Odyssey 10.401 · Book 10, lines 401–405
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Circe — διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ, ἔρχεο νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης. νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσατε ἤπειρόνδε, κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσατε ὅπλα τε πάντα· αὐτὸς δʼ ἂψ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.
God-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, go now to the swift ship and the shore of the sea. First of all draw the ship up onto the land, and stow your goods and all the gear in the caves; and come back yourself and bring your trusty comrades.
Word by word
The setting
Circe speaks. Odysseus's whole crew is not yet here — the ship and most of the men still wait on the shore where he beached them. She sends him to fetch them, and to secure the ship and cargo first.
A note on this passage
Circe turns hostess. The danger is over; now come the housekeeping orders of a proper welcome — beach the ship, store the cargo in the caves, gather the rest of the crew and bring them up. The enemy is issuing the commands of xenia, guest-friendship.
Her greeting is the full heroic address, διογενές … πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ, the same honorific formula the poem gives Odysseus everywhere. In Circe's mouth it marks the reversal: the witch who could not master him now names him with the titles due an honored guest. Hauling the ship ashore is also a quiet signal — this crew will not be leaving soon.
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