. As a result, the Cicones and their neighbors attacked them. 241
She added potent drugs
to make them totally forget their home.
They took and drank the mixture. Then she struck them,
using her magic wand, and penned them in a pigsty.
Circe to Odysseus's/Eurylochus's group of men 266
The gods sent signs--the hides began to twitch, the meat on skewers started mooing, raw and cooked....For six days my men banqueted on beef...
Signs that the men should not have eaten Helius's cows--foreshadows the troubles to come as a result. 314
They only wanted to stay there...
They had forgotten home. I dragged them back
in tears, forced them on board the hollow ships,
pushed them below the decks, and tied them up.
Odysseus about his men ("they") on the island of the Lotus-Eaters 243
Do not let them come near
the blood, until you hear ________.
The prophet will soon come, and he will tell you
about your journey, measured out across
the fish-filled sea, and how you will get home.
Circe to Odysseus. Blank space is Tiresias. Circe is telling him he has to find Tiresias in Hades before going home. 276
But while our frightened gaze was on Charybdis,
_________ snatched six men from the ship- my strongest,
best fighters. Looking back from down below,
I saw their feet and hands up high, as they were carried off.
Scylla taking six of Odysseus's fighters, as Circe predicted. 309
You order me to fear the gods! My people
think nothing of that Zeus with his big scepter,
nor any god; our strength is more than theirs.
If I spare you or spare your friends, it will not be
out of fear of Zeus.
Cyclops (Polyphemus) to Odysseus and his men after they ask him to take care of them as visitors/guests 248
"Odysseus!
Why are you sitting there so silently,
like someone mute, eating your heart, not touching
the banquet or the wine? You need not fear.
Remember, I already swore an oath."
Circe to Odysseus. He does not want to eat because he does not know if she will free his men and change them back from pigs to humans. She has sworn to do so and not to hurt Odysseus, but he is hesitant and wants her to free his men. p271
Listen, my friends! You have already suffered
too much. All human deaths are hard to bear.
But starving is most miserable of all.
So let us poach the finest of these cattle,
and sacrifice them to the deathless gods.
Eurylochus to Odysseus's men when he is gone convincing them to eat Helius's cattle which makes Zeus angry. 312
They hold no councils, have no common laws,
but live in caves on lofty mountaintops,
and each makes laws for his own wife and children,
without concern for what the others think.
Odysseus about the country of the Cyclopes, describing them 243
Fools! Why would you go up there?
Why would you choose to take on so much danger,
to enter Circe's house, where she will turn us
to pigs or wolves or lions, all of us,
forced to protect her mighty house for her...
Because of his bad choices, they all died.
When Odysseus tells the rest of his men to go to Circe's house after the men have been returned to humans, Eurylochus is hesitant. 273
This was the most heartrending sight I saw
in all the time I suffered on the sea.
Odysseus about Scylla snatching six of his men. p309