Chapter IX

The same as Scenes II and IV. The banquet-hall. The common chairs have been removed. There are cups and a bowl on the table at the Right. The Enchantress and her three nymphs are in their usual places when the curtain rises: CIRCE sitting; PHILINNA and THERMIA standing; MYRTO seated at her wheel which she turns slowly. The attitude of the persons is one of expectancy. In a moment CIRCE, without turning her face, signs to MYRTO with her left hand while with the right she draws the wand on the table nearer. The wheel ceases to revolve.

CIRCE

Now Thermia!

[_THERMIA throws open the door behind the dais. An instant later ULYSSES enters, slowly but unhesitatingly, pausing as he stands on the platform exactly where MERCURY stood in Scene II. His look is directed straight at the Enchantress. His right arm is crossed downward upon his breast, the hand under the mantle. A trace of wonder or fascination passes over his face on meeting CIRCE’S gaze, while a similar feeling of surprise is for a moment betrayed by her also. As she speaks she rises from her chair._]

CIRCE

Welcome, sir leader!

[_ULYSSES bows slightly. He does not remove his helmet._]

Thou art
Too far by thine own men outstripp’d, even though
Their famish’d weary members sought repose
Prompt and appropriate.

[_ULYSSES bends his look more sternly upon the speaker._]

Pray advance; and take
From our own hand, though proffer’d late,
Cordial refreshment.

[_He moves slowly forward. PHILINNA draws well back the throne of CIRCE and presents the other one. With a gracious gesture CIRCE waves ULYSSES toward the second throne. He passes in front of her and seats himself. She sits again, served by PHILINNA._]

Thy silence augurs much
Of rude unfriendly greetings and rebuff
Elsewhere.

[_While speaking she fills a beaker from the bowl._]

But here are restful words and welcome
Right hospitable.

[_Her right hand closes firmly over the wand, while with the left she presents the cup._]

So drink and be at peace!

[_Still keeping his eye fixed upon CIRCE, ULYSSES raises the cup to his lips and drains it. Immediately the gracious look of the Enchantress changes. Rising partly in her seat and bending forward, she strikes him smartly with her wand and holds it threateningly as she speaks._]

CIRCE

Hence to the sty! Go, join thy wallowing mates!

[_Instantly, feeling that the potion has not harmed him, ULYSSES springs erect, swiftly draws his sword and raising it aloft rushes upon the Enchantress as if to kill her. With a loud cry she starts back, causing the throne to slide away behind her; then dropping her wand she springs forward under the threatening sword-arm in suppliant attitude. PHILINNA, at first shrinking back in terror, directly as CIRCE falls at ULYSSES’ feet follows her; and kneeling, shelters her mistress’ head with her right arm, while the left is raised in deprecating gesture. At the same time THERMIA starts a step forward with her right hand lifted, the left pressed to her bosom. MYRTO, after a first look of alarm, reaches behind her and throws open the Left rear door, where_ Mikkos _appears. He seems excited. MYRTO seizes his chain. At the Right rear entrance, GRAEA is seen glaring furtively into the room.—CIRCE speaks as ULYSSES seems to hesitate to strike the fatal blow._]

CIRCE

What man art thou? What mortal hath this wonder
Unheard of wrought, these potions to abide?
For never, never did other lips unblighted
Press the drugg’d bowl, save thine!—Ah, yes; ’twas true:
_Ulysses_ thou art, whom Mercury foretold,
From Trojan field thy lone bark homeward steering.
He, he hath found thee moly! And I thought
It were Eurylochus, whom his followers named;
The craven, the woman-hater!

[_ULYSSES lowers his weapon, still grasping it firmly. His stern look relaxes slightly as CIRCE and PHILINNA, kneeling, lift their faces to him with aspect softened to the expression of pleading. THERMIA steps nearer, intently observing the scene; while GRAEA, entering the room, and MYRTO, holding_ Mikkos’ _chain, also move slightly forward. At this juncture all of the persons have come to form nearly a single group._]

CIRCE

O Ulysses!
Thrice valiant, thrice in wisdom proved, not thee
Would Circe in foul brutal shape behold;
But as thou art!—Return, return thy sword
To its safe cover!

[_ULYSSES steps back a pace, and CIRCE rises to her feet, holding the hand of PHILINNA who has risen first._]

What use have we for war,
Whom fate and fortune fashion’d to be friends?

