Chapter VIII

A grove upon sloping ground near CIRCE’S palace. Large trees cast deep shadows with sunny spaces between. The mansion itself is not visible; but on the Left at some elevation a glimpse is afforded of the court-yard wall. A faint pathway amid shrubbery winds from the Right front upward and out on the Left at the rear.

Enter ULYSSES at the Right, tracing the path slowly and cautiously. Perceiving the wall above and before him he pauses, moves his right hand involuntary toward his sword-hilt and lifts the left to his lips meditatively. While he thus stands reconnoitering and pondering, MERCURY suddenly appears before him, stepping noiselessly from the shadow of a tree upon the Left. At this apparition ULYSSES draws back an instant with head slightly bowed, while his hand leaves the sword and is lifted to a reverential gesture. The demeanor of MERCURY is easy and gracious. His insignia, though plainly recognizable, are less conspicuous and brilliant than they appeared in Scene II.

MERCURY

[_Taking the up-lifted hand of Ulysses_]

Whither now, fate-worn wanderer, whither tending
Thread’st thou the dim paths of this briery steep?
What region holds thee or perchance what guile
Lurks in its mazy folds, wouldst thou not prove?—
Ere to that dome ascending, where in foul sties
Thy luckless comrades grovel now and groan,
To swinish shape by the enchantress changed!

[_As the god speaks he withdraws his hand and indicates the direction of the palace. ULYSSES recoils slightly at the last words of MERCURY._]

One only, so minded that in Circe’s song
He read the bane it glozed, did value well
His safety and proclaim’d their loss.—Whom thou
Aimest forsooth to rescue and redeem!
Rather methinks the porcine couch to share
With them and vanish from men, came not
Some guardian hand between.—But lo! there grows
An antidote—a good drug, that shall check
The baleful magic of her potions.

[_MERCURY pulls from the ground, moving aside the undergrowth which concealed it, a small plant and shows it to ULYSSES._]

See!
Black at the root, milk-white the flower; ’tis _moly_:
So to the immortals known; of men, scarce found.

[_ULYSSES receives the herb from the hand of the god with an air of profound attention and a shade of wonder._]

Now may thy steps to yon weird mansion mount
And tread its halls unscathed, Ulysses, if
My mandate thou shalt heed and ponder well.

[_ULYSSES shifts his attentive regard from the plant in his hand to the speaker._]

Her song will thrill thee, but the transforming spell
Shall break before the potent herb thou holdest.
Undaunted wilt thou enter; nor be shamed
If thy quick pulses bound when Circe’s glance
Encounters thine, and the soft audible charm
Of low-voiced invitation laps thee round.
Thou may’st admire and still be master. Straight
With her own hand a fragrant wine-cup filling,
When by her side she thrones thee, she will proffer
And bid thee drink—it is the poison’d chalice.
Yet quaff thou undismay’d, Ulysses. Then,
So soon’t is swallow’d and thyself unchanged,
Her magic wand wielded in vain, draw thou
Swiftly thy sword and rush as if to slay
At the enchantress with high-threatening blade.

[_ULYSSES’ look of wonderment increases as MERCURY pauses._]

The issue thou wilt mark. But let not pity
Nor the new spell of female blandishment
O’ercome thy senses or disarm thy hand,
Ere to its mastery yet once more she yields
And their true forms to thy changed mates restores.

ULYSSES

O gracious Helper, it is thy spirit that guides
Where eye of mortal swerves: to whom full oft
We pour’d thank-offering at the banquet’s close.

MERCURY

Who himself well bethinks, the gods assist.
Of drugs and arts uncanny mere human prudence
Compasseth not, Ulysses, sure defeat.—
But in her craft once baffled, ’tis with the _woman_,
No more the enchantress, thou wilt deal thereafter.
Nor are those powers to be despised, which oft
Compel a conqueror’s fealty and confuse
The sober aims of confident wisdom.

[_While ULYSSES again looks down reflectively at the plant he holds MERCURY suddenly disappears. ULYSSES, looking up and seeing the god no longer, throws a keen glance in the direction of the wall. He then tastes and swallows a morsel of the herb; and as he moves on and goes out at the Left with firm step the music of CIRCE’S song is faintly heard behind the scenes._]