The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 9

by Homer

BOOK IX.

 

ARGUMENT.

Ulysses begins the narrative of his adventures. He relates how he fought with the Ciconians, and destroyed Ismarus; that he then came to the Lotophagi; and afterwards to the land of the Cyclops; where he was shut up in the cave of Polyphemus, who devoured six of his companions; but that after he had intoxicated him with wine, he blinded him while asleep, and escaped with the rest of his companions.

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O King Alcinous, thou most illustrious of all the people, of a truth it is a fine thing to listen to such a bard as he is, like unto the gods in his voice; for I do not think there is any event^[1] more delightful, than when joy possesses a whole people, and the banqueters sitting in order through a house listen to a bard; and near them tables are filled with bread and meat; and the cup-bearer drawing wine from a bowl, carries it, and pours it into the cups; this seems to me in my mind to be something most excellent. But thy mind has turned to inquire concerning my sad griefs, that still more lamenting I may mourn. What first, indeed, what next, and what last of all shall I relate? For the heavenly gods have given me many griefs. But now I first will tell my name, that ye both may know; and that I hereafter, having escaped from a cruel day,^[2] may be a host unto you, although inhabiting houses at a distance. I am Ulysses, the son of Laertes, who am an object of attention to men in all kinds of craft, and my fame reaches heaven. And I inhabit Ithaca, well situated towards the west; and in it there is a mountain, Neritus, leaf-shaking,^[3] very conspicuous; and around it there are many islands very near to one another. Dulichium, and Samos, and woody Zacynthus; but it lies low, the highest^[4] in the sea towards the west, (but those that are separated from it [lie] towards the east and the sun,) craggy, but a good nourisher of youths; I cannot at all behold anything else sweeter than this island. Certainly, indeed, Calypso, divine one of goddesses, kept me away from thence [in her hollow caves, desiring that I should be her husband];^[5] so in like manner did Ææan Circe, crafty, detain me in her palace, desiring that I should be her husband; but they did not at all persuade the mind in my breast. Since nothing is sweeter than one's own country and one's parents, although one should inhabit a wealthy house at a distance, in a foreign land, far from one's parents. But come, I will tell also of my very toilsome return, which Jove sent upon me when I went from Troy.

"The wind bearing me from Ilium made me approach the Ciconians in Ismarus; and there I laid waste the city, and destroyed them.^[6] And taking their wives and many possessions out of the city, we divided them, that no one might go deprived of an equal share. Then indeed I ordered that we should fly with a moist foot;^[7] but they very foolish did not obey me. There they drank much wine, and slew many sheep near the shore, and beeves curve-footed, bent-horn. But in the mean time the Ciconians going called upon the Ciconians, who were their neighbours, both more in number, and braver, who inhabit the continent, knowing how to fight with men from horses, and, when there is need, being on foot. Then they came in the morning, as many in number as are the leaves and flowers in spring; then at length evil fate from Jove stood over ill-fated us, that we should suffer many griefs. And having placed themselves [in array], they engaged in battle near the swift ships, and struck one another with brass-tipped spears. Whilst it was morning, and sacred day grew on, so long we remained, warding them off, although they were more in number: but when the sun changed its journey towards evening,^[8] then at length the Ciconians, subduing the Achæans, put them to flight. Six well-greaved companions out of each ship perished; but the rest of us escaped death and fate. And from thence we sailed forward sorrowing in our heart, rejoicing [at our own escape] from death, having lost our dear companions. Nor yet^[9] did my ships rolling on both sides proceed, before we thrice cried out to each one^[10] of our wretched companions, who died in the plain, slain by the Ciconians. And cloud-compelling Jove stirred up a north wind against our ships, with a divine whirlwind, and he covered the earth and the sea together with clouds; and night arose from heaven. They then were borne along to leeward, and the force of the wind rent their sails in three and four places. And these^[11] we let down into the ships, dreading destruction, and we drew them^[12] eagerly forward to the continent. There two nights and two days we lay continually, consuming our mind at the same time both with toil and griefs: but when at length fair-haired morning brought about the third day, having set up our masts, and drawn up our white sails, we sat down; and the wind and the helmsman guided them straight along. And now I should have reached my paternal land unharmed, but the billow and the stream and the north wind thrust me away as I was doubling Malea, and made me wander to Cythera. And from thence I was carried for nine days over the fishy sea by baleful winds; but on the tenth we came upon the land of the Lotophagi, who eat flowers as food. There then we landed on the continent, and drew water; and immediately my companions took supper near the swift ships. But when we had tasted of meat and drink, then at length I sent my companions, having chosen two men, giving a herald as third,^[13] in company with them, to go^[14] and inquire, what men they were who eat food upon the land. But they, going immediately, were mingled with the Lotus-eating men: nor did the Lotophagi devise destruction for our companions, but they gave them to taste of the lotus. But whoever of them eat of the pleasant food of the lotus, he no longer wished to bring back news, nor to return, but they preferred to remain there with the Lotophagi eating lotus, and to be forgetful of return. Them indeed weeping I by force led to the ships, and dragging, bound them under the benches in the hollow ships. But I exhorted my other beloved companions, to hasten and embark on the swift ships, lest by chance any one eating of the lotus, should be forgetful of return. But they immediately embarked, and sat down on the benches; and sitting in order they smote the hoary sea with their oars.

