Latin · Unit 40

Ulysses

Fabulae Faciles

Ulysses, a famous Greek hero, took a prominent part in the long siege of Troy. After the fall of the city, he set out with his followers on his homeward voyage to Ithaca, an island of which he was king; but being driven out of his course by northerly winds, he was compelled to touch at the country of the Lotus-eaters, who are supposed to have lived on the north coast of Africa. Some of his comrades were so delighted with the lotus fruit that they wished to remain in the country, but Ulysses compelled them to embark again and continued his voyage. He next came to the island of Sicily, and fell into the hands of the giant Polyphēmus, one of the Cyclōpes. After several of his comrades had been killed by this monster, Ulysses made his escape by stratagem and reached the country of the winds. Here he received the help of Aeolus, king of the winds, and having set sail again, arrived within sight of Ithaca; but owing to the folly of his companions, the winds became suddenly adverse and he was again driven back. He then touched at an island which was the home of Circe, a powerful enchantress, who exercised her charms on his companions and turned them into swine. By the help of the god Mercury, Ulysses not only escaped this fate himself, but also forced Circe to restore her victims to human shape. After staying a year with Circe, he again set out and eventually reached his home.

147 lines

Homeward Bound (Fabulae Faciles 81)

1
It is well enough agreed that the city of Troy was besieged by the Greeks for ten years; for about this war Homer, the greatest of the Greek poets, wrote that very famous work the Iliad.
Urbemurbs: city
TrōiamTroia: Troia
āa: from, by, off
GraecīsGraeci: the Greeks
decemten
annōsannus: year
obsessamobsideo: blockade, besiege, invest, beset
essesum: be; exist
satisenough, sufficiently
cōnstat;consto: agree/correspond/fit, be correct
dēde: down from; concerning
hōchic: this
enimfor, in fact, indeed.
bellōbellum: war
Homērus,Homerus: Homerus (a name)
māximusmagnus: great, large
poētārumpoeta: poet
Graecōrum,Graeci: the Greeks
ĪliademIliades: the Iliad
opuswork, task
nōtissimumnotus: well known, familiar, notable, famous, esteemed
scrīpsit.scribo: write
2
When Troy had at last been taken by a trick, the Greeks, tired by the long war, made haste to return home.
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Everything therefore being made ready for departure, they launched their ships, and having got suitable weather cast off with great joy.
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Among the foremost of the Greeks was a certain Ulysses, a man of the greatest courage and good sense, who some say devised that trick by which it is agreed that Troy was taken.
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He had held the kingship of the island of Ithaca, and a little before he set out for the war with the rest of the Greeks, he had taken in marriage a most beautiful girl, Penelope by name.
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Now therefore, since he had already spent ten years as if in exile, he burned with a great longing to see his native land and his wife.

Īliadem: the Iliad, from Iliades

The Lotus-eaters (Fabulae Faciles 82)

7
After they had gone forward a few miles from the shore of Troy, however, so great a storm suddenly arose that none of the ships could hold its course, but they were scattered, one in one direction and another in another.
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And the ship in which Ulysses himself sailed, carried south by the force of the storm, was driven ashore on the tenth day on the coast of Libya.
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Having cast anchor, Ulysses decided to set some of his companions ashore, to bring water back to the ship and to find out what the nature of that region was.
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These therefore, having gone out of the ship, were preparing to carry out their orders.
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While they were looking for a spring, however, they fell in with certain of the inhabitants and were received by them in hospitality.
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Now it happened that the greater part of the food of those men consisted of a certain strange fruit which they called the lotus.
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When the Greeks had tasted it, forgetting at once their native land and their companions, they declared that they would stay in that land forever, so as to feed on that sweet food without end.

disicerentur: break up
lōtum: lotus, flower of forgetfulness, from lotos
gustāssent: taste, sip, from gusto

The Rescue (Fabulae Faciles 83)

