1τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all the people,
ἦ τοι μὲν τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦtruly this is a good thing, to listen to a singer
τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.such as this man is, like the gods in his voice.
5οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι τέλος χαριέστερον εἶναιFor I say there is no fulfillment more graceful
ἢ ὅτʼ ἐυφροσύνη μὲν ἔχῃ κάτα δῆμον ἅπαντα,than when good cheer holds sway among all the people,
δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἀκουάζωνται ἀοιδοῦand the feasters up and down the hall listen to a singer
ἥμενοι ἑξείης, παρὰ δὲ πλήθωσι τράπεζαιsitting in their rows, and beside them the tables are laden
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν, μέθυ δʼ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσωνwith bread and meats, and drawing wine from the mixing bowl
10οἰνοχόος φορέῃσι καὶ ἐγχείῃ δεπάεσσι·the steward carries it round and pours it into the cups—
τοῦτό τί μοι κάλλιστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν εἴδεται εἶναι.this seems to my mind the most beautiful thing of all.
σοὶ δʼ ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμὸς ἐπετράπετο στονόενταBut your heart has turned to ask about my sorrows,
εἴρεσθʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω·my griefs, so that I may weep and groan still more.
τί πρῶτόν τοι ἔπειτα, τί δʼ ὑστάτιον καταλέξω;What then shall I tell you first, what last of all?
15κήδεʼ ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.For the gods of heaven have given me griefs in plenty.
νῦν δʼ ὄνομα πρῶτον μυθήσομαι, ὄφρα καὶ ὑμεῖςNow first I will tell my name, so that you also
εἴδετʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἂν ἔπειτα φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρmay know it, and I, once escaped from the pitiless day,
ὑμῖν ξεῖνος ἔω καὶ ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίων.may be your guest-friend, though I dwell in a home far off.
εἴμʼ Ὀδυσεὺς Λαερτιάδης, ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισινI am Odysseus, son of Laertes, who for all my wiles
20ἀνθρώποισι μέλω, καί μευ κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει.am known to men, and my fame reaches to heaven.
ναιετάω δʼ Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον· ἐν δʼ ὄρος αὐτῇI dwell in Ithaca, clear in the sunlight; on it there is a mountain,
Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἀριπρεπές· ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆσοιNeriton with its trembling leaves, conspicuous; and around it are islands,
πολλαὶ ναιετάουσι μάλα σχεδὸν ἀλλήλῃσι,many of them, lying very close to one another,
Δουλίχιόν τε Σάμη τε καὶ ὑλήεσσα Ζάκυνθος.Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus.
25αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ πανυπερτάτη εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖταιIthaca itself lies low, highest in the sea
πρὸς ζόφον, αἱ δέ τʼ ἄνευθε πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,toward the gloom of the west, the others apart toward the dawn and the sun,
τρηχεῖʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ κουροτρόφος· οὔ τοι ἐγώ γεrugged, but a good nurse of young men; and I for my part
ἧς γαίης δύναμαι γλυκερώτερον ἄλλο ἰδέσθαι.can see nothing else sweeter than one's own land.
ἦ μέν μʼ αὐτόθʼ ἔρυκε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,Indeed Calypso, shining among goddesses, kept me there,
30ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι·in her hollow caves, longing that I should be her husband;
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Κίρκη κατερήτυεν ἐν μεγάροισινand in the same way Circe held me back in her halls,
Αἰαίη δολόεσσα, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι·the guileful Aeaean, longing that I should be her husband;
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθον.but they never persuaded the heart within my breast.
ὣς οὐδὲν γλύκιον ἧς πατρίδος οὐδὲ τοκήωνSo nothing is sweeter than one's own country and one's parents,
35γίγνεται, εἴ περ καί τις ἀπόπροθι πίονα οἶκονeven if a man dwells in a rich house far away
γαίῃ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῇ ναίει ἀπάνευθε τοκήων.in a foreign land, apart from his parents.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ νόστον ἐμὸν πολυκηδέʼ ἐνίσπω,But come, let me tell you also of my grievous homecoming,
ὅν μοι Ζεὺς ἐφέηκεν ἀπὸ Τροίηθεν ἰόντι.which Zeus laid upon me as I came from Troy.
Ἰλιόθεν με φέρων ἄνεμος Κικόνεσσι πέλασσεν,From Ilion the wind bore me and brought me to the Cicones,
40Ἰσμάρῳ. ἔνθα δʼ ἐγὼ πόλιν ἔπραθον, ὤλεσα δʼ αὐτούς·to Ismarus. There I sacked the city and destroyed the men;
ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ λαβόντεςAnd from the city we took their wives and many possessions,
δασσάμεθʼ, ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.and shared them out, so no one should go cheated of an equal portion.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ διερῷ ποδὶ φευγέμεν ἡμέαςThere indeed I urged that we should flee with nimble foot,
ἠνώγεα, τοὶ δὲ μέγα νήπιοι οὐκ ἐπίθοντο.but the great fools would not be persuaded.
45ἔνθα δὲ πολλὸν μὲν μέθυ πίνετο, πολλὰ δὲ μῆλαAnd there much wine was drunk, and many sheep
ἔσφαζον παρὰ θῖνα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς·they slaughtered by the shore, and shambling twist-horned cattle.
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰχόμενοι Κίκονες Κικόνεσσι γεγώνευν,Meanwhile the Cicones went and called out to other Cicones,
οἵ σφιν γείτονες ἦσαν, ἅμα πλέονες καὶ ἀρείους,their neighbors, who were both more numerous and braver,
ἤπειρον ναίοντες, ἐπιστάμενοι μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππωνdwelling inland, men skilled at fighting from horses
50ἀνδράσι μάρνασθαι καὶ ὅθι χρὴ πεζὸν ἐόντα.against the enemy, and on foot where there was need.