"And from thence we sailed forward, sorrowing at heart: and we came to the land of the monstrous^[15] Cyclops, who have no laws, who, trusting in the immortal gods, neither plant a plant^[16] with their hands, nor plough: but all these things unsown, untilled, spring up, wheat and barley, and vines, which bear wine from large clusters, and the shower from Jove nourishes them. Among them [there are] neither assemblies for consulting, nor rights: but they inhabit the summits of lofty mountains in hollow caves; and every one gives judgment to his children and wives; nor do they care for one another. There a long^[17] island is stretched out from the haven of the land of the Cyclops, not very near, nor far off, woody: and in it wild goats are produced in boundless number; for the step of men does not interfere with them: nor do hunters, who undergo toils in the wood, searching the tops of mountains, go over it. It is neither kept by flocks, nor by ploughings, but itself, for all days unsown and untilled, is bereft of men, and feeds bleating goats. For the Cyclops have not vermillion-prowed ships, nor are there men amongst them builders of ships, who can make well-benched ships, which would perform every thing, going to the cities of men: as frequently men, who have prepared for themselves a well-inhabited island, pass in ships over the sea, one to another: for it is not at all bad, but would produce every thing in season. For there are in it watery, soft meadows, near the banks of the hoary sea; and the vines would be very imperishable. And in it the tillage is light; and they would always reap a deep harvest in season, since the soil is very rich below. And there is a haven with a good station, where there is no need of cable, nor to cast anchors, nor to bind the halsers, but driving in to remain so long, until the mind of the sailors should excite them, and the winds should blow. But at the head of the haven flows clear water, a fountain from under a cave; and around poplars spring up. There we sailed, and some deity conducted us through the dark night; nor did it appear so as to be seen. For there was a dense mist about the ships, nor did the moon shine from heaven, for it was covered with clouds; from thence no one beheld the island with his eyes; nor did we perceive the long waves rolling to the beach, before the well-benched ships struck against it. But when the ships struck, we took down all the sails, and we ourselves disembarked upon the shore of the sea; there having fallen asleep, we awaited divine morning. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, admiring the island we went round about it. And the nymphs, the daughters of Ægis-bearing Jove, roused the mountain-dwelling goats, that my companions might take their meal. Immediately we took our bent bows and long-pointed javelins from the ships; and arrayed in three bands, we struck them; and the deity straightway gave us a strength-recruiting prey. Twelve