14
When Ulysses had waited from the seventh hour until evening, fearing that his companions were in danger, he sent some of the rest, to find out what the cause of the delay was.
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These therefore, having been set ashore, betook themselves to a village which was not far off; and when they had come there, they found their companions as if drunk with wine.
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Then, when they had explained the reason for their coming, they tried to persuade them to return with them to the ship.
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They, however, began to resist and to defend themselves with their hands, shouting again and again that they would never go away from that place.
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Since this was so, the messengers returned to Ulysses with their business unfinished.
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When he learned this, he himself came to the place with all who had been left in the ship; and having urged his companions in vain to return of their own accord, he tied their hands behind their backs and carried them off to the ship against their will.
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Then, having weighed anchor, he cast off from the harbor as quickly as possible.

ēbriōs: drunk, intoxicated, from ebrius
īnfectā: unfinished, undone, from infectus

The One-eyed Giant (Fabulae Faciles 84)

21
After they had strained at the oars all that night, on the next day they put in with their ship at an unknown land.
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Then, because he did not know the nature of that region, Ulysses himself, having gone ashore with twelve of his companions, decided to explore the place.
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Having gone forward a little from the shore they reached a huge cave, which they perceived was inhabited; for they noticed that its entrance was fortified both by the nature of the place and by hand.
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Soon, although they understood that they would not do it without danger, they entered the cave; and when they had done this, they found a great supply of milk stored in huge vessels.
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While they were wondering, however, who was living in that dwelling, they heard a terrible sound, and having turned their eyes to the doorway they saw a horrible monster, of human shape and figure indeed, but of huge size of body.
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And when they had noticed that the monster had only one eye, set in the middle of its forehead, they understood that this was one of the Cyclopes, of whom they had already heard report.

vāsīs: one who guarantees court appearance, from vasum
tortīs: pie, from torta

The Giant's Supper (Fabulae Faciles 85)

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The Cyclopes, moreover, were certain shepherds who lived on the island of Sicily and especially on Mount Etna; for there Vulcan, the master of smiths and the discoverer of fire, whose slaves the Cyclopes were, had his workshop.
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The Greeks therefore, as soon as they saw the monster, almost lifeless with terror fled into the inner part of the cave and tried to hide themselves there.
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But Polyphemus (for so the Cyclops was called) drove his flock into the cave; then, when he had blocked the doorway with a huge rock, he made a fire in the middle of the cave.
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When he had done this, he searched everything with his eye, and when he had perceived that there were men hidden in the inner part of the cave, he shouted in a great voice: "What men are you?
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Traders or robbers?" Then Ulysses answered that they were neither traders nor had come for the sake of plunder; but that, returning from Troy, they had been driven from their straight course by the force of the storms.
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He begged too that he be allowed to go away unharmed.
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Then Polyphemus asked where the ship was in which they had sailed; but Ulysses, since he understood well that he must take the greatest care, answered that his ship had been thrown onto the rocks and altogether broken up.
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Polyphemus, however, gave no answer, but seized two of the companions with his hand, and having torn their limbs apart began to devour the flesh.

repertor: discoverer, inventor
officīnam: workshop, from officina
interiōrem: inner, interior, from interior
obstrūxisset: block up, barricade, from obstruo
perlūstrābat: go or wander all through, from perlustro
redeuntīs: return, go back
praecavendum: guard, beware, from praecaveo
dīvulsīs: alienate, from divello

A Desperate Situation (Fabulae Faciles 86)

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While this was going on, so great a terror took hold of the Greeks' minds that they could not even utter a sound, but, all hope of safety given up, were waiting for death at hand.
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Polyphemus, after his hunger had been driven off by this so horrible a dinner, stretched himself on the ground and gave himself to sleep.
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When Ulysses had seen this, judging that so great a chance of doing something should not be let slip, he was on the point of piercing the monster's breast with his sword.
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Since, however, he thought that nothing should be done rashly, he decided to find out, before he did this, by what method they could get out of the cave.
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But when he had noticed the rock by which the entrance had been blocked, he understood that it would do him no good if he killed Polyphemus.
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For so great was the size of that rock that it could not be moved away even by ten men.
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Since this was so, Ulysses gave up this attempt and returned to his companions; and they, when they understood in what position matters stood, with no hope of safety offered them began to despair of their fortunes.
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He, however, urged them strongly not to lose heart; he pointed out that he had already before this escaped from many great dangers, and that there was no doubt that in so great a crisis the gods would bring help.