ἦλθον ἔπειθʼ ὅσα φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ,They came at dawn, as many as the leaves and flowers born in season,
ἠέριοι· τότε δή ῥα κακὴ Διὸς αἶσα παρέστηthick as morning mist; then indeed the evil doom of Zeus stood by us,
ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν, ἵνʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ πάθοιμεν.for us ill-fated men, that we should suffer many sorrows.
στησάμενοι δʼ ἐμάχοντο μάχην παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσι,They took their stand and fought a battle by the swift ships,
55βάλλον δʼ ἀλλήλους χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.and they hurled at one another with bronze-tipped spears.
ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,As long as it was morning and the sacred day was growing,
τόφρα δʼ ἀλεξόμενοι μένομεν πλέονάς περ ἐόντας.so long we held our ground and fended them off, though they were more.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μετενίσσετο βουλυτόνδε,But when the sun had crossed to the hour for unyoking oxen,
καὶ τότε δὴ Κίκονες κλῖναν δαμάσαντες Ἀχαιούς.then the Cicones broke us and overpowered the Achaeans.
60ἓξ δʼ ἀφʼ ἑκάστης νηὸς ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροιSix from each ship, my well-greaved companions,
ὤλονθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι φύγομεν θάνατόν τε μόρον τε.perished; the rest of us escaped death and doom.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,From there we sailed onward, grieving in our hearts,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.glad to be free of death, yet having lost dear companions.
οὐδʼ ἄρα μοι προτέρω νῆες κίον ἀμφιέλισσαι,And my curved ships did not go onward from there
65πρίν τινα τῶν δειλῶν ἑτάρων τρὶς ἕκαστον ἀῦσαι,until we had called out three times to each of our wretched companions
οἳ θάνον ἐν πεδίῳ Κικόνων ὕπο δῃωθέντες.who died on the plain, cut down beneath the Cicones.
νηυσὶ δʼ ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμον Βορέην νεφεληγερέτα ΖεὺςBut against the ships Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused the North Wind
λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψεin a wondrous tempest, and with clouds he covered
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.both land and sea alike; and night rushed down from heaven.
70αἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐφέροντʼ ἐπικάρσιαι, ἱστία δέ σφινThen the ships were carried headlong, and their sails
τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διέσχισεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο.the force of the wind tore into three and four pieces.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς νῆας κάθεμεν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον,These we lowered into the ships, fearing destruction,
αὐτὰς δʼ ἐσσυμένως προερέσσαμεν ἤπειρόνδε.and rowed the ships in haste onward toward the mainland.
ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα συνεχὲς αἰεὶThere for two nights and two days continually
75κείμεθʼ, ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.we lay, eating our hearts with weariness and sorrows alike.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,But when fair-haired Dawn brought the third day to fulfillment,
ἱστοὺς στησάμενοι ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λεύκʼ ἐρύσαντεςwe set up the masts and hauled up the white sails
ἥμεθα, τὰς δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τʼ ἴθυνον.and sat, and the wind and the helmsmen steered them straight.
καί νύ κεν ἀσκηθὴς ἱκόμην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·And now I would have come unharmed to my native land,
80ἀλλά με κῦμα ῥόος τε περιγνάμπτοντα Μάλειανbut the wave and the current, as I was rounding Malea,
καὶ Βορέης ἀπέωσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ Κυθήρων.and the North Wind drove me off, and pushed me past Cythera.
ἔνθεν δʼ ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισινFrom there for nine days I was carried by deadly winds
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα· ἀτὰρ δεκάτῃ ἐπέβημενover the teeming sea; but on the tenth we set foot
γαίης Λωτοφάγων, οἵ τʼ ἄνθινον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν.on the land of the Lotus-eaters, who feed on a flowering food.
85ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθʼ ὕδωρ,There we stepped onto the mainland and drew water,
αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.and quickly my comrades took their meal beside the swift ships.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τʼ ἐπασσάμεθʼ ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,But when we had tasted of food and drink,
δὴ τοτʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,then I sent some comrades ahead to go and learn
οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντεςwhat kind of men they were who ate bread upon this earth—
90ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχʼ ἅμʼ ὀπάσσας.choosing two men, and sending a third along as herald.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ οἰχόμενοι μίγεν ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισιν·They went at once and mingled with the Lotus-eating men,
οὐδʼ ἄρα Λωτοφάγοι μήδονθʼ ἑτάροισιν ὄλεθρονand the Lotus-eaters did not plot destruction
ἡμετέροις, ἀλλά σφι δόσαν λωτοῖο πάσασθαι.for our comrades, but gave them the lotus to taste.
τῶν δʼ ὅς τις λωτοῖο φάγοι μελιηδέα καρπόν,And whoever of them ate the honey-sweet fruit of the lotus
95οὐκέτʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι πάλιν ἤθελεν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι,no longer wished to bring back word, nor to return,
ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ βούλοντο μετʼ ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισιbut wanted to stay there among the Lotus-eating men,
λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι μενέμεν νόστου τε λαθέσθαι.feeding on the lotus, and to forget his homecoming.
τοὺς μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἄγον κλαίοντας ἀνάγκῃ,These men I dragged back weeping to the ships by force,
νηυσὶ δʼ ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπὸ ζυγὰ δῆσα ἐρύσσας.and in the hollow ships I bound them fast beneath the benches.
100αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρουςBut the rest I ordered, my trusty comrades,
σπερχομένους νηῶν ἐπιβαινέμεν ὠκειάων,to hurry and go aboard the swift ships,
μή πώς τις λωτοῖο φαγὼν νόστοιο λάθηται.so that none might eat the lotus and forget his homecoming.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,They quickly went aboard and sat down at the oarlocks,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.and sitting in their rows they struck the grey sea with their oars.
105ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ·From there we sailed onward, grieving in our hearts,
Κυκλώπων δʼ ἐς γαῖαν ὑπερφιάλων ἀθεμίστωνand we came to the land of the Cyclopes, overweening and lawless,
ἱκόμεθʼ, οἵ ῥα θεοῖσι πεποιθότες ἀθανάτοισινwho, trusting in the immortal gods,
οὔτε φυτεύουσιν χερσὶν φυτὸν οὔτʼ ἀρόωσιν,neither plant with their hands any crop nor plow,
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ ἄσπαρτα καὶ ἀνήροτα πάντα φύονται,but all these things grow for them unsown and unplowed—
110πυροὶ καὶ κριθαὶ ἠδʼ ἄμπελοι, αἵ τε φέρουσινwheat and barley and the vines, which bear
οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει.wine from great clusters, and the rain of Zeus swells them.