[_With deliberation ULYSSES sheathes his sword, falling back still farther. CIRCE and PHILINNA move forward toward him._]

THERMIA

Happy are they who find a friend in Circe,
Sir stranger!

[_His countenance remains unmoved as he divides his attention between CIRCE and THERMIA after a suspicious glance at Mikkos and GRAEA._]

CIRCE

Nay, doubt not, but be refresh’d!

[_She signs to THERMIA, who shows ULYSSES to the throne which MERCURY had occupied in Scene II. As he sits he doffs his helmet, which THERMIA receives and hangs upon the wall. CIRCE resumes her seat. She speaks while THERMIA serves ULYSSES at the other table._]

And be thy mind at rest. No more of drifting
On the dark seas; sure knowledge shall illume
The pathways of thy homeward voyage, Ulysses.

[_A pause. With troubled look he barely tastes what is set before him._]

Ah, weary heart! why thus
Sit’st thou all-speechless, tasting not the food
Set guileless by thy hand? Believ’st thou not
My plain assurance and changed mood? Dost hold
The word of Circe in no honor because
With cunning art she baffles and disarms
The unworthy false petitioner?

ULYSSES

Fair Circe, dread enchantress, what true man
Could eat and be at comfort, whilst he knows
His trusty comrades lie imprison’d, bent low
To bestial habit?—Nay, if thy alter’d mien
Harbors indeed the good-will it portends,
Then first let me behold my men restored
To their own shapes. No falsehood stamp’d their errand,
Nor undeserving were they in themselves.

CIRCE

Deserve those well of their commander, who lose
His very name and tidings from their thoughts?

ULYSSES

Another led them; and, the leader failing,
The follower who forgets may be forgiven.

CIRCE

Eurylochus wins slight mercy by that word.

ULYSSES

Eurylochus won the birthright of the wary.

CIRCE

A father art thou to thy men, Ulysses:
Even as I guard with jealous motherly eye
The welfare of these nymphs. Nor hast thou long
To wait, ere the whole frolic throng shall make
My portals ring with greetings of their captain.
Not those alone whom we repress’d and punish’d
And for thy sake will pardon, but likewise they
Who tarry by the shore—for well I know
Wily Ulysses staked not all his forces
On a forlorn wild venture.—Nay, doubt not;
Even Eurylochus shall be reconciled!
Go, Graea; Myrto; seek the ship, and teach them
The way to find us. Leave not one unbidden!

ULYSSES

Great Circe, I will trust thee; ’tis sore need!
By thy sage guidance, or in no wise, we reach
The desired haven.

CIRCE

[_To MYRTO and GRAEA who have hesitated as if awaiting further command. They go out at Right C, accompanied by_ Mikkos.]

Speed now! the shadow creeps
Well past the noontide mark. Away, away!—
Noble Ulysses, thou shalt soon behold them.—
But first, my Thermia, show our gracious guest
The bathing chambers, where by warm showers assuaged
His long sea-weariness may release him.

[_ULYSSES bows to CIRCE. He unslings his sword, which THERMIA receives and hangs up near the helmet. She then conducts him out at Left 2. At the same moment when ULYSSES puts off his sword, PHILINNA lifts CIRCE’S wand from the floor where it had fallen._]

PHILINNA

[_Handing the wand to CIRCE, who receives it as it were unconsciously_]

O dearest lady!
What chance, what change befalls us? O! how dared
That strange, still man to lift his dreadful sword
As if to kill you? Are his devices stronger
Than your own arts? O, how could you pretend
To cherish and befriend him!

CIRCE

Nay, Philinna:
I am not feigning. Oft had I mused and ponder’d
On Mercury’s warning and Ulysses’ name.
Nor did I dread his coming. But strange haps
Disturb’d my vision and I knew him not.
My potions could indeed avail no longer,
Their cure and antidote once found. Yet never
Into unworthy hands do gods resign
Their priceless secrets. No; I would not harm
A man so strong and wise! It is the _first_!—
Now go, Philinna, and lay my simples ready,
Which for the counter-charm I shall employ,
To change his comrades back.

