Medea pleaded with Circe to tell her of the life she foresaw for her,
but Circe would not speak of it. She told Medea that one day she would
meet a woman who knew nothing about enchantments but who had much human
wisdom. She was to ask of her what she was to do in her life or what
she was to leave undone. And whatever this woman out of her wisdom told
her, that Medea was to regard. Once more Circe offered them the cup
filled with clear water, and when they had drunken of it she left them
upon the seashore. As she went toward her marble house the strange
beasts followed Circe, whimpering as they went. Jason and Medea went
aboard the Argo, and the heroes drew away from Circe's island.
VI. IN THE LAND OF THE PHAEACIANS
Wearied were the heroes now. They would have fain gone upon the island
of Circe to rest there away from the oars and the sound of the sea. But
the wisest of them, looking upon the beasts that were men transformed,
held the Argo far off the shore. Then Jason and Medea came aboard, and
with heavy hearts and wearied arms they turned to the open sea again.
No longer had they such high hearts as when they drove the Argo between
the Clashers and into the Sea of Pontus. Now their heads drooped as
they went on, and they sang such songs as slaves sing in their hopeless
labor. Orpheus grew fearful for them now.
For Orpheus knew that they were drawing toward a danger. There was no
other way for them, he knew, but past the Island Anthemoessa in the
Tyrrhenian Sea where the Sirens were.
Once they had been nymphs and had tended Persephone before she was
carried off by Aidoneus to be his queen in the Underworld. Kind they
had been, but now they were changed, and they cared only for the
destruction of men.
All set around with rocks was the island where they were. As the Argo
came near, the Sirens, ever on the watch to draw mariners to their
destruction, saw them and came to the rocks and sang to them, holding
each other's hands.
They sang all together their lulling song. That song made the wearied
voyagers long to let their oars go with the waves, and drift, drift to
where the Sirens were. Bending down to them the Sirens, with soft hands
and white arms, would lift them to soft resting places. Then each of
the Sirens sang a clear, piercing song that called to each of the
voyagers. Each man thought that his own name was in that song. "O how
well it is that you have come near," each one sang, "how well it is
that you have come near where I have awaited you, having all delight
prepared for you!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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