τοῖσιν δʼ οὔτʼ ἀγοραὶ βουληφόροι οὔτε θέμιστες,They have no assemblies for counsel, nor any laws,
ἀλλʼ οἵ γʼ ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ναίουσι κάρηναbut they dwell on the peaks of high mountains
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, θεμιστεύει δὲ ἕκαστοςin hollow caves, and each one lays down the law
115παίδων ἠδʼ ἀλόχων, οὐδʼ ἀλλήλων ἀλέγουσιν.for his children and his wives, and they care nothing for one another.
νῆσος ἔπειτα λάχεια παρὲκ λιμένος
τετάνυσται,Then there is an island, level and fertile, stretched out beyond the harbor,
γαίης Κυκλώπων οὔτε σχεδὸν οὔτʼ ἀποτηλοῦ,neither near the land of the Cyclopes nor far off,
ὑλήεσσʼ· ἐν δʼ αἶγες ἀπειρέσιαι γεγάασινwooded; and on it goats past counting are born,
ἄγριαι· οὐ μὲν γὰρ πάτος ἀνθρώπων ἀπερύκει,wild ones; for the tread of men does not scare them off,
120οὐδέ μιν εἰσοιχνεῦσι κυνηγέται, οἵ τε καθʼ ὕληνnor do hunters come there, who through the forest
ἄλγεα πάσχουσιν κορυφὰς ὀρέων ἐφέποντες.suffer hardships as they range the mountain peaks.
οὔτʼ ἄρα ποίμνῃσιν καταΐσχεται οὔτʼ ἀρότοισιν,Neither by flocks is it held, nor by plowlands,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἄσπαρτος καὶ ἀνήροτος ἤματα πάνταbut unsown and unplowed through all its days
ἀνδρῶν χηρεύει, βόσκει δέ τε μηκάδας αἶγας.it lies bereft of men, and feeds the bleating goats.
125οὐ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι νέες πάρα μιλτοπάρῃοι,For the Cyclopes have no red-cheeked ships beside them,
οὐδʼ ἄνδρες νηῶν ἔνι τέκτονες, οἵ κε κάμοιενnor men among them who are shipwrights, who might build
νῆας ἐυσσέλμους, αἵ κεν τελέοιεν ἕκασταwell-benched vessels, which would accomplish all their needs,
ἄστεʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπων ἱκνεύμεναι, οἷά τε πολλὰtraveling to the cities of men, as often
ἄνδρες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλους νηυσὶν περόωσι θάλασσαν·men cross the sea in ships to one another;
130οἵ κέ σφιν καὶ νῆσον ἐυκτιμένην ἐκάμοντο.these men would have made their island well-settled for them.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακή γε, φέροι δέ κεν ὥρια πάντα·For it is not poor land at all, but would bear all things in season:
ἐν μὲν γὰρ λειμῶνες ἁλὸς πολιοῖο παρʼ ὄχθαςfor there are meadows by the shores of the grey sea,
ὑδρηλοὶ μαλακοί· μάλα κʼ ἄφθιτοι ἄμπελοι εἶεν.well-watered, soft; there vines would be undying;
ἐν δʼ ἄροσις λείη· μάλα κεν βαθὺ λήιον αἰεὶand level ground for plowing; a rich crop always
135εἰς ὥρας ἀμῷεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πῖαρ ὑπʼ οὖδας.they would reap in season, since the soil beneath is very rich.
ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ἵνʼ οὐ χρεὼ πείσματός ἐστιν,And in it is a good harbor, where there is no need of cable,
οὔτʼ εὐνὰς βαλέειν οὔτε πρυμνήσιʼ ἀνάψαι,neither to throw anchor-stones nor to fasten stern-lines,
ἀλλʼ ἐπικέλσαντας μεῖναι χρόνον εἰς ὅ κε ναυτέωνbut once run ashore you may wait until the sailors'
θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται.spirit stirs them on and the breezes blow.
140αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος ῥέει ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ,And at the head of the harbor bright water flows,
κρήνη ὑπὸ σπείους· περὶ δʼ αἴγειροι πεφύασιν.a spring beneath a cave; and poplars grow around it.
ἔνθα κατεπλέομεν, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευενThere we sailed in, and some god was our guide
νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, οὐδὲ προυφαίνετʼ ἰδέσθαι·through the murky night, and nothing showed to see;
ἀὴρ γὰρ περὶ νηυσὶ βαθεῖʼ ἦν, οὐδὲ σελήνηfor a deep mist lay about the ships, and no moon
145οὐρανόθεν προύφαινε, κατείχετο δὲ νεφέεσσιν.shone from the sky, but it was held down by clouds.
ἔνθʼ οὔ τις τὴν νῆσον ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,There no one saw the island with his eyes,
οὔτʼ οὖν κύματα μακρὰ κυλινδόμενα προτὶ χέρσονnor did we see the long waves rolling toward the shore
εἰσίδομεν, πρὶν νῆας ἐυσσέλμους ἐπικέλσαι.until we ran our well-benched ships aground.
κελσάσῃσι δὲ νηυσὶ καθείλομεν ἱστία πάντα,And when the ships had grounded we took down all the sails,
150ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·and we ourselves stepped out onto the breaking surf of the sea;
ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.and there we fell asleep and waited for the bright Dawn.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
νῆσον θαυμάζοντες ἐδινεόμεσθα κατʼ αὐτήν.marveling at the island we roamed all through it.
ὦρσαν δὲ νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,And the nymphs, daughters of Zeus who bears the aegis, roused up
155αἶγας ὀρεσκῴους, ἵνα δειπνήσειαν ἑταῖροι.the mountain-dwelling goats, that my companions might dine.
