“Thankfully we accepted her invitation, and day by day we feasted and drank. But at length, when a year had gone by, the longing for home awakened in our breasts, and my companions urged me to think of our native land. All day I mused upon their demand, and as darkness fell I clasped the knees of the goddess and besought her to send us back to our homes. She answered graciously that she did not wish to detain me against my will, but that I must first accomplish a mission for her before I could take the direct path homewards. I gave my promise and heard with horror the following commission: ‘I wish to send thee to the underworld to inquire of the spirit of old Tiresias, who conferred upon Persephone, Queen of Hades, alone of all the shades, power to wander there a living person, while the other souls are only floating shadows.’ “I wrung my hands and groaned. Weeping I sat beside the goddess and cried: ‘Who shall show me the way thither? Never did a living man descend into Hades, and nevermore shall a living man return from thence into the light.’ “‘Fear not for thy life, nor for a guide,’ she continued. ‘Spread thy sail and let the north wind guide thee.’ She then gave me full directions as to all that I should see and do upon this visit to the lower regions. “As she ended dawn was gilding the morning sky. Sorrowfully I arose and went to arouse my companions and advise them of our speedy departure. We went down to the ship with heavy hearts. There we found the sacrificial sheep, which I was to carry with me, bound and ready; a black male sheep and a female. Circe had also provided flour, wine, and honey. We launched the ship, raised the mast, and reluctantly embarked. A favorable wind bore us straight toward the ends of the earth. “We reached the shores of the Cimmerians, where the sun no longer sheds its light. There we beached our ship, took the sacrificial gifts, and descended to the place which Circe had shown me. We found all as she had foretold. I now began to dig a pit with my sword, an ell square, and into it I poured an offering for the dead as I had been instructed; first of honey and milk, then of sweet wine, and at last of water, strewing white flour over all. Then the two sheep were handed me, and I cut their throats with my sword so that the dark blood ran into the pit. Immediately the departed souls floated up in crowds from the lower world and pressed upon me. But I held them back with my sword, and commanded my companions to burn the sheep which had been skinned meanwhile. While the offering was being consumed we prayed to all the gods of the lower world, and I did not forget to make promises to them and to Tiresias, provided that I should reach Ithaca in safety.