A Plan for Vengeance (Fabulae Faciles 87)

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At daybreak Polyphemus, now roused from sleep, did the same as on the day before; for having seized two of the remaining men he devoured their flesh without delay.
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Then, when he had moved the rock away, he himself went out of the cave with his flock; and when the Greeks saw this, they came into a great hope that they would escape shortly.
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Soon, however, they were driven back from this hope; for Polyphemus, after all the sheep had gone out, put the rock back in its place.
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The rest gave themselves up to lamenting and tears, all hope of safety given up; but Ulysses, who, as we have shown above, was a man of great resource, although he understood that the matter was in a crisis, was not yet altogether in despair.
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At last, after he had thought long over this with his whole mind, he formed this plan.
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Out of the wood which had been stored in the cave he chose a great stake.
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This he made sharp at the point with the greatest care; then, after he had shown his companions what he wanted done, he waited for the return of Polyphemus.

hesternō: of yesterday, from hesternus
praeacūtum: be in charge, from praeacuo

A Glass Too Much (Fabulae Faciles 88)

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Towards evening Polyphemus returned to the cave, and dined in the same way as before.
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Then Ulysses brought out a skin of wine, which by chance (a thing which was his salvation) he had brought with him; and after he had filled a great cup with the wine, he challenged the monster to drink.
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Polyphemus, who had never tasted wine before, at once drained the whole cup; and when he had done this, he felt such pleasure that he ordered the cup to be filled a second and a third time.
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Then, when he had asked by what name Ulysses was called, he answered that he was called Nobody; and when he had heard this, Polyphemus spoke thus: "This is the thanks I will give you for so great a kindness; I will devour you last of all." When he had said this, heavy with food and wine he lay back and was in a short time overcome by sleep.
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Then Ulysses called his companions together and said, "We have the chance we were looking for; let us not then let slip so great an opportunity of doing something."

prōmpsit: take, from promo

The Blinding of Polyphemus (Fabulae Faciles 89)

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When he had made this speech, after he had heated the end of the stake in the fire, he bored through the eye of the sleeping Polyphemus with the burning wood; and when this had been done they all hid themselves in different parts of the cave.
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But he, roused suddenly from sleep by that pain in his eye, raised a terrible shout, and while he was wandering through the cave, kept trying to catch Ulysses with his hand; since, however, he was now completely blind, he could in no way accomplish this.
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Meanwhile the other Cyclopes, having heard the shouting, gathered at the cave from every side, and standing at the entrance asked what Polyphemus was doing, and for what reason he had raised so great a shout.
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He answered that he had been seriously wounded and was suffering great pain.
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When, however, they had afterwards asked who had done him violence, he answered that Nobody had done it; and when they heard this, one of the Cyclopes said: "But if nobody has wounded you, there is no doubt that you are suffering this punishment by the plan of the gods, whom we can neither resist nor wish to." When he had said this the Cyclopes went away, judging that he had fallen into madness.

calefēcit: make warm, from calefacio
perfōdit: bore, from perfodio
caecus: blind
īnsāniam: insanity, madness, from insania

The Escape (Fabulae Faciles 90)

60
When Polyphemus perceived that his companions had gone away, driven by madness and frenzy he began to look for Ulysses again; at last, when he had found the doorway, he moved away the rock by which it had been blocked, so that the flock might go out into the fields.
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Then he himself sat down in the entrance, and as each sheep came to this place, he handled its back with his hands, so that the men could not go out among the sheep.
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When Ulysses had noticed this, he understood that all hope of safety lay in trickery rather than in courage.
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And so he formed this plan.
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First he chose the three fattest of the sheep he saw, and when he had tied them together with withies, he put one of his companions under their bellies in such a way that he was completely hidden; then he drove the sheep, carrying the man with them, to the doorway.
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It happened as he had suspected it would.
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For Polyphemus, after he had handled the backs of the sheep with his hands, let them pass by.
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When Ulysses saw that the thing had turned out so happily, he sent out all his companions in turn in the same way; and when this had been done he himself got out last.

