As Odysseus enters the lair of Circe, he remembers the dream he had when Hermes

warned him of Circe’s tricks and eats the herb to protect himself from the trickery. Also,
he recalls what Hermes said about pretending to kill Circe.

Circe- Ah! At long last a powerful and wise man has arrived! How I have longed for you,
why don’t you relax and have yourself a drink?

---Circe fixes Odysseus a drink and drops the drug into it. Odysseus is well prepared for
this situation and replies:

Odysseus- Well! You may have fooled many men before me but rest assured, I am no
fool. Hermes has warned me of your deception! I am invulnerable to any drug or poison
you have to offer. And now I am afraid I am going to have to intrude upon you a little but
more!

---Odysseus lunges at Circe with his sword, Circe falls in fear of the sight and continues.

We have cut the part with Circe turning the sailors into pigs in order to make the
visit go faster.

Circe- Oh! Oh Great One! Please spare me! Who are you? How come my tricks have not
fooled you? Ah! You must be Odysseus, the man who is never at a loss! Come now and
drop your sword to enter my chamber. Come and lay with me!

We have cut the scene where Odysseus and his crew stay for a year on the island and
when he becomes her lover. This is replaced by Odysseus threatening Circe and she
must repay him by telling him where to go.

Odysseus- Ah Circe! You request that we be trusted in love, yet you try to deceive my
mind by placing your powerful drug on my tongue!

Circe- Well Odysseus, I did try to fool you but that was when I did not know you were
who you are! The Great Odysseus! I have heard stories of you from Argeiphontes about
your arrival on this island from Troy.

Odysseus- And so you feel you should drug me? What dishonor! Why should I lay with
one who is nothing but a common deviant?

Circe- You are correct! What shame I have brought upon this household! Is there any way
that I may repay you? But, I do know of such a way. I can tell you how to return to your
loved ones in Ithaca!

We cut this part in order to save time, Elpenor was cut because it was unnecessary
to the story because now, Circe is just telling Odysseus where to go on the first visit.
Odysseus- Well then, go on!

Circe- You must first sail to Hades and speak with the blind Teiresias, he will be the one
to tell you how your journey will go.

Odysseus- Hades? Are you mad? There has been no such voyage in the past, and in a ship
no less!!!

Circe- Do not worry, the North Wind will take you where you need to go. Once you
speak with Teiresias, you may encounter some troubles with the souls. Ignore them and
go on.

Odysseus - But where to next?

Right here is when Odysseus would normally leave and go to Hades. Now, instead of
coming back for Elpenor to find out where he needs to go next, Circe will tell him
now. We cut Elpenor completely to avoid the need for the second trip.

Circe- This one is to your judgment! There are two paths to take - one leads to the soft-
spoken six-headed monster known as Scylla. She will undoubtedly devour the heads of
many of your men. The other path leads to Charybdis, a whirpool so powerful it will suck
in your entire ship and not one trace will be left behind.

Odysseus - I will have to dwell upon this choice…

Circe- Think long and hard for it does not end there! Nest you will come to the island of
Thrinacia, home of Helios and his herds. His herds of sheep and cattle never have young
and never age. Do not disturb the health of these animals and you may just reach Ithaca.

Odysseus - A great thanks to you, fair Circe! I must be off if I am to reach Hades.

Circe - May you succeed, O great Odysseus!

And as Odysseus sets sail, Circe gives him one last favor and gives them a steady wind to
sail to Hades.