hawsers； so they took their places and smote the grey sea with their
oars。 When we got to the land； which was not far； there； on the face
of a cliff near the sea； we saw a great cave overhung with laurels。 It
was a station for a great many sheep and goats； and outside there
was a large yard； with a high wall round it made of stones built
into the ground and of trees both pine and oak。 This was the abode
of a huge monster who was then away from home shepherding his
flocks。 He would have nothing to do with other people； but led the
life of an outlaw。 He was a horrid creature； not like a human being at
all； but resembling rather some crag that stands out boldly against
the sky on the top of a high mountain。
〃I told my men to draw the ship ashore； and stay where they were；
all but the twelve best among them； who were to go along with
myself。 I also took a goatskin of sweet black wine which had been
given me by Maron； Apollo son of Euanthes； who was priest of Apollo
the patron god of Ismarus； and lived within the wooded precincts of
the temple。 When we were sacking the city we respected him； and spared
his life； as also his wife and child； so he made me some presents of
great value… seven talents of fine gold； and a bowl of silver； with
twelve jars of sweet wine； unblended； and of the most exquisite
flavour。 Not a man nor maid in the house knew about it； but only
himself； his wife； and one housekeeper： when he drank it he mixed
twenty parts of water to one of wine； and yet the fragrance from the
mixing…bowl was so exquisite that it was impossible to refrain from
drinking。 I filled a large skin with this wine； and took a wallet full
of provisions with me； for my mind misgave me that I might have to
deal with some savage who would be of great strength； and would
respect neither right nor law。
〃We soon reached his cave； but he was out shepherding； so we went
inside and took stock of all that we could see。 His cheese…racks
were loaded with cheeses； and he had more lambs and kids than his pens
could hold。 They were kept in separate flocks； first there were the
hoggets； then the oldest of the younger lambs and lastly the very
young ones all kept apart from one another； as for his dairy； all
the vessels； bowls； and milk pails into which he milked； were swimming
with whey。 When they saw all this； my men begged me to let them
first steal some cheeses； and make off with them to the ship； they
would then return； drive down the lambs and kids； put them on board
and sail away with them。 It would have been indeed better if we had
done so but I would not listen to them； for I wanted to see the
owner himself； in the hope that he might give me a present。 When；
however； we saw him my poor men found him ill to deal with。
〃We lit a fire； offered some of the cheeses in sacrifice； ate others
of them； and then sat waiting till the Cyclops should come in with his
sheep。 When he came； he brought in with him a huge load of dry
firewood to light the fire for his supper； and this he flung with such
a noise on to the floor of his cave that we hid ourselves for fear
at the far end of the cavern。 Meanwhile he drove all the ewes
inside； as well as the she…goats that he was going to milk； leaving
the males； both rams and he…goats； outside in the yards。 Then he
rolled a huge stone to the mouth of the cave… so huge that two and
twenty strong four…wheeled waggons would not be enough to draw it from
its place against the doorway。 When he had so done he sat down and
milked his ewes and goats； all in due course； and then let each of
them have her own young。 He curdled half the milk and set it aside
in wicker strainers； but the other half he poured into bowls that he
might drink it for his supper。 When he had got through with all his
work； he lit the fire； and then caught sight of us； whereon he said：
〃'Strangers； who are you？ Where do sail from？ Are you traders； or do
you sail the as rovers； with your hands against every man； and every
man's hand against you？'
〃We were frightened out of our senses by his loud voice and
monstrous form； but I managed to say； 'We are Achaeans on our way home
from Troy； but by the will of Jove； and stress of weather； we have
been driven far out of our course。 We are the people of Agamemnon； son
of Atreus； who has won infinite renown throughout the whole world；
by sacking so great a city and killing so many people。 We therefore
humbly pray you to show us some hospitality； and otherwise make us
such presents as visitors may reasonably expect。 May your excellency
fear the wrath of heaven； for we are your suppliants； and Jove takes