ships indeed followed me, and to each nine goats were allotted; and they selected ten for me alone. Thus, then, during the whole day, until the setting sun, we sat feasting on much flesh and sweet wine. For the ruby wine was not yet expended from the ships, but was in [them]: for each of us drew much in kegs, when we captured the sacred citadel of the Ciconians. And we looked to the land of the Cyclops, who were near, and [perceived]^[18] smoke, and their voice, and that of sheep and goats.^[19] But when the sun set and darkness came on, then at length we went to rest on the shore of the sea: but when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then I, having made an assembly, spoke amongst all: 'Do ye others, my beloved companions, now remain, but I, with my own ship and my companions, will go, and make trial of these men who they are, whether they are insolent, and wild, nor just; or are hospitable, and their mind is godlike.' Thus having spoken, I embarked in my ship; and commanded my companions both to embark themselves, and to loose the halsers. But they immediately embarked, and sat down on the benches; and sitting in order, they smote the hoary sea with their oars. But when indeed we came to the country near at hand, there we beheld a cave on the extreme part [of the land], near the sea, lofty, covered with laurels; there much cattle, both sheep and goats, were sleeping; and around a lofty hall was built with stones dug out of the earth, and tall pines, and lofty-tressed oaks. There a monstrous man was sleeping, who was pasturing his cattle alone at a distance; nor did he herd with others, but being apart (by himself) he kenned lawless things. And truly he was a monstrous prodigy; nor was he like unto a man who feeds on bread, but unto the woody top of lofty mountains, when it appears alone [separated] from others. Then indeed I ordered my other beloved companions to remain there near the ship, and to draw up the ship; but I, having chosen twelve the best of my companions, went. And I had a goat's skin of black wine, pleasant, which Maron, son of Euanthes, priest of Apollo, who guarded^[20] Ismarus, gave me: because, reverencing him, we saved him with his children and his wife; for he dwelt in the woody grove of Phœbus Apollo; he therefore gave unto me illustrious presents; he gave to me indeed seven talents of well-wrought gold; and he gave me a cup all silver; but besides drawing wine in twelve casks in all, pleasant, unadulterated, a divine drink; nor did any of his servants know of it, nor his handmaidens in his house, but himself and his dear wife, and his one housekeeper alone. But when he drank this sweet ruby wine, filling one cup, he poured in it up to twenty measures of water; and a sweet odour wafted from the cup, divine; then it would by no means have been agreeable to abstain. Having filled a large skin with this, I carried it, and provisions in a satchel; for my noble mind immediately conjectured, that a man would come endued with great might, wild, not well acquainted with justice, nor rights. And we quickly reached the cave, nor did we find him within; but he was pasturing his cattle in the rich pasture. And coming to the cave we regarded every thing; his presses indeed were filled with cheeses, and his pens were straightened with lambs and kids; and each were shut up separate; the older ones apart, and the middle-aged apart, and again the tender ones^[21] apart; and all his vessels swam with cream, his milk pails, and bowls, wrought, into which he milked. Then my companions first of all besought me with words, that we should go back, having taken some of his cheeses; but afterwards, quickly driving kids and lambs from the pens to the swift ship, to sail over the briny water. But I did not obey them, (it would indeed have been much better,) in order that I might both see him, and whether he would give me hospitable presents. Nor was he about to be, when he appeared, agreeable to my companions. But there having lighted a fire we sacrificed; and we too taking of the cheeses eat; and we waited for him, sitting within until he came, having pastured [his flocks]; but he was bearing a vast weight of dry wood, that it might serve as a light for him at supper.^[22] And throwing it without the cave, he made a clamour; and we, afraid, rushed to the innermost part of the cave. But he drove all the fatted flocks, whatever he milked, into the wide cave, but the males he left at the door, both rams and goats, outside the deep hall. But then lifting up a large barrier on high, he fixed it, of great weight: two and twenty good wains, with four wheels, would not have moved it from the threshold, such a lofty^[23] rock did he place at the door. And sitting down he milked the sheep and bleating goats all rightly, and he set its young one under each. But immediately, having thickened half of the white milk, collecting it into woven sieves he laid it aside; and then he put half in vessels, that it might be for him to drink when he wished, and might be useful at supper. But after he had hastened in performing his employments, then he lighted a fire, and saw and inquired of us:

"'O strangers, who are ye? from whence do ye sail over the moist ways? Whether on account of some business, or do ye wander in vain? as robbers over the sea, who wander, exposing their lives, bringing evil to foreigners.'