viminibus: twig, shoot, from vimen
subiēcit: throw under, place under, from subicio

Out of Danger (Fabulae Faciles 91)

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When this had been carried out in this way, Ulysses, fearing that Polyphemus might notice the trick, hurried with his companions to the shore as quickly as possible; and when they had come there, they were received with great joy by those who had been left as a guard for the ship.
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For these, having now waited three days together with anxious minds for their return, suspecting that they had fallen into some great danger (which indeed was the case), were preparing to go out themselves for the sake of helping them.
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Then Ulysses, judging it not safe enough to stay in that place, decided to set out as quickly as possible.
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He ordered them all therefore to board the ship, and having weighed anchor he moved out a little from the shore into the deep.
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Then he shouted in a great voice: "You, Polyphemus, who scorn the laws of hospitality, have paid the just and deserved penalty of your savagery." When he heard this voice, Polyphemus, violently moved by anger, betook himself to the sea, and when he understood that the ship had moved a little way from the shore, he snatched up a huge rock in his hand and hurled it in that direction from which he perceived the voice was coming.
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The Greeks, however, although they came within little of being sunk, held their course with no loss taken.

auxiliandī: help, from auxilio
profisīscī: speak out
submergerentur: plunge under, submerge, from submergo

The Country of the Winds (Fabulae Faciles 92)

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Having gone forward a few miles from that place, Ulysses put in with his ship at the island of Aeolia.
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This was the native land of the winds,
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"Here in a vast cave King Aeolus holds down with his rule the struggling winds and the roaring storms, and curbs them with chains and a prison."
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There the king himself received the Greeks in hospitality, and persuaded them to wait a few days in that region to recover their strength.
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On the seventh day, when his companions had recovered from their labors, Ulysses, so as not to be shut out from sailing by the time of year, decided that he must set out without delay.
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Then Aeolus, who knew that Ulysses was most eager to see his native land, gave him, as he was now about to set out, a great sack made of leather, in which he had shut up all the winds except one.
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He had let loose only the West Wind, because that wind is favorable for one sailing from the island of Aeolia to Ithaca.
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Ulysses gladly accepted this gift, and having given thanks for so great a kindness he tied the sack to the mast.
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Then, everything being made ready for departure, he cast off from the harbor at about midday.

antrō: cave, from antrum
luctantīs: wrestle, from luctor
frēnat: brake, curb, from freno
recuperandās: regain, restore
vīrīs: venom, poisonous secretion of snakes, from virus
commorārentur: stop, abide
nāvigātiōne: sailing, from navigatio
exclūderētur: shut out, shut off, from excludo
saccum: sack, bag, from saccus
coriō: skin, from corion

The Wind-bag (Fabulae Faciles 93)

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For nine days they held their course with a most favorable wind, and they had already come into sight of their native land, when Ulysses, worn out with weariness (for he himself was steering), lay back to take rest.
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But his companions, who had long been wondering what was shut up in that sack, when they saw their leader overcome by sleep, judged that so great a chance should not be let slip; for they believed that gold and silver were hidden there.
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And so, led on by the hope of gain, they untied the sack without delay, and when this had been done the winds
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"rush out, as if a column had been formed, by the gate that is given them, and blow across the lands in a whirlwind."
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At this so great a storm suddenly arose that they could not hold their course but were carried back to the same quarter from which they had set out.
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Ulysses, roused from sleep, understood at once in what position the matter stood; he saw the sack untied and Ithaca left behind his back.
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Then indeed he blazed up violently with anger and kept scolding his companions because, led on by greed for money, they had thrown away the hope of seeing their native land.

lucrī: gain, profit, from lucrum
perflant: blow through or over, from perflo
solūtum: bottom, ground