all respectable travellers under his protection； for he is the avenger
of all suppliants and foreigners in distress。'
〃To this he gave me but a pitiless answer； 'Stranger；' said he； 'you
are a fool； or else you know nothing of this country。 Talk to me；
indeed； about fearing the gods or shunning their anger？ We Cyclopes do
not care about Jove or any of your blessed gods； for we are ever so
much stronger than they。 I shall not spare either yourself or your
companions out of any regard for Jove； unless I am in the humour for
doing so。 And now tell me where you made your ship fast when you
came on shore。 Was it round the point； or is she lying straight off
the land？'
〃He said this to draw me out； but I was too cunning to be caught
in that way； so I answered with a lie； 'Neptune；' said I； 'sent my
ship on to the rocks at the far end of your country； and wrecked it。
We were driven on to them from the open sea； but I and those who are
with me escaped the jaws of death。'
〃The cruel wretch vouchsafed me not one word of answer； but with a
sudden clutch he gripped up two of my men at once and dashed them down
upon the ground as though they had been puppies。 Their brains were
shed upon the ground； and the earth was wet with their blood。 Then
he tore them limb from limb and supped upon them。 He gobbled them up
like a lion in the wilderness； flesh； bones； marrow； and entrails；
without leaving anything uneaten。 As for us； we wept and lifted up our
hands to heaven on seeing such a horrid sight； for we did not know
what else to do； but when the Cyclops had filled his huge paunch；
and had washed down his meal of human flesh with a drink of neat milk；
he stretched himself full length upon the ground among his sheep；
and went to sleep。 I was at first inclined to seize my sword； draw it；
and drive it into his vitals； but I reflected that if I did we
should all certainly be lost； for we should never be able to shift the
stone which the monster had put in front of the door。 So we stayed
sobbing and sighing where we were till morning came。
〃When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； he again
lit his fire； milked his goats and ewes； all quite rightly； and then
let each have her own young one； as soon as he had got through with
all his work； he clutched up two more of my men； and began eating them
for his morning's meal。 Presently； with the utmost ease； he rolled the
stone away from the door and drove out his sheep； but he at once put
it back again… as easily as though he were merely clapping the lid
on to a quiver full of arrows。 As soon as he had done so he shouted；
and cried 'Shoo； shoo；' after his sheep to drive them on to the
mountain； so I was left to scheme some way of taking my revenge and
covering myself with glory。
〃In the end I deemed it would be the best plan to do as follows。 The
Cyclops had a great club which was lying near one of the sheep pens；
it was of green olive wood； and he had cut it intending to use it
for a staff as soon as it should be dry。 It was so huge that we
could only compare it to the mast of a twenty…oared merchant vessel of
large burden； and able to venture out into open sea。 I went up to this
club and cut off about six feet of it； I then gave this piece to the
men and told them to fine it evenly off at one end； which they
proceeded to do； and lastly I brought it to a point myself； charring
the end in the fire to make it harder。 When I had done this I hid it
under dung； which was lying about all over the cave； and told the
men to cast lots which of them should venture along with myself to
lift it and bore it into the monster's eye while he was asleep。 The
lot fell upon the very four whom I should have chosen； and I myself
made five。 In the evening the wretch came back from shepherding； and
drove his flocks into the cave… this time driving them all inside； and
not leaving any in the yards； I suppose some fancy must have taken
him； or a god must have prompted him to do so。 As soon as he had put
the stone back to its place against the door； he sat down； milked
his ewes and his goats all quite rightly； and then let each have her
own young one； when he had got through with all this work； he
gripped up two more of my men； and made his supper off them。 So I went
up to him with an ivy…wood bowl of black wine in my hands：
〃'Look here； Cyclops；' said I； you have been eating a great deal
of man's flesh； so take this and drink some wine； that you may see
what kind of liquor we had on board my ship。 I was bringing it to
you as a drink…offering； in the hope that