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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 you would take compassion
upon me and further me on my way home； whereas all you do is to go
on ramping and raving most intolerably。 You ought to be ashamed
yourself； how can you expect people to come see you any more if you
treat them in this way？'
〃He then took the cup and drank。 He was so delighted with the
taste of the wine that he begged me for another bowl full。 'Be so
kind；' he said； 'as to give me some more； and tell me your name at
once。 I want to make you a present that you will be glad to have。 We
have wine even in this country； for our soil grows grapes and the
sun ripens them； but this drinks like nectar and ambrosia all in one。'
〃I then gave him some more； three times did I fill the bowl for him；
and three times did he drain it without thought or heed； then； when
I saw that the wine had got into his head； I said to him as
plausibly as I could： 'Cyclops； you ask my name and I will tell it
you； give me； therefore； the present you promised me； my name is
Noman； this is what my fa