αὐτίκα καμπύλα τόξα καὶ αἰγανέας δολιχαύλουςAt once we took the curved bows and the long-socketed hunting spears
εἱλόμεθʼ ἐκ νηῶν, διὰ δὲ τρίχα κοσμηθέντεςfrom the ships, and drawn up in three companies
βάλλομεν· αἶψα δʼ ἔδωκε θεὸς μενοεικέα θήρην.we shot; and quickly the god gave us game to our hearts' content.
νῆες μέν μοι ἕποντο δυώδεκα, ἐς δὲ ἑκάστηνTwelve ships followed me, and to each one
160ἐννέα λάγχανον αἶγες· ἐμοὶ δὲ δέκʼ ἔξελον οἴῳ.nine goats fell by lot; for me alone they set apart ten.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύνταSo then for the whole day until the sun went down
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·we sat there feasting on abundant meat and sweet wine;
οὐ γάρ πω νηῶν ἐξέφθιτο οἶνος ἐρυθρός,for the red wine had not yet been used up from the ships,
ἀλλʼ ἐνέην· πολλὸν γὰρ ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἕκαστοιbut there was more within; for each of us had drawn off much
165ἠφύσαμεν Κικόνων. ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἑλόντες.in jars when we took the sacred citadel of the Cicones.
Κυκλώπων δʼ ἐς γαῖαν ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντων,And we looked out toward the land of the Cyclopes, who were near,
καπνόν τʼ αὐτῶν τε φθογγὴν ὀίων τε καὶ αἰγῶν.at the smoke and the voices of them and their sheep and goats.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,And when the sun went down and darkness came on,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.then we lay down to sleep on the breaking surf of the sea.
170ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·then I called an assembly and spoke among them all:
ἄλλοι μὲν νῦν μίμνετʼ, ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες
ἑταῖροι·"The rest of you stay here now, my trusty companions;
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηί τʼ ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισινbut I with my own ship and my own companions
ἐλθὼν τῶνδʼ ἀνδρῶν πειρήσομαι, οἵ τινές εἰσιν,will go and make trial of these men, whoever they are,
175ἤ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,whether they are violent and savage, with no sense of justice,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.or hospitable, and their minds are god-fearing."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνὰ νηὸς ἔβην, ἐκέλευσα δʼ ἑταίρουςSo speaking I went aboard the ship, and I ordered my companions
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.both to climb aboard themselves and to loose the stern cables.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,And quickly they went aboard and sat down at the oarlocks,
180ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,But when we had reached the place, which was near at hand,
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ σπέος εἴδομεν ἄγχι θαλάσσης,there at the edge, close to the sea, we saw a cave,
ὑψηλόν, δάφνῃσι κατηρεφές. ἔνθα δὲ πολλὰhigh, roofed over with laurels; and there many
μῆλʼ, ὄιές τε καὶ αἶγες, ἰαύεσκον· περὶ δʼ αὐλὴflocks, sheep and goats, would spend the night; and around it a courtyard
185ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο κατωρυχέεσσι λίθοισιhad been built up high with stones sunk deep in the earth
μακρῇσίν τε πίτυσσιν ἰδὲ δρυσὶν ὑψικόμοισιν.and with tall pines and oaks of lofty foliage.
ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐνίαυε πελώριος, ὅς ῥα τὰ μῆλαThere a monstrous man used to sleep, who shepherded his flocks
οἶος ποιμαίνεσκεν ἀπόπροθεν· οὐδὲ μετʼ ἄλλουςalone and far off; nor did he go among the others,
πωλεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἐὼν ἀθεμίστια ᾔδη.but stayed apart, and his mind knew only lawlessness.
190καὶ γὰρ θαῦμʼ ἐτέτυκτο πελώριον, οὐδὲ ἐῴκειFor he was fashioned a monstrous wonder, and did not resemble
ἀνδρί γε σιτοφάγῳ, ἀλλὰ ῥίῳ ὑλήεντιa man who eats bread, but rather a wooded peak
ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων, ὅ τε φαίνεται οἶον ἀπʼ ἄλλων.of the high mountains, which stands out alone from the rest.
δὴ τότε τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρουςThen I ordered the rest of my trusty companions
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι,to stay there by the ship and to guard the ship,
195αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κρίνας ἑτάρων δυοκαίδεκʼ ἀρίστουςbut I, having chosen twelve of the best of my companions,
βῆν· ἀτὰρ αἴγεον ἀσκὸν ἔχον μέλανος οἴνοιοset out; and I carried a goatskin of dark wine,
ἡδέος, ὅν μοι ἔδωκε Μάρων, Εὐάνθεος υἱός,sweet, which Maron, the son of Euanthes, had given me,
ἱρεὺς Ἀπόλλωνος, ὃς Ἴσμαρον ἀμφιβεβήκει,the priest of Apollo, who watched over Ismarus,
οὕνεκά μιν σὺν παιδὶ περισχόμεθʼ ἠδὲ γυναικὶbecause we had protected him with his child and his wife
200ἁζόμενοι· ᾤκει γὰρ ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντιout of reverence; for he lived in a wooded grove
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος. ὁ δέ μοι πόρεν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα·Phoebus Apollo. And he gave me splendid gifts:
χρυσοῦ μέν μοι ἔδωκʼ ἐυεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,he gave me seven talents of well-wrought gold,
δῶκε δέ μοι κρητῆρα πανάργυρον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειταand he gave me a mixing-bowl all of silver, and then
οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι δυώδεκα πᾶσιν ἀφύσσαςwine, filling twelve jars in all, and drawing it off,
205ἡδὺν ἀκηράσιον, θεῖον ποτόν· οὐδέ τις αὐτὸνsweet and unmixed, a drink for the gods; nor did any
ἠείδη δμώων οὐδʼ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,of the servants or handmaids in the house know of it,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς ἄλοχός τε φίλη ταμίη τε μίʼ οἴη.but only himself, his dear wife, and one housekeeper alone.