"Thus he spoke; but our dear heart was broken down, fearing his heavy voice, and him a monster. But even so, answering him with words, I addressed him: 'We Grecians, wandering from Troy with all kinds of winds over the mighty ridge of the sea, on returning home, have come another journey, by other ways; so perhaps Jove wished to contrive. But we profess ourselves to be the people of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, whose renown, now at least, is the greatest under heaven: for he has sacked so mighty a city, and destroyed [so] many people; but we coming to thy knees supplicate thee, if thou wouldst afford us hospitable entertainment, or otherwise wouldst give us a present, which is the right of strangers. But revere the gods, O best one; for we are thy suppliants. And hospitable Jove, who attends upon strangers to be pitied, is the avenger of suppliants and strangers.'

"Thus I spoke; but he answered me again with a cruel mind: 'Ye are foolish, O stranger, or have come from a distance, who command me either to fear or avoid the gods; for the Cyclops care not for Ægis-bearing Jove, nor the blessed gods; since we are much superior to them. Nor would I, avoiding the hatred of Jove, spare either thee or thy companions, if my mind does not exhort me. But tell me, where, when thou camest, hast thou kept thy well-worked ship; whether some where on the extreme part of the island, or near, in order that I may know.'

"Thus he spoke, trying me; nor did he escape me who ken many things, but I addressed him in return with deceitful words: 'Earth-shaking Neptune has broken my ship, dashing it against rocks, at the limits of thy land, driving it against a headland: and a wind brought it from the sea; but I with these escaped from bitter destruction.'

"Thus I spoke; but he answered me not at all with his cruel mind; but he rushing, threw his hands on my companions, and snatching two together, like whelps, he dashed them against the earth, and the brains flowed out on the ground, and bedewed the earth. And cutting these up, limb by limb, he made ready supper: and he eat like a mountain-nurtured lion, nor did he leave entrails or flesh, or marrowy bones. But we weeping held up our hands to Jove, beholding the cruel deeds; and despair possessed our mind. But when the Cyclops had filled his enormous belly, eating men's flesh, and chinking pure milk after it, he lay within the cave, stretched out in the midst of the sheep. I indeed took counsel in my strong-hearted mind, going near, having drawn my sharp sword from my thigh, to wound him in the breast, where the vitals contain the liver, reaching him with my hand, but another consideration hindered me. For there we also should have perished in dreadful destruction; for we should not have been able to thrust with our hands the immense stone from the lofty gates, which he placed at them. Thus then mourning, we waited for divine morning. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then he lighted a fire, and milked all his fine cattle rightly, and set its young one under each. But after he had hastened in performing his employments, he again snatching two together, made ready his meal. And having banqueted he drove his rich cattle out from the cave, easily taking away the large gate; but afterwards he placed it back again, as if he were placing the cover on a quiver. And with much clamour the Cyclops turned his rich cattle towards the mountain; but I was left deeply planning evil things, if by any means I might be revenged on him, and Minerva would give me glory. But this plan appeared to me in my mind to be the best. For there lay a vast club belonging to the Cyclops, near the fold, green, of olive-wood; this he had cut, that he might carry it when dried; this when we saw it we likened it [to be] as large as is the mast^[24] of a twenty-oared black merchant vessel, wide, which passes over the mighty ridge; so large it was in length, and so large in width to behold. Of this I, standing near it, cut off as much as the length of a fathom, and gave it to my companions, and ordered them to sharpen it at the end. And they made it smooth; and I standing near sharpened the point, and immediately taking it, I burnt it in the hot fire; and I laid it aside well, hiding it under the dung, which was spread in very large quantities in the cave. But I ordered the others to be settled by lot, whoever should dare with me, raising the bar, to thrust it in his eye, when sweet sleep should come upon him. And four were chosen by lot, whom even I myself would have wished to choose, and I was chosen the fifth after them. And in the evening he came acting the shepherd to his beautiful-haired cattle; and immediately he drove all his rich sheep into the wide cave; nor did he leave them at all outside the deep hall, either suspecting something, or perhaps a deity so commanded him. And afterwards he put up the large barrier, raising it on high, and sitting down he milked the sheep and bleating goats, all rightly, and he set its young one under each. But after he had hastened in performing his employments, again snatching two together, he made ready his supper; and then I addressed the Cyclops standing near him, holding in my hands an ivy-wreathed^[25] cup of black wine: 'O Cyclops, take, drink wine, since thou hast eaten man's flesh; that thou mayest know what this drink was which our ship concealed; but to thee I have brought a libation, if pitying me thou wouldst send me home; but thou art raging in a manner no longer to be endured. O cruel one, how dost thou think any one else of many men would come to thee hereafter, since thou hast not acted rightly?'

