Odyssey 10.443 · Book 10, lines 443–445
The crew broker a peace
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the men — διογενές, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις, αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι· ἡμῖν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς δώματα Κίρκης.
God-born one, this man we will let be, if you so bid, to stay here beside the ship, and guard the ship; but for us, lead the way to the sacred halls of Circe.
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The setting
Odysseus has nearly killed Eurylochus for defying him. The crew step in with a compromise: leave Eurylochus behind at the ship, and lead the rest of them to Circe's house.
A note on this passage
The comrades defuse the moment. Leave this man be, they tell Odysseus, if that is your order — let him stay here and mind the ship — but lead the rest of us on to Circe's hall.
They call him “god-born” and bend to his will, choosing the hall over their frightened shipmate. Eurylochus was right about the danger, and the men side against him anyway. The pull of the captain, and of Circe's promised plenty, outweighs the one true warning that has been spoken.
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