τὸν δʼ ὅτε πίνοιεν μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν,And whenever they drank that honey-sweet red wine,
ἓν δέπας ἐμπλήσας ὕδατος ἀνὰ εἴκοσι μέτραhe would fill a single cup and pour it into twenty measures
210χεῦʼ, ὀδμὴ δʼ ἡδεῖα ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ὀδώδειof water, and a sweet fragrance rose from the mixing-bowl,
θεσπεσίη· τότʼ ἂν οὔ τοι ἀποσχέσθαι φίλον ἦεν.marvelous; then it would have been no pleasure to hold back.
τοῦ φέρον ἐμπλήσας ἀσκὸν μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖαOf this I carried a great skin, filled full, and provisions too
κωρύκῳ· αὐτίκα γάρ μοι ὀίσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρin a sack; for at once my proud heart had a foreboding
ἄνδρʼ ἐπελεύσεσθαι μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν,that a man would come upon me, clothed in great strength,
215ἄγριον, οὔτε δίκας ἐὺ εἰδότα οὔτε θέμιστας.a savage, knowing well neither justice nor laws.
καρπαλίμως δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, οὐδέ μιν
ἔνδονSwiftly we came to the cave, and we did not find him
εὕρομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνόμευε νομὸν κάτα πίονα μῆλα.within, but he was herding his fat flocks along the pasture.
ἐλθόντες δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἐθηεύμεσθα ἕκαστα.Going into the cave, we gazed upon each thing.
ταρσοὶ μὲν τυρῶν βρῖθον, στείνοντο δὲ σηκοὶThe crates were laden with cheeses, and the pens were crowded
220ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· διακεκριμέναι δὲ ἕκασταιwith lambs and kids; and each was penned apart,
ἔρχατο, χωρὶς μὲν πρόγονοι, χωρὶς δὲ μέτασσαι,separate—the firstlings by themselves, the middle-born by themselves,
χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ ἕρσαι. ναῖον δʼ ὀρῷ ἄγγεα πάντα,and the newborn again by themselves. And all the vessels swam with whey,
γαυλοί τε σκαφίδες τε, τετυγμένα, τοῖς ἐνάμελγεν.the pails and the bowls, well-made, into which he milked.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν πρώτισθʼ ἕταροι λίσσοντʼ ἐπέεσσινThere first my companions begged me with their words
225τυρῶν αἰνυμένους ἰέναι πάλιν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειταto take some of the cheeses and go back, and then afterward
καρπαλίμως ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐρίφους τε καὶ ἄρναςswiftly to the swift ship to drive the kids and lambs
σηκῶν ἐξελάσαντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ·out of the pens, and to sail over the salt water;
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην, ἦ τʼ ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν,but I did not listen—it would truly have been far better—
ὄφρʼ αὐτόν τε ἴδοιμι, καὶ εἴ μοι ξείνια δοίη.so that I might see him, and whether he would give me guest-gifts.
230οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλʼ ἑτάροισι φανεὶς ἐρατεινὸς ἔσεσθαι.Nor, when he appeared, was he to be lovely to my companions.
ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντες ἐθύσαμεν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶThen we kindled a fire and made offering, and we ourselves
τυρῶν αἰνύμενοι φάγομεν, μένομέν τέ μιν ἔνδονtook some of the cheeses and ate, and we waited for him within,
ἥμενοι, ἧος ἐπῆλθε νέμων. φέρε δʼ ὄβριμον ἄχθοςsitting, until he came herding. He carried a heavy load
ὕλης ἀζαλέης, ἵνα οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη,of dry wood, so that it might serve him for his supper,
235ἔντοσθεν δʼ ἄντροιο βαλὼν ὀρυμαγδὸν ἔθηκεν·and he flung it down inside the cave with a crash;
ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ ἐς μυχὸν ἄντρου.and we in terror shrank away into a corner of the cave.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλαBut he drove his fat flocks into the wide cavern,
πάντα μάλʼ ὅσσʼ ἤμελγε, τὰ δʼ ἄρσενα λεῖπε θύρηφιν,all those he milked, and left the males outside at the door,
ἀρνειούς τε τράγους τε, βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς.the rams and the he-goats, outside the deep courtyard.
240αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,Then he lifted a great doorstone on high and set it in place,
ὄβριμον· οὐκ ἂν τόν γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἄμαξαιa massive one; not even twenty-two wagons,
ἐσθλαὶ τετράκυκλοι ἀπʼ οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν·good ones with four wheels, could budge it from the ground:
τόσσην ἠλίβατον πέτρην ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσιν.so towering was the rock he set against the doorway.
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,Then sitting down he milked the ewes and bleating goats,
245πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.all in due order, and put a young one beneath each.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἥμισυ μὲν θρέψας λευκοῖο γάλακτοςAt once he curdled half of the white milk
πλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισιν ἀμησάμενος κατέθηκεν,and gathered it in woven baskets and laid it away,
ἥμισυ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔστησεν ἐν ἄγγεσιν, ὄφρα οἱ εἴηand the other half he set in vessels, so that he might have it
πίνειν αἰνυμένῳ καί οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη.to take and drink, and that it might serve him for his supper.
250αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,But when he had busied himself and finished his tasks,
καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσιδεν, εἴρετο δʼ ἡμέας·then he kindled a fire, and saw us, and questioned us:
ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ
κέλευθα;"Strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery ways?
ἦ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε,On some business, or do you wander at random,
οἷά τε ληιστῆρες, ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνταιlike pirates over the sea, who roam about
255ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;risking their lives and bringing evil to men of other lands?"
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτε κατεκλάσθη φίλον
ἦτορ,So he spoke, and in us our dear hearts were broken,
δεισάντων φθόγγον τε βαρὺν αὐτόν τε πέλωρον.in dread of his heavy voice and his own monstrous bulk.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·But even so I answered him and spoke to him:
ἡμεῖς τοι Τροίηθεν ἀποπλαγχθέντες Ἀχαιοὶ"We are Achaeans, driven off course from Troy
260παντοίοις ἀνέμοισιν ὑπὲρ μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,by winds of every kind over the great gulf of the sea;
οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι, ἄλλην ὁδὸν ἄλλα κέλευθαmaking for home, we came by another road, by other ways—
ἤλθομεν· οὕτω που Ζεὺς ἤθελε μητίσασθαι.so, I suppose, Zeus willed to devise it.