"Thus I spoke; but he received it and drank it off: and he was greatly pleased on drinking the sweet liquor; and he again asked of me a second time: 'Kindly give me more, and forthwith tell me thy name, that I may give thee a hospitable gift, in which thou mayest rejoice. For the fruitful plain bears for the Cyclops, wine that is produced from large clusters, and the shower from Jove nourishes it. But this is what comes of ambrosia and nectar.'

"Thus he spoke; and I again gave him dark wine; thrice bearing it I gave it, and thrice he without thought quaffed it. But when the wine came about the mind^[26] of the Cyclops, then at length I addressed him with mild words: 'O Cyclops, didst thou ask of me my name in common report? I will tell thee; but do thou give me a hospitable gift, as thou didst promise: No-man^[27] is my name; my mother, and my father, and all the rest of my companions call me No-man.'

"Thus I spoke; but he again answered me with a cruel mind: 'No-man I will eat the last after his companions, but the others first; this indeed shall be thy hospitable present.'

"He spoke, and reclining fell supine; but then he lay slanting his fat neck; and all-subduing sleep seized on him; and the wine and human gobbets rushed out of his throat; and he, heavy with wine, belched. And then I drove the bar under a great quantity of cinders, until it was warm; and I encouraged all my companions with words, lest any one fearing should decline it. But when the bar of olive wood was soon about to be kindled in the fire, although it was green, for it shone very much, then I carried it near him from the fire, and my companions stood around; but a deity inspired them with great courage. They, taking the bar of olive wood, sharp at the point, thrust it into his eye; but I raised above on high moved it round; as when any man bores a timber plank with an auger, but they below, having bound it with a thong on each side, move it, and it constantly runs round; thus taking the fire-tipt bar we moved it round in his eye, and the blood flowed round it, being hot. And the vapour burnt all his eye around, and his eye-brows, when the pupil was burning; and the roots crackled with the fire. And as when a brazier dips a large hatchet or axe in cold water, sounding greatly, tempering it (for this is the strength of steel); so his eye hissed around the bar of olive-wood. And he howled very horribly; and the rock resounded about: and we fearing hastened away; but he drew from his eye the bar polluted with much blood; then raving he threw it from his hands. But he called loudly to the Cyclops, who dwelt round about him in caves throughout the windy promontories. And they, having heard his voice, came from different places; and standing around the cave, inquired what afflicted him.

"'How, Polyphemus, hast thou so much hurt thus cried out through the ambrosial night, and made us sleepless? Is any one of mortals driving away thy sheep against thy will? or is some one killing thyself by deceit or by force?' But them strong Polyphemus addressed in turn from the cave: 'O my friends, No-man kills me by deceit, and not by force.' And they answering addressed to him winged words:

"'If indeed no man^[28] treats thee, who art such a one, with violence, it is by no means possible to avoid a disease from great Jove; yet do thou at least pray to thy father,^[29] king Neptune.'

