Dear friends, more than one man, or two, should know those things Circe foresaw for us and shared with me, so let me tell her forecast: then we die with our eyes open, if we are going to die, or know what death we baffle if we can. Sirens weaving a haunting song over the sea we are to shun, she said, and their green shore all sweet with clover; yet she urged that I alone should listen to their song. Therefore you are to tie me up, tight as a splint, erect along the mast, lashed to the mast, and if I shout and beg to be untied, take more turns of the rope to muffle me'
The crew were on their feet briskly, to furl the sail, and stow it; then, each in place, they poised the smooth oar blades and sent the white foam scudding by. I carved a massive cake of beeswax into bits and rolled them in my hands until they softened- no long task, for a burning heat came down from Helios, lord of high noon. Going forward I carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears.
They tied me up, then, plumb amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, and took themselves again to rowing.
Soon, as we came smartly within hailing distance, the two Sirens, noting our fast ship off their point, made ready, and they sang.
The lovely voices in ardor appealing over the water made me crave to listen, and I tried to say Untie me!' to the crew, jerking my brows; but they bent steady to the oars. Then Perimedes got to his feet, he and Eurylochus, and passed more line about, to hold me still.
Untie me!!
So all rowed on, until the Sirens dropped under the sea rim, and their singing dwindled away.