Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SPELL OF CIRCE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SPELL OF CIRCE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When all his comrades drank the magic bowl
Last Line: To be a lawless, lazy, sensual brute.
Subject(s): Circe


WHEN all his comrades drank the magic bowl
Of crafty Circe, changing form and soul
Of men to brutes, -- wolves, lions, bears, and swine,
Ulysses only, full of strength divine,
And matchless wisdom, 'scaped the siren's snare;
Refused the tempting cup, and (triumph rare!)
Returned another mixed with so much skill
It charmed the charmer to the hero's will,
Till now she promised to restore his men
From beastly shapes to human forms again,
If so they willed: "Pray, let them freely choose,"
The siren said; "but what if they refuse?"
Straight to the brutes their ancient leader ran,
And thus, with joy, his eager tongue began:
"My presence here your quick release secures;
Speak but the word, -- for speech again is yours."
The lion answered first: "What, I? a king!
To change my state for such a paltry thing
As a mere cit or sailor? Let me be!
I'm always armed, for I have claws, you see!
As monarch of the forest now I range;
Thanks for your kindness, -- but I would not change."
Ulysses next approached the shaggy bear:
"Alas! how ill your form and face compare
With those, my friend, that you were wont to show
To courtly dames a little while ago!"
"Indeed," the bear replied, "my present form
Is one I find extremely nice and warm;
And as to features, sir, the ursine race
Have their own notions of a pretty face.
I well remember what I used to be, --
A shivering sailor on the stormy sea;
And, faith! old man, I tell you plump and square,
Compared with such, I'd rather be a bear!"
Next to the wolf the anxious hero came,
And begged the brute to change his ugly name
And office: "What! destroy the shepherd's flocks?
Sure, such a life a noble nature shocks;
Quit now, my old companion, while you can,
Your thieving trade, and be an honest man!"
"An honest man?" he howled, "nay, who d'ye mean?
Faith! that's a man that I have never seen!
And as to eating sheep, -- pray tell me when
They ceased to be the prey and food of men?
Savage? you say; why, men slay men, we find;
Wolves, at the worst, are wont to spare their kind!"
The hog came next. Change back? Not he! to tell
The honest truth, he liked his ease too well;
"Where will you find," grunts out the filthy swine,
"A life so blest with luxury as mine?
To eat and drink and sleep, -- grow plump and fat, --
What more, I ask, can mortal wish than that?"
So answered all the rest, the small and great,
Each quite contented with his beastly state;
Each spurning manhood and its joys to boot,
To be a lawless, lazy, sensual brute.





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