An Ancient Sorceress

Ulixes cum comitibus olim ad insulam Aeaeam navigavit:

Odysseus once sailed with his companions to the island of Aeaea.

habitabat in ea insula Circe, dea propter artem magicam notissima.

Circe lived on that island, a goddess very well known for her magical skill.

Ulixes primo in ora manebat, comitum nonnullos in interiorem partem insulae misit.

At first Odysseus remained on the shore and sent some of his companions into the interior of the island.

Ex his Eurylochus solus ad ducem revertit.

Of these, Eurylochus alone returned to the leader.

‘Magnum nos periculum manet in hac insula,’ inquit;

“A great danger awaits us on this island,” he said.

‘vix a te discesseramus ubi magnam domum in media silva vidimus:

“We had scarcely left you when we saw a large house in the middle of the forest.

prope portas errabant multa animalia, neque tamen nos oppugnabant.

Many animals were wandering near the gates, but they did not attack us.

Tum domo excessit femina, vel dea, pulcherrima:

Then a very beautiful woman, or perhaps a goddess, came out of the house.

verbis nos dulcibus compellavit et cibum dedit:

She addressed us with sweet words and gave us food.

tum comites meos repente virga ferit et in sues vertit.

Then she suddenly struck my companions with a wand and turned them into pigs.

Ego solus domum non intraveram, solus ad te reverti.’

I alone had not entered the house, and I alone returned to you.”

Tum Ulixes ad locum statim properavit:

Then Odysseus immediately hurried to the place.

occurit in itinere Mercurius.

Mercury met him on the way.

‘Frustra tu,’ inquit, ‘homo contra deam pugnabis:

“You, a mortal, will fight against a goddess in vain,” he said.

meo tamen auxilio incolumis eris.’

“Nevertheless, with my help you will be safe.”

Tum herbam magicam dedit et multa monebat.

Then he gave him a magical herb and gave him many warnings.

Itaque non solum sibi sed comitibus salutem comparavit:

And so Odysseus secured safety not only for himself but also for his companions.

nam Circe frustra contra Ulixem artes exercuit

For Circe used her magical arts against Odysseus in vain,

et comitibus formam humanam reddidit.

and restored human form to his companions.