[_PHILINNA, who looks wonderingly at CIRCE and seems hardly to comprehend her demeanor, withdraws slowly, going out at Right 2. CIRCE casts a glance where ULYSSES had gone out; then, looking down at the wand held loosely in her hand, soliloquizes._]

Yes, yes; there is
No falsehood on the lip, when the heart guides
To new unwonted utterance, though it seem
All former strains and strivings to belie.
His coming I fear’d not; I rather craved
To behold the promised visitor whose shrewd wit
Should test my powers of magic and perchance
Turn them (as hath befallen) from woe to weal
For him and his. Yet till I saw I doubted;
Nor knew, first seeing.

[_She clasps her hands at her back, holding the wand behind her._]

O, there is a way
Surer than any drug, to bind wise hearts!
Wielding no wand of transformation, but
With fine invisible weapons to o’ercome
His might who seems to conquer; and reveal
What weakness lurks beneath. And Circe’s arts
(Which sooner aim to hinder than to harm)
Shall still fail not!

[_Re-enter THERMIA, who begins to put the table in order where Ulysses had been served._]

Fair Thermia, we shall need
Straightway new-garnish’d tables and the plenty
Of a redoubled evening banquet. Soon
That eager company, Myrto’s charge, will troop
Past porch and threshold to the expected board—
Not indisposed, I fancy, toward such welcome.—
Ay, forthwith, Thermia!

[_THERMIA sounds a whistle which hangs at her girdle, and other nymphs enter and proceed to deck the tables._]

Even our guest, their captain,
Will find his zest, when in good sooth he sees
His two ship-companies made one.—Ah, there;
Even now they come!

[_A clambering and murmur are heard. The door leading from the porch flies open, and ULYSSES’ company, headed by PHILEMON and XENIAS, enter precipitately, though not in rude disorder, their faces beaming with the excitement of wonder and expectancy. CIRCE stands at her usual place, holding the wand with her hands clasped in front of her, and PHILINNA appears at the door behind. THERMIA and her helpers desist from their task at the tables as the men enter, and draw back near the exits. The nymphs stand motionless and placid during the remainder of the scene, taking no part in the action and unnoticed by the other persons._]

PHILEMON

Madam, we’re a bit unceremonious, no doubt. But our errand’s an
urgent one; and we encountered an invitation after a manner, if
there be no mistake about it.

CIRCE

All ceremony shall be waived, good sir. What hap
Fosters this urgency?

PHILEMON

We’re _Ulysses’_ men, lady! come to seek him and deliver him—by
your leave. He cast off alone when the leader of the other
watch came back from here in such a blue funk; and he ordered
us to wait for him by the ship. But we felt a trifle uneasy,
after that yarn of snakes and fireworks Eurylochus spun for us,
and followed to help. We’d nigh about made the top, when we met
your two maids, ma’am, and the monkey. We knew they must hail
from some witch-pen or other for certain, when we spied such a
bunch of triplets, and we veered off a point or two at first;
but the little black-eyed one—she as had the ape in tow—spoke
us so fair and told such a straight story, how the commander
was safe and sound and everybody happy up here, and you had
sent specially to invite us, that we felt mighty encouraged to
believe her and headed straight for the top again, while they
went down to fetch Eurylochus;—especially seeing we had made up
our minds—begging your pardon again, lady—to effect an entrance
anyway.—But where is he?

CIRCE

Your entrance had been barr’d nowise, when once
You had named Ulysses—which your mates forgot,
And came to grief thereby.—But you shall see him.
There hangs his sword, his helm.
He comes; he has heard you!

[_ULYSSES enters at Left 2 behind the group of men, who turn quickly. His appearance is imposing, his dress brilliant._]

CIRCE

For me, I have another
Business to set on foot.—Philinna; ready?

[_PHILINNA signs affirmatively, and as ULYSSES greets his men CIRCE goes out at Right 2, PHILINNA remaining at the doorway._]

ULYSSES

Xenias! good Philemon!

[_All throng about their commander with hand-shaking and joyous exclamations._]

PHILEMON

’Tis you? You are here, sir?—and all right!
’Twas a true tale, then, by the great gods!

ULYSSES

Ah, you see I slipt not.

XENIAS

But it wasn’t long before we slipt after you! Mind you, sir, we
didn’t wait for the summons.

ULYSSES

’Twas a pardonable impatience, I acknowledge.