λαοὶ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,We claim to be men of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
τοῦ δὴ νῦν γε μέγιστον ὑπουράνιον κλέος ἐστί·whose fame now is the greatest under heaven:
265τόσσην γὰρ διέπερσε πόλιν καὶ ἀπώλεσε λαοὺςso great a city he sacked, and destroyed peoples
πολλούς. ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε κιχανόμενοι τὰ σὰ γοῦναbeyond number. But we, arriving here, are come to your knees
ἱκόμεθʼ, εἴ τι πόροις ξεινήιον ἠὲ καὶ ἄλλωςto see if you would grant us guest-friendship, or otherwise
δοίης δωτίνην, ἥ τε ξείνων θέμις ἐστίν.give us a gift, which is the due of strangers.
ἀλλʼ αἰδεῖο, φέριστε, θεούς· ἱκέται δέ τοί εἰμεν,But show reverence, great one, to the gods; we are your suppliants,
270Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπιτιμήτωρ ἱκετάων τε ξείνων τε,and Zeus is the avenger of suppliants and of strangers,
ξείνιος, ὃς ξείνοισιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.Zeus of guests, who attends upon strangers worthy of respect."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι
θυμῷ·So I spoke, and at once he answered me with pitiless heart:
νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,"You are a fool, stranger, or you have come from far away,
ὅς με θεοὺς κέλεαι ἢ δειδίμεν ἢ ἀλέασθαι·you who bid me either fear the gods or shun them:
275οὐ γὰρ Κύκλωπες Διὸς αἰγιόχου ἀλέγουσινfor the Cyclopes care nothing for Zeus who bears the aegis,
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·nor for the blessed gods, since we are far mightier.
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ Διὸς ἔχθος ἀλευάμενος πεφιδοίμηνNor would I, to shun the wrath of Zeus, spare either you
οὔτε σεῦ οὔθʼ ἑτάρων, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι.or your companions, unless my own heart bade me.
ἀλλά μοι εἴφʼ ὅπῃ ἔσχες ἰὼν ἐυεργέα νῆα,But tell me where you moored your well-built ship as you came,
280ἤ που ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ἦ καὶ σχεδόν, ὄφρα δαείω.whether far off or nearby, so that I may know."
ὣς φάτο πειράζων, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐ λάθεν εἰδότα
πολλά,So he spoke, testing me, but I was too wise to be caught,
ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην δολίοις ἐπέεσσι·and I answered him again with crafty words:
νέα μέν μοι κατέαξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων"Poseidon the earth-shaker wrecked my ship,
πρὸς πέτρῃσι βαλὼν ὑμῆς ἐπὶ πείρασι γαίης,hurling it against the rocks at the borders of your land,
285ἄκρῃ προσπελάσας· ἄνεμος δʼ ἐκ πόντου ἔνεικεν·driving it onto the headland; the wind bore it in from the sea.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν τοῖσδε ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.But I with these men escaped from utter destruction."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο νηλέι
θυμῷ,So I spoke, and he answered me nothing with his pitiless heart,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἀναΐξας ἑτάροις ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἴαλλε,but sprang up and laid his hands upon my companions,
σὺν δὲ δύω μάρψας ὥς τε σκύλακας ποτὶ γαίῃand seizing two together like puppies he dashed them
290κόπτʼ· ἐκ δʼ ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.to the ground, and their brains flowed out and wetted the earth.
τοὺς δὲ διὰ μελεϊστὶ ταμὼν ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον·He cut them limb from limb and made ready his supper,
ἤσθιε δʼ ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, οὐδʼ ἀπέλειπεν,and ate like a mountain-bred lion, and left nothing,
ἔγκατά τε σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα μυελόεντα.the entrails and the flesh and the marrowy bones alike.
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαίοντες ἀνεσχέθομεν Διὶ χεῖρας,And we, weeping, held up our hands to Zeus,
295σχέτλια ἔργʼ ὁρόωντες, ἀμηχανίη δʼ ἔχε θυμόν.as we watched his cruel deeds, and helplessness gripped our hearts.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωψ μεγάλην ἐμπλήσατο νηδὺνBut when the Cyclops had filled his great belly,
ἀνδρόμεα κρέʼ ἔδων καὶ ἐπʼ ἄκρητον γάλα πίνων,eating human flesh and drinking unmixed milk on top,
κεῖτʼ ἔντοσθʼ ἄντροιο τανυσσάμενος διὰ μήλων.he lay down within the cave, stretched out among his flocks.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ βούλευσα κατὰ μεγαλήτορα θυμὸνThen I took counsel in my great-hearted spirit
300ἆσσον ἰών, ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ,to go closer, and drawing my sharp sword from my thigh
οὐτάμεναι πρὸς στῆθος, ὅθι φρένες ἧπαρ ἔχουσι,to stab him in the breast, where the midriff holds the liver,
χείρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος· ἕτερος δέ με θυμὸς ἔρυκεν.feeling for the place with my hand; but a second thought held me back.
αὐτοῦ γάρ κε καὶ ἄμμες ἀπωλόμεθʼ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·For there we too would have perished in utter destruction,
οὐ γάρ κεν δυνάμεσθα θυράων ὑψηλάωνsince we could not have thrust away with our hands
305χερσὶν ἀπώσασθαι λίθον ὄβριμον, ὃν προσέθηκεν.from the high doorway the mighty stone he had set there.
ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.So then, groaning, we waited for the bright Dawn.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ ἤμελγε κλυτὰ μῆλα,then he kindled his fire and milked his splendid flocks,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.all in due order, and set her young beneath each one.
310αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,But when he had hastened through his tasks and finished them,
σὺν δʼ ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον.he seized two again and made ready his meal.