"Thus they spoke departing; but my dear heart laughed, because my name and blameless counsel had deceived him. But the Cyclops groaning, and travailing, on account of his pain, groping with his hands, took away the stone from the door; but he sat within the gate, stretching out his hands, if by chance he could lay hold of any one going out of the door with the sheep; for he expected that I was thus foolish in my mind. But I consulted how it would be the best, if I could discover any escape from death for my companions and for myself; and I wove all kinds of deceit and craft, as concerning life, for a great evil was near at hand; and this counsel seemed to me in my mind to be the best.

"The male sheep were well-nurtured, thick-fleeced, beautiful, and large, having wool of a dark-violet colour: these I silently bound together with well-twisted osiers, (on which the Cyclops slept, vast, knowing in lawless things,) taking three together; the one in the middle carried a man, hut the other two went on each side, preserving my companions. And three sheep carried each man; but I, for there was a ram, far the best of all the cattle, laying hold of its back, having rolled myself round under its shaggy belly; but being twisted firmly with my hands to the excellent wool, I held to it with an enduring mind; thus then mourning we awaited the divine morning.

"But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then the male cattle immediately rushed to the pasture: and the unmilked females bleated through the pens, for their teats were distended; but the master, afflicted with evil pains, felt the backs of all the sheep which stood upright; but, foolish one, he did not perceive that they^[30] were bound under the breasts of the fleecy sheep. The last ram of the cattle was going out of the door, weighed down with the thick wool, and with me who planned crafty things; laying hold of this, strong Polyphemus addressed him:

"'Dear ram, why hast thou come thus the last of the cattle out of the cave? Before thou by no means camest left behind by the sheep, but much the first thou didst pasture upon the tender flowers of grass, stalking with large steps;^[31] and first reached the streams of rivers; and in the evening thou didst desire to return first to the stall; now on the contrary thou art the last of all; dost thou regret the eye of thy master? which an evil man has blinded, with his troublesome companions, having subdued my mind with wine, No-man, whom I think has not yet escaped destruction. But if thou hast a thought for me, and wast able to speak, tell me where he avoids my strength; then in truth the brain of him dashed here and there through the cave should flow on the ground; and my heart would rest from the evils which No-man, a fellow of no value, has brought upon me.'

"Thus speaking, he sent away the ram from him out of the door. And coming a little way from the cave and the hall, I first loosed myself from under the ram, and loosed my companions. And we quickly drove the long-legged cattle, rich with fat, enclosing many, until we came to the ship; and we, who had escaped death, appeared welcome to our dear companions; but weeping they mourned for the others. But I did not allow them to weep, but I nodded to each with my eyebrows; and I ordered them quickly, lifting the many beautiful-haired cattle into the ship, to sail over the briny main. They immediately embarked and sat down on the benches, and sitting in order they smote the hoary sea with their oars. But when I was so far distant, as one makes himself heard shouting out, then I addressed the Cyclops with reproaches:

"'O Cyclops, thou wast not indeed destined to eat the companions of a weak man in thy hollow cave, with strong might. But truly thou wert destined to find thy evil deeds, thou cruel one! Since thou didst not fear to eat strangers in thine house; therefore Jove and the other gods have been revenged upon thee.'

"'Thus I spoke; but he immediately was more wrath in his heart; having broken off the top of a large mountain he hurled it, and threw it before the black-prowed ship, [and it wanted little to reach the extreme part of the rudder;] and the sea was disturbed by the descending rock; and a refluent wave, an inundation from the sea, immediately bore the vessel towards the shore, and made it approach so as to reach the continent. But I, seizing with my hands a long pole, thrust it away; and exhorting my companions, I commanded them to lay on their oars, that we might escape from evil, nodding with my head; and they, falling forward, rowed. But when at length we were twice^[32] as far distant, having passed over the sea, then too I addressed the Cyclops; and my companions around hindered me, one here, one there, with mild words: 'O foolish one, why dost thou wish to irritate a fierce man? who even now has hurled a bolt into the sea, and driven our ship again to the shore, and surely we thought that we should perish there. But if he heard any one speaking or calling out, he would dash our heads together, and our ship's planks, striking us with the rough marble; for he throws so far.'

