Lewis, C.S.

Vitrea Circe

1. The name of Circe
2. Is wrongly branded
3. (Though Homer’s verses
4. Portrayed her right)
5. By heavy-handed
6. And moral persons
7. Misunderstanding
8. Her danger bright.
9.  
10. She used not beauty
11. For man’s beguiling,
12. She craved no suitor;
13. Sea-chances brought
14. To her forest-silent
15. And crimson-fruited
16. And snake-green island
17. Her guests unsought.
18.  
19. She watched those drunken
20. And tarry sailors
21. Eat nectar-junket
22. And Phoenix-nests;
23. Each moment paler
24. With pride, she shrank at
25. Their leering, railing,
26. Salt-water jests.
27.  
28. They thought to pluck there
29. Her rosial splendour?
30. They thought their luck there
31. Was near divine?
32. When the meal ended
33. She rose and struck them
34. With wand extended
35. And made them swine.
36.  
37. With smiles and kisses
38. No man she tempted;
39. She scorned love’s blisses
40. And toils, until
41. There came, undream’t of,
42. The tough Ulysses,
43. From fate exempted
44. By Pallas’ will.
45.  
46. Then flashed above her
47. (Poor kneeling Circe,
48. Her snares discovered)
49. The Hero’s blade.
50. She lay at his mercy,
51. His slave, his lover,
52. Forgot her curses,
53. Blushed like a maid.
54.  
55. She’d none to warn her,
56. He hacked and twisted
57. Her hedge so thorny;
58. It let him pass.
59. Her awful distance,
60. Her vestal scornings,
61. Were bright as crystals,
62. They broke like glass.