[_A voice raised in sharp tone of command, followed by a sudden uproar, is heard behind the scenes. CIRCE enters quickly at Right C, with her wand raised high, which as she comes in she lowers and points backward. Both the rear doors fly open. In their proper persons the men who were changed to swine burst in abruptly upon the scene, one or two or three at a time, stopping and gazing about them with puzzled and amazed expression. They rub their eyes or tap their foreheads, till gradually recollecting themselves they recognize their situation. The restored men seem to have gained in comeliness; their faces are fresh, their clothing is new, presenting a contrast to the well-worn garments of the other party. THERON appears even stouter than before; his cook’s cap and dress are dazzling white. ELPENOR, near him, has become sleeker, though no less slender than ever. All the men are serious; and the re-transformed exhibit profound emotion, weeping as they recognize their companions and the commander. The meeting is an occasion rather for action than for speech: its words are chiefly outcries and the ejaculation of familiar names. The throng becomes more calm and quiet when the Enchantress, who has herself been visibly moved, at length speaks, standing at the head of her table._]

CIRCE

Cease; cease, good men! Enough of tears! Yield now
To the bright hour; and from your much-tried hearts
Let present peace and comfort rub away
The black unhandsome stains of foul mischance.
Here stand ye face to face and hand to hand,
Unscathed, unconquer’d. Winds and wild seas and all
The weary thankless strain of laboring oar,
Duress and guile and hostile rude encounter,
Have but conspired to point you to the fairest
Of restful shores.—Ulysses, in good time,
After due respite, if thou cravest still
Some farther convoy, ’tis secure. But now
Mirth, pleasure, shall prevail.—Only there lacks
Yet one I would fain welcome, though himself
Of faint reciprocation.

ULYSSES

Gracious lady, I am confident that Eurylochus will conclude to
join us when once informed of our situation and finding himself
left permanently alone.

XENIAS

Belike he may take to the woods, your honor, when the triplets
heave in sight.

CIRCE

O, Mikkos will manage that!

ELPENOR

Eurylochus climbs trees.

THERON

Avast there! Mikkos is the monkey. Hast left thy memory in the
hog-pen, boy?

GLAUCUS

[_Who has been on the lookout_] Sail ho! They are boarding the
gangway already, ma’am.

[_Enter from the porch MYRTO, leading_ Mikkos; _then EURYLOCHUS; GRAEA behind him. The mate advances hesitatingly, but is closely followed up by the swine-maiden. As he perceives ULYSSES and the men his expression is partly of relief, partly of shamefacedness. His alarm has not entirely left him, but he casts shy and suspicious glances toward CIRCE while MYRTO speaks._]

MYRTO

We have fetched him, my lady, though I believe he never would
have been caught if there had not been three of us together.
We found him down by the little bay where their ship is
drawn ashore; and when he saw us he started to run into the
water. But Graea waded out farther than he dared to go. Then
he climbed up into the fig-tree; but Mikkos climbed up still
higher, so he had to come down directly where I was standing
close to the roots of it; although he seemed to fear me the
most of all.

ELPENOR

[_Interrupting_] You turn the whirligig.

MYRTO

We had him between us now, where he couldn’t get away; and I
assured him the captain was safe, and told him how we had just
met a party of his companions and invited them for you. For all
that he didn’t want to come; but Graea stood close behind him
and kept walking until we got him here.

[_The men do not laugh at EURYLOCHUS, though some smile faintly, and CIRCE is visibly amused._]

ULYSSES

[_Seriously_] Eurylochus, all is well. Be thyself again.
Bygones shall be bygones. There is naught to fear.

CIRCE

Indeed, sir, it is as your commander says. There is naught to
fear; and all is well, now that you have deigned to make up the
perfect number of my company, so the entertainment may proceed.
The tables are ready garnished, waiting for the viands only.
You shall all find seats.

[_All the men except EURYLOCHUS seat themselves in a quiet and orderly manner at both tables without discrimination of the two watches. ULYSSES sits at the head of the table by the dais. MYRTO and GRAEA have withdrawn to the back of the room. CIRCE, still standing, claps her hands and the nymphs at the exits disappear, to bring the courses._]

EURYLOCHUS

You make occasional exceptions no doubt, madam; nevertheless I
would take my oath upon it that _that_ was once a man!

[_He points at_ Mikkos, _who, released by MYRTO, has just jumped into his chair by CIRCE as she seats herself. The ape shows his teeth and begins to raise himself by the hands._]

CIRCE

[_Laughing_] That was a manful _thinker_ once. Sit; sit, kind
sir!

[_The curtain falls as EURYLOCHUS takes his seat near ULYSSES amid a buzz of merriment._]

END OF FIRST ACT