Proceeding a few miles from that place, Ulysses came to Aeolian Island. Aeolus, king of the winds, lived here, and he accepted the Greeks kindly. They ate for a few days in the island. The seventh day, when all had recovered themselves from exertion, Ulysses, so as not to be hindered for a year's time from the voyage, wished to set out on the journey. Then King Aeolus, because he knew Ulysses greatly desired to see his homeland, so he gave a large sac to him in which all the winds were enclosed safely. He released a warm west wind only because this wind navigated to Ithaca was from the aid of Aeolus. Ulysses gladly accepted this gift, and gave thanks for so much kindness.
For nine days the Greeks kept course by means of the favorable wind, and they came immediately in sight of their homeland. Then Ulysses decided to recline tired from the labors; but yet comrades, who a long time ago had seen that there may be something in this sac, saw when he slept, released the sac. They believed indeed gold and silver to be concealed in the sac. And thus influenced by the expectation of loot, they did not obey their leader. Immediately the winds erupted out from the sac and so great was a gale that they were not able to hold course, but they were returned from whence the departure.
Ulysses aroused out of sleep immediately knew why he might be in the place from the situation. He was most angry with the crew and saw they might be in great danger. The storm had returned the Greeks to the island of Aeolus. Aeolus with great anger told all the gods that Ulysses and his comrades to be personal enemies, never wishing to aid the Greeks in their journey.
After a short break in distance, the Greeks approached these islands, in which Circe, daughter of the god of the sun, lived. He placed with Ulysses's ship, there he determined to seek grain. And thus summoning his friends to him, who were in other places, and he showed everyone **** fleece (?). Because however all held the recent memory and of the dead who before they cruelly left behind, no one was discovered to undertake this task.
At last Ulysses divided his friends into two parts, Eurylochus for who was in the other, a man of great virtues, proceeded with this other one. Then this of the two was selected by lot among themselves which, of the two, proceeded doubtfully into the land. Eurylochus began with difficulty the matter together with the fate of the gods and his twenty comrades while Ulysses awaited the return of his uneasy friends.