A Drawing of Lots (Fabulae Faciles 94)

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After a short interval the Greeks drew near a certain island on which Circe, the daughter of the Sun, lived.
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When he had put in with his ship there, Ulysses decided that he must go ashore for the sake of getting grain; for he had learned that the grain which they had in the ship was already running short.
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Having called his companions together to him, therefore, he showed them in what position the matter stood and what he wanted done.
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Since, however, they all kept in memory by how cruel a death those had been killed who had lately gone out of the ship, no one was found who was willing to take on this task.
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Since this was so, the matter was brought to a dispute.
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At last Ulysses, with everyone's agreement, divided his companions into two parts, over one of which Eurylochus, a man of the greatest courage, and over the other he himself was to be in charge.
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Then these drew lots between themselves as to which of the two should go ashore.
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When this had been done, it fell to Eurylochus by lot to take on the task with twenty-two companions.

frūmentandī: get grain, forage, from frumentor
repertus: discovery

The House of the Enchantress (Fabulae Faciles 95)

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When this had been settled in this way, those to whom it had fallen by lot set out for the inner part of the island.
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So great a fear, however, had taken hold of their minds that they did not doubt at all that they were going to meet their death.
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Indeed those who had been left in the ship could scarcely hold back their tears; for they believed that they would never see their companions after this time.
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They, however, having gone forward some distance, reached a certain house built with the greatest magnificence, and when they had come up to its door, they heard a most sweet singing.
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So great, moreover, was the sweetness of that voice that they could in no way be held back from knocking at the door.
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When this had been done Circe herself came out, and with the greatest kindness invited them all in as guests.
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Eurylochus, suspecting that a trap was being prepared for him, decided to wait outside, but the rest, drawn on by the newness of the thing, went in.
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They found a magnificent dinner furnished with everything, and at the mistress's bidding reclined at table most gladly.
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But Circe had mixed a certain drug with the wine which the slaves set before them; and when the Greeks had drunk it, they were suddenly overcome with a heavy sleep.

aliquantum: certain quantity, from aliquantus
dulcēdō: sweetness, agreeableness
retinērī: retina
forās: out of doors, abroad
benīgnitāte: kindness, courtesy, from benignitas
medicāmentō: drug, remedy, from medicamentum

The Charm (Fabulae Faciles 96)

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Then Circe, who had the greatest knowledge of the magic art, touched their heads with a golden wand which she carried; and when this had been done they were all suddenly turned into pigs.
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Meanwhile Eurylochus, not knowing what was going on in the house, sat at the door; after he had waited, however, until sunset with an anxious and troubled mind, he decided to go back alone to the ship.
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When he had come there, he was so shaken by anxiety and fear that he could scarcely tell clearly what he had seen.
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Ulysses, however, understood well enough that his companions were in danger, and having snatched up his sword he ordered Eurylochus to show him the way to that house without delay.
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He, however, with many tears embraced Ulysses and began to beg him not to put himself into so great a danger; if anything more serious happened to him, the safety of them all would be in the greatest crisis.
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Ulysses, however, answered that he would bring no one with him against his will; that he was free, if he preferred, to stay in the ship; that he himself would take on the matter without any escort.
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When he had said this in a great voice, he leapt down from the ship and, with no one following, took to the road alone.

porcōs: sow, female swine, from porcus
sollicitūdine: anxiety, concern, from sollicitudo
dīlūcidē: plainly, clearly

The Countercharm (Fabulae Faciles 97)

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Having gone forward some distance he reached a magnificent house, and when he had searched it with his eyes, he decided to go in at once; for he understood that this was the same house of which Eurylochus had made mention.
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But when he was on the point of crossing the threshold, suddenly a young man of most beautiful form, carrying a golden wand, stood in his way.
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He seized by the hand Ulysses, who was now entering the house, and said, "Where are you rushing?
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Do you not know that this is the house of Circe?
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Here your friends are shut up, turned from human shape into pigs.
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Surely you do not want to come into the same disaster yourself?" As soon as Ulysses heard the voice, he recognized the god Mercury; yet by no entreaties could he be turned away from the plan he had set himself.
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When Mercury had perceived this, he gave him a certain herb, which he said availed much against spells.
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"Take this," he said, "and when Circe has touched you with her wand, see that you draw your sword and make an attack on her." After Mercury had made an end of speaking,
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"he left mortal sight in the middle of his speech, and far off vanished from the eyes into thin air."

