Odyssey 10.422 · Book 10, lines 422–427
Beach the ship, then follow me
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ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προσέφην μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι·
Odysseus — νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσομεν ἤπειρόνδε, κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσομεν ὅπλα τε πάντα· αὐτοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνεσθε ἐμοὶ ἅμα πάντες ἕπεσθαι, ὄφρα ἴδηθʼ ἑτάρους ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης πίνοντας καὶ ἔδοντας· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχουσιν.
So they spoke; but I addressed them with gentle words: The ship, first of all, let us draw up onto the land, and stow the goods and all the gear in the caves; and you yourselves, all of you, bestir yourselves to follow along with me, so that you may see our comrades in the sacred halls of Circe drinking and eating; for they have unfailing plenty.
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The setting
Back at the shore, Odysseus's waiting crew have begged to hear how the lost comrades died. Instead of the tale, he gives them orders — and points them toward Circe's hall, where the rescued men are already feasting.
A note on this passage
Asked about the dead, Odysseus answers with work: haul the ship up the beach, stow the cargo and gear in the caves, then come with him. The reward he holds out is the sight of their comrades safe in Circe's halls, eating and drinking their fill.
The orders are also an evasion. He does not recount the ruin they asked for; he turns them from grief toward the feast. Managing frightened men by giving them tasks is the competence of a captain — and here it is exactly how Odysseus changes the subject.
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