Excerpt - from the ODYSSEY: Circe stood in the doorway. She smiled."Come on into my palace," she said.The men followed her invitation.Only Eurylochus, their leader, stayed outside, because he was smarter than the rest. He reminded himself of the misfortunes they had suffered during their journey. So, he was full of distrust.Circe led the way, the men followed her into the halls of her palace, where stood beautiful chairs."They are for you," she said. "Take a seat."The men sat down.Female servants came almost immediately. They had cheese, milk, and honey, which they poured into a bowl, and Circe kneaded dough with them to make tasty breads. When nobody was looking, she slipped some soup stock into the ingredients. It was a very special juice. Whoever consumed a couple of drops of this fluid lost all human features.So, shortly after the men had eaten the bread of Circe, they all turned into pigs "What is all this squeaking and squealing," Circe said and took them to the sty.Now, instead of tasty bread, they only got corn to eat. Eurylochus saw everything from a safe distance. He ran back shaking, to tell the Greeks what had happened to their comrades.When he reached their anchored ship, he was so agitated that he was unable to utter a word. Every time he opened his mouth, he began to cry. Finally, he calmed down and could tell the men of the terrible fate their comrades had suffered.When Odysseus heard the terrible story, he tied his sword around his shoulders and took his bow."You lead the way to the palace," he commanded Eurylochus, "and show me everything ""You better not go there, king " Eurylochus begged. He sat down and hugged his knees. "Or else we will not come back. Like our comrades. They are lost. We better get back on our ship and sail away "Odysseus agreed to let Eurylochus stay and he went on his own.On the way, a young man stood in his way. He held a rod in his hands, entwined by two golden snakes. That helped Odysseus recognize him as Hermes, a messenger of the gods.He waved at Odysseus. "Why are you stumbling through these high woods without a clue?" he asked. "You know that your men were turned into pigs and locked away by Circe. It seems you are going out to help them. But watch out, Circe will turn you into a pig as well and put you in a pigpen. Or, you can protect yourself with this herb." Hermes bowed to pick up a snow-white flower at his feet and pulled it out of the ground with the whole of its long and black root intact."This is moly," he said and held it out to Odysseus. "Circe will make you something tasty to eat. And when nobody is looking, she will secretly put her magic juice in there. The moly herb will prevent you from turning into an animal when you eat Circe's food. She will then touch you with her foot-long magic wand. At that moment you will pull out your sword and hold it to her throat. Tell her that you will not do anything to her if she gives you back your men, but otherwise you will cut off her head."Those were the words of Hermes and, having spoken, he disappeared.Uneasy, and with his head full of thoughts, Odysseus continued on his way to the palace of Circe. Once there, he knocked on the door.Circe opened it. She was in a good mood."Come on in," she said, and Odysseus entered her chambers.She led the way to a very beautiful chair."Take a seat," she offered.Odysseus sat down.Circe brought a padded footstool. "It is much more comfortable this way," she said and put it under his feet.Then she started to whip up her magic dough.She gave Odysseus some and watched him eat it all from the other side of the hall.All of sudden, she had her magic wand in her hand and pointed it through the room."Hush-hush," she said, "you pig-into the sty to your men you go "When Odysseus heard these words, he pulled out his sword and ran through the hall towards the sorceress ...