"Thus they spoke, but they did not persuade my strong-hearted mind, but I again addressed him with wrathful feelings: 'O Cyclops, if any one of mortal men should inquire of thee about the unseemly blindness of thine eye, say that Ulysses, the sacker of cities, the son of Laertes, who possesses a house in Ithaca, blinded thee.'

"Thus I spoke; but he wailing answered me in discourse: 'Alas, surely the oracles spoken of old are come upon me. There was a certain prophet here, a good and great man, Telemus Eurymedes, who excelled in prophesying, and he grew old prophesying amongst the Cyclops. He told me that all these things would hereafter be accomplished, that I should be deprived of my sight by the hands of Ulysses. But I have been still expecting that some large and beautiful man would come here, clad in mighty strength. But now, one who is little, worth nothing, and weak, has bereft me of my sight, after he had subdued me with wine. But come hither, Ulysses, that I may give thee hospitable presents, and may urge illustrious Neptune to give thee an escort; for I am his son, and he professes to be my father: but he, if he shall be willing, will cure me, nor any other either of the blessed gods or mortal men.'

"Thus he spoke; but I answering addressed him: 'I wish indeed I could send thee within the house of Pluto, having deprived thee of thy soul and life; so not even Neptune will cure thine eye.'

"Thus I spoke; but he immediately prayed to King Neptune, stretching forth his hands to the starry heaven: 'Hear me, O earth-containing, azure-haired Neptune, if I am truly thine, and thou dost profess to be my sire, grant that Ulysses, the sacker of cities, [the son of Laertes, who possesses a house in Ithaca,] may not reach home. But if it is a destiny for him to behold his friends, and to come to his well-built house, and his own paternal land, may he come late to his cost, having lost all his companions, on a foreign ship, and may he find calamities in his home.'

"Thus he spoke praying; and he of azure hair heard him. But he immediately raising a much larger stone, sent it whirling it round; and he exerted enormous strength. And he hurled it behind the dark-prowed ship, and it wanted little to reach the extreme part of the rudder; and the sea was disturbed by the descending rock. But it the wave bore forward, and made it approach so as to reach the continent. But when at length we reached the island where the other well-benched ships remained together, and our companions sat around, weeping, still expecting us, when we came there, we drew our ship up on the sands, and we ourselves disembarked on the shore of the sea. And taking the cattle of the Cyclops from the hollow ship, we divided them, so that no one might go deprived of an equal share. But when the cattle were being divided, my well-greaved companions gave the ram to me alone, as an especial mark of distinction; and sacrificing it on the shore to black-cloudy Jove, the son of Saturn, who rules over all, I burnt its thighs: but he regarded not my sacrifices, but meditated how all my well-benched ships and my beloved companions might perish.

"Thus then during the whole day until the setting sun we sat feasting on quantities of flesh and sweet wine: but when the sun went down, and darkness came on, then we slept on the shore of the sea. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then I exhorting my companions commanded them to embark, and to loose the halsers; and they quickly embarked and sat down on the benches. And sitting in order they smote the hoary sea with their oars. And from thence we sailed forward sorrowing in our heart, rejoicing [at our escape] from death, having lost our dear companions.