δειπνήσας δʼ ἄντρου ἐξήλασε πίονα μῆλα,And when he had eaten he drove his fat flocks from the cave,
ῥηιδίως ἀφελὼν θυρεὸν μέγαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταeasily lifting away the great door-stone; and then
ἂψ ἐπέθηχʼ, ὡς εἴ τε φαρέτρῃ πῶμʼ ἐπιθείη.he set it back, as one might fit the lid upon a quiver.
315πολλῇ δὲ ῥοίζῳ πρὸς ὄρος τρέπε πίονα μῆλαAnd with much whistling the Cyclops turned his fat flocks
Κύκλωψ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων,toward the mountain; but I was left brooding evil,
εἴ πως τισαίμην, δοίη δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.hoping I might take vengeance, if Athena would grant me the glory.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.And this seemed to my heart the best of plans.
Κύκλωπος γὰρ ἔκειτο μέγα ῥόπαλον παρὰ σηκῷ,Beside the pen there lay a great club of the Cyclops,
320χλωρὸν ἐλαΐνεον· τὸ μὲν ἔκταμεν, ὄφρα φοροίηof green olive-wood; he had cut it, to carry it
αὐανθέν. τὸ μὲν ἄμμες ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντεςto let it dry. As we looked at it, we likened it in size
ὅσσον θʼ ἱστὸν νηὸς ἐεικοσόροιο μελαίνης,to the mast of a black ship of twenty oars,
φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἥ τʼ ἐκπεράᾳ μέγα λαῖτμα·a broad merchantman that crosses the great gulf:
τόσσον ἔην μῆκος, τόσσον πάχος εἰσοράασθαι.so long it was, so thick to look upon.
325τοῦ μὲν ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιαν ἐγὼν ἀπέκοψα παραστὰςI stepped up and cut off from it about a fathom's length
καὶ παρέθηχʼ ἑτάροισιν, ἀποξῦναι δʼ ἐκέλευσα·and handed it to my companions, and told them to smooth it down;
οἱ δʼ ὁμαλὸν ποίησαν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐθόωσα παραστὰςand they made it even, while I stood beside them and sharpened
ἄκρον, ἄφαρ δὲ λαβὼν ἐπυράκτεον ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ.the tip, and at once took it and hardened it in the blazing fire.
καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκα κατακρύψας ὑπὸ κόπρῳ,And I set it well aside, hiding it beneath the dung
330ἥ ῥα κατὰ σπείους κέχυτο μεγάλʼ ἤλιθα πολλή·that lay scattered in great heaps throughout the cave.
αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κλήρῳ πεπαλάσθαι ἄνωγον,Then I bade the others cast lots among themselves,
ὅς τις τολμήσειεν ἐμοὶ σὺν μοχλὸν ἀείραςwhich of them should dare, together with me, to lift the stake
τρῖψαι ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ, ὅτε τὸν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι.and grind it in his eye when sweet sleep should come upon him.
οἱ δʼ ἔλαχον τοὺς ἄν κε καὶ ἤθελον αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι,And the lot fell on those whom I myself would have chosen,
335τέσσαρες, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πέμπτος μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέγμην.four men, and I counted myself the fifth among them.
ἑσπέριος δʼ ἦλθεν καλλίτριχα μῆλα νομεύων.At evening he came, herding his fine-fleeced flocks,
αὐτίκα δʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλαand at once drove his fat flocks into the wide cave,
πάντα μάλʼ, οὐδέ τι λεῖπε βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς,all of them, and left none outside in the deep yard,
ἤ τι ὀισάμενος, ἢ καὶ θεὸς ὣς ἐκέλευσεν.whether suspecting something, or a god so commanded.
340αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,Then he lifted the great door-stone high and set it in place,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,and sitting down he milked the ewes and bleating goats,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.all in due order, and set her young beneath each one.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,But when he had hastened through his tasks and finished them,
σὺν δʼ ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.he seized two men again and made ready his meal.
345καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων ἄγχι παραστάς,And then I stood close by and spoke to the Cyclops,
κισσύβιον μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων μέλανος οἴνοιο·holding in my hands an ivy-bowl of dark wine:
Κύκλωψ, τῆ, πίε οἶνον, ἐπεὶ φάγες ἀνδρόμεα
κρέα,"Cyclops, here, drink wine, now that you have eaten human flesh,
ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷόν τι ποτὸν τόδε νηῦς ἐκεκεύθειso you may know what sort of drink our ship
ἡμετέρη. σοὶ δʼ αὖ λοιβὴν φέρον, εἴ μʼ ἐλεήσαςwas keeping. I brought it as a libation, in hopes you might pity me
350οἴκαδε πέμψειας· σὺ δὲ μαίνεαι οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶς.and send me home; but your madness is no longer to be borne.
σχέτλιε, πῶς κέν τίς σε καὶ ὕστερον ἄλλος ἵκοιτοCruel one, how shall any other man of the many that live
ἀνθρώπων πολέων, ἐπεὶ οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔρεξας;come to you hereafter? For you have not acted rightly."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔδεκτο καὶ ἔκπιεν· ἥσατο δʼ
αἰνῶςSo I spoke, and he took it and drank it off; and hugely he delighted
ἡδὺ ποτὸν πίνων καὶ μʼ ᾔτεε δεύτερον αὖτις·in drinking the sweet drink, and asked me for a second draught:
355δός μοι ἔτι πρόφρων, καί μοι τεὸν οὔνομα
εἰπὲ"Give me more, freely, and tell me your name
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα τοι δῶ ξείνιον, ᾧ κε σὺ χαίρῃς·right now, so that I may give you a guest-gift to delight you;
καὶ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουραfor the grain-giving earth bears for the Cyclopes too
οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει·wine of noble clusters, and the rain of Zeus swells it;
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ἀμβροσίης καὶ νέκταρός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.but this is a runlet of ambrosia and nectar."
360ὣς φάτʼ, ἀτάρ οἱ αὖτις ἐγὼ πόρον αἴθοπα
οἶνον.So he spoke, and again I offered him the gleaming wine.
