How did the Sirens tempt Odysseus?
The sirens tempt Odysseus by singing a song that promises to make him wiser if he listens to it. They promise to tell him all the ills that the gods laid upon the Argives and Trojans before Troy, and to tell him everything that is going to happen over the whole world, as well as the adventures he will experience. They also warn him of the Wanderers, two overhanging rocks against which the deep blue waves of Amphitrite beat with terrific fury, and that no ship that ever yet came to these rocks has got away again. Additionally, they promise to tell him about his course and explain everything to him so as to prevent him from suffering from misadventure either by land or sea. They also promise to tell him about his future, such as his return to Ithaca and his reunion with his mother, as well as the hospitality he will receive from his people. They also warn him of the dangers of the Thrinacian island, such as the herds of cattle and flocks of sheep belonging to the sun-god, and the destruction of his ship and crew if he harms them.
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“I had hardly finished telling everything to the men before we reached the island of the two Sirens,[102] for the wind had been very favourable. Then all of a sudden it fell dead calm; there was not a breath of wind nor a ripple upon the water, so the men furled the sails and stowed them; then taking to their oars they whitened the water with the foam they raised in rowing. Meanwhile I look a large wheel of wax and cut it up small with my sword. Then I kneaded the wax in my strong hands till it became soft, which it soon did between the kneading and the rays of the sun-god son of Hyperion. Then I stopped the ears of all my men, and they bound me hands and feet to the mast as I stood upright on the cross piece; but they went on rowing themselves. When we had got within earshot of the land, and the ship was going at a good rate, the Sirens saw that we were getting in shore and began with their singing.
“‘Come here,’ they sang, ‘renowned Ulysses, honour to the Achaean name, and listen to our two voices. No one ever sailed past us without staying to hear the enchanting sweetness of our song—and he who listens will go on his way not only charmed, but wiser, for we know all the ills that the gods laid upon the Argives and Trojans before Troy, and can tell you everything that is going to happen over the whole world.’ “They sang these words most musically, and as I longed to hear them further I made signs by frowning to my men that they should set me free; but they quickened their stroke, and Eurylochus and Perimedes bound me with still stronger bonds till we had got out of hearing of the Sirens’ voices. Then my men took the wax from their ears and unbound me.