 

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1. τέλος appears to mean nothing more than "thing, event." See Casaub. on Athen. ii. 3.
2. i. e. death.
3. i. e. woody.
4. πανυπερτάτη is to be explained by the fact that the sea at a distance seems to rise; hence the island farthest seemed higher than the nearest. Strabo, x. p. 454, quoted by Eustath., had a glimpse of the meaning. See my note on Phil. 513, and Arnold on Thucyd. i. 112. G. Burges.
5. A very doubtful verse.
6. The Ciconians.
7. There are different ways of explaining this word; the most probable way of taking it seems to be that chosen by the Scholiast, with a moist foot, metaphorically for in a ship. Old Transl. The same view is adopted by Loewe and Ernesti.
8. Literally, "towards the time when oxen are loosed from labour." Buttm. Lexil. p. 89, observes: "this is in truth a great and beautiful idea, full of spirit and meaning; the moment at which it may be supposed, that in the whole agricultural world the wearied steer is loosed from his daily labour." Cf. Heliodor. Ethiop. ii. p. 91, ed. Bourd. Καὶ ἦν μεν ὤρα περὶ βουλυτόν ἤδη. Hesychius interprets it, ἡ δείλη, ὥρα, ἐν ἧ τὸ ἅροτρον λύεται, τῶν βοῶν.
9. ἄρα is emphatic. See Clarke.
10. Join ἕκαστόν τινα, not, as the former prose translator supposed, τινα ἀῧσαι. On the custom here mentioned see Virg. Æn. iii. 67, "animamque sepulcro condimus, et magna supremum voce ciemus." vi. 506, "et magna manes ter voce vocavi." Cf. Eur. Suppl. 773, 804. Alcest. 625, with my notes on the former passage, t. i. p. 331, ed. Bohn.
11. The sails.
12. The ships.
13. I am unwilling to deprive my readers of the following brilliant specimen of accurate construing found in the old and (most wisely) anonymous prose translation, "giving a herald to the third." And yet Eustathius had written, ἑταῖροι δύο στέλλονται καὶ τρίτατος κήρυξ.
14. On the Lotophagi the student will find very copious and interesting information in the notes of Loewe on this passage, and of De Pinedo on Steph. Byz. v. λωτοφόρος, p. 432.
15. Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 514, where he regards the Cyclops as "monstrous children of nature, who needed no social or legal relations among themselves, and consequently did not acknowledge them towards others."
16. An antiquated and somewhat oriental style of repetition.
17. See Ernesti. I myself should prefer the reading preserved in Eusta- thius, ἐλάχεια = ἐλαχίστη. There is, however, great uncertainty both respecting the orthography and the meaning of this word.
18. On this zeugma, ἐλεύσσομεν—φθογγην, see my note on Æsch. Prom. p. 2, n. 7, ed. Bohn.
19. On this subsequent story of the Cyclops Euripides has grounded a Satiric Drama of the same name. See the note to my translation of Euripides, t. ii. p. 288, n. 4, ed. Bohn.
20. Or, "presided over." Cf. Il. i. 37.
21. Literally, "dew-like," αἱ νεογναὶ καὶ ἁπαλαὶ καὶ δροσώδεις. Cf. Æsch. Ag. 141. Dind. with Bloomfield's note.
22. So the Scholiast explains ποτιδόρπιος, which literally means "useful at supper."
23. Literally, "sun-traversed." Virg. Æn. viii. 211, "saxo occultabat aprico."
24. A common hyperbole. So Milton, Par. Lost, i. 292:
    "His spear, to equal which the tallest pine
    Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
    Of some great admiral, were but a wand."
    
    
25. This seems to be the proper interpretation of κισσύβιον. Cf. Kiessling on Theocrit. i. 27. Villois. on Apoll. Lex. p. 400. Others suppose it to be a cup made of ivy-wood. See Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 268.
26. Or, as we should say, "got to his head."
27. This is the only English translation that preserves the equivoque.
28. Observe the pun upon No-man and no man, οὔτις and μήτις.
29. πατρὶ refers to the fact that Polyphemus was the son of Neptune by the nymph Thoosa. Cf. i. 71, sqq.
30. The companions of Ulysses.
31. Or perhaps, as we should say, "stepping out well."
32. "The seeming incongruity of this line with line 473, is reconciled by supposing that Ulysses exerted his voice, naturally loud, in an extraordinary manner on this second occasion." Cowper.