dēterrērī: deter, from deterreo
vīsūs: strength, force

The Enchantress is Foiled (Fabulae Faciles 98)

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After a short interval Ulysses, ready to undergo every danger, knocked at the door, and when the doors had been opened he was received kindly by Circe herself.
124
Everything was done in the same way as before.
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He saw a dinner magnificently furnished and was told to take his place at table.
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Soon, when his hunger had been driven off by the food, Circe gave Ulysses a golden cup filled with wine.
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Although he suspected that poison had been prepared for him, he drained the cup; and when this had been done Circe, after she had touched his head with her wand, spoke those words with which she had before turned his companions into pigs.
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The thing, however, turned out altogether otherwise than she had hoped.
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For so great was the power of that herb which Mercury had given Ulysses that neither the poison nor the words could accomplish anything.
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Ulysses, moreover, as he had been instructed, drew his sword and made an attack on her and kept threatening her with death.
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When Circe perceived that her art availed nothing, with many tears she began to beg him not to take her life.

minitābātur: threaten, use threats, from minito

Men once More (Fabulae Faciles 99)

132
But when Ulysses perceived that she was thoroughly terrified, he demanded that she bring his companions back into human shape without delay (for he had been informed by the god Mercury that they had been turned into pigs); and he made clear that unless this was done, he would exact the penalty owed.
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Circe, seriously moved by this, threw herself at his feet, and with many tears swore an oath that she would do everything he had commanded.
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Then she ordered the pigs to be let into the hall.
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At the signal given they rushed in, and when they had recognized their leader, they were filled with great grief because they could in no way inform him of their own case.
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Circe, however, anointed their bodies with a certain ointment; and when this had been done they were all at once brought back into human shape.
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With great joy Ulysses recognized his friends, and sent a messenger to the shore, to tell the rest of the Greeks that their companions had been recovered.
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They, when they learned this, betook themselves at once to the house of Circe; and when they had come there, they all gave themselves up to rejoicing.

factūram: creation, from factura
Circaeam: of Circe

Afloat Again (Fabulae Faciles 100)

139
On the day after that Ulysses had it in mind to leave this island as quickly as possible.
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Circe, however, when she had learned this, turned from hatred to love and began with every entreaty to beg and implore him to stay with her a few days; and when she had at last obtained this, she heaped such kindnesses on him that he was easily persuaded to stay longer.
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After he had spent a whole year with Circe, however, Ulysses was moved by a great longing for his native land.
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Having called his companions together to him, therefore, he showed them what he had in mind.
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When he went down to the shore, however, he found his ship so battered by the storms that it was almost useless for sailing.
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When he had learned this he ordered everything that would be of use for repairing the ships to be got together, and in this matter they all used such diligence that they finished the work before the third day.
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But when Circe saw that everything was ready for departure, she took the thing hard and begged Ulysses strongly to give up that plan.
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He, however, so as not to be shut out from sailing by the time of year, judged that he must hurry, and having got suitable weather he cast off.
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Many dangers indeed had to be undergone by Ulysses before he reached his own country, which, however, it would take long to write out in this place.

odiō: hate, from odium
obtestārī: call to witness, from obtestor
dēsīderiō: desire, from desiderium
mōtus: movement, motion

The particulars

The course: Paine and Mainwaring, Prīmus Annus (Oxford, 1912) and Secundus Annus (1917); Appleton and Jones, Puer Rōmānus (1913); D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Boston, 1911); Ritchie, Fabulae Faciles (1903). Public domain. The teaching pages, the glosses and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud: Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The app: The course on your phone, with the drills, your place kept and the audio offline.
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The book: The Aeneid, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
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