Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, was a Greek goddess or nymph known for her ability as a sorceress. She lived on the remote island of Aeaea and played a part in the adventures of several Greek heroes, including the Argonauts and later Odysseus.
Argument Adventures with Aeolus, the Laestrygons, and Circe Ulysses arrives at the island of AEolus, who gives him prosperous winds, and incloses the adverse ones in a bag, which his companions untying, they are driven back again and rejected. Then they sail to the Laestrygons, where they lose eleven ships, and, with only one remaining, proceed to the island of Circe. Eurylochus is sent first ...
Strait Circe reddens with a guilty shame, And vows revenge for her rejected flame. Fierce liking oft a spight as fierce creates; For love refus’d, without aversion, hates. To hurt her hapless rival she proceeds; And, by the fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds. Some fascinating bev’rage now she brews; Compos’d of deadly drugs, and baneful juice.
By Circe given, and fly the dangerous prey.’ ‘Thus I: and while to shore the vessel flies, With hands uplifted they attest the skies: Then, where a fountain’s gurgling waters play, They rush to land, and end in feasts the day: They feed; they quaff; and now (their hunger fled) Sigh for their friends devour’d, and mourn the dead;