τρὶς μὲν ἔδωκα φέρων, τρὶς δʼ ἔκπιεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.Three times I brought it and gave it, three times he drank in his folly.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωπα περὶ φρένας ἤλυθεν οἶνος,But when the wine had gone round the wits of the Cyclops,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισι·then indeed I spoke to him with honeyed words:
Κύκλωψ, εἰρωτᾷς μʼ ὄνομα κλυτόν, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ
τοι"Cyclops, you ask me my famous name; well, I
365ἐξερέω· σὺ δέ μοι δὸς ξείνιον, ὥς περ ὑπέστης.will tell you: but give me the guest-gift you promised.
Οὖτις ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομα· Οὖτιν δέ με κικλήσκουσιNobody is my name; Nobody they call me,
μήτηρ ἠδὲ πατὴρ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι.my mother and my father and all my companions."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι
θυμῷ·So I spoke, and at once he answered with pitiless heart:
Οὖτιν ἐγὼ πύματον ἔδομαι μετὰ οἷς ἑτάροισιν,"Nobody I will eat last among his companions,
370τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους πρόσθεν· τὸ δέ τοι ξεινήιον ἔσται.the others before him: that shall be your guest-gift."
ἦ καὶ ἀνακλινθεὶς πέσεν ὕπτιος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειταHe spoke, and reeling backward fell flat on his back, and then
κεῖτʼ ἀποδοχμώσας παχὺν αὐχένα, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνοςlay with his thick neck bent aside, and sleep,
ᾕρει πανδαμάτωρ· φάρυγος δʼ ἐξέσσυτο οἶνοςthe all-subduer, took him; from his gullet gushed the wine
ψωμοί τʼ ἀνδρόμεοι· ὁ δʼ ἐρεύγετο οἰνοβαρείων.and gobbets of human flesh; he belched, heavy with wine.
375καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ τὸν μοχλὸν ὑπὸ σποδοῦ ἤλασα πολλῆς,And then I drove the stake in under the deep ashes,
ἧος θερμαίνοιτο· ἔπεσσι δὲ πάντας ἑταίρουςuntil it should grow hot; and with words I heartened all
θάρσυνον, μή τίς μοι ὑποδείσας ἀναδύη.my companions, lest any shrink back from me in fear.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ὁ μοχλὸς ἐλάινος ἐν πυρὶ μέλλενBut when the olive-wood stake was soon about to catch
ἅψεσθαι, χλωρός περ ἐών, διεφαίνετο δʼ αἰνῶς,in the fire, green though it was, and glowed terribly,
380καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἆσσον φέρον ἐκ πυρός, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροιthen I brought it close from the fire, and round me my companions
ἵσταντʼ· αὐτὰρ θάρσος ἐνέπνευσεν μέγα δαίμων.stood; and a god breathed great courage into us.
οἱ μὲν μοχλὸν ἑλόντες ἐλάινον, ὀξὺν ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ,They took the stake of olive-wood, sharp at the point,
ὀφθαλμῷ ἐνέρεισαν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐφύπερθεν ἐρεισθεὶςand drove it into his eye; and I, leaning my weight from above,
δίνεον, ὡς ὅτε τις τρυπῷ δόρυ νήιον ἀνὴρspun it, as when a man bores a ship's timber
385τρυπάνῳ, οἱ δέ τʼ ἔνερθεν ὑποσσείουσιν ἱμάντιwith a drill, and others below keep it whirling with a strap
ἁψάμενοι ἑκάτερθε, τὸ δὲ τρέχει ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.grasped at either end, and the drill runs on unceasingly.
ὣς τοῦ ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ πυριήκεα μοχλὸν ἑλόντεςSo we took the fire-pointed stake in his eye
δινέομεν, τὸν δʼ αἷμα περίρρεε θερμὸν ἐόντα.and spun it, and the blood ran round it as it burned.
πάντα δέ οἱ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφὶ καὶ ὀφρύας εὗσεν ἀυτμὴThe blast of the burning eyeball singed all his lids about
390γλήνης καιομένης, σφαραγεῦντο δέ οἱ πυρὶ ῥίζαι.and his brows, and the roots of the eye crackled in the fire.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ χαλκεὺς πέλεκυν μέγαν ἠὲ σκέπαρνονAs when a smith dips a great axe or an adze
εἰν ὕδατι ψυχρῷ βάπτῃ μεγάλα ἰάχονταin cold water, and it hisses loud
φαρμάσσων· τὸ γὰρ αὖτε σιδήρου γε κράτος ἐστίνin the tempering—for from this comes the strength of iron—
ὣς τοῦ σίζʼ ὀφθαλμὸς ἐλαϊνέῳ περὶ μοχλῷ.so his eye sizzled around the olive-wood stake.
395σμερδαλέον δὲ μέγʼ ᾤμωξεν, περὶ δʼ ἴαχε πέτρη,Terribly he groaned aloud, and the rock rang round about,
ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ· αὐτὰρ ὁ μοχλὸνand we drew back in fear; but he wrenched the stake
ἐξέρυσʼ ὀφθαλμοῖο πεφυρμένον αἵματι πολλῷ.out of his eye, all fouled and dripping with blood.
τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔρριψεν ἀπὸ ἕο χερσὶν ἀλύων,Then in his frenzy he flung it from him with his hands,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Κύκλωπας μεγάλʼ ἤπυεν, οἵ ῥά μιν ἀμφὶςand he called aloud to the Cyclopes, who round about
400ᾤκεον ἐν σπήεσσι διʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας.dwelt in their caves among the windy heights.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀίοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,And they, hearing his cry, came thronging from every side,
ἱστάμενοι δʼ εἴροντο περὶ σπέος ὅττι ἑ κήδοι·and standing about the cave they asked what ailed him:
τίπτε τόσον, Πολύφημʼ, ἀρημένος ὧδʼ
ἐβόησας"Why, Polyphemus, so stricken have you cried out like this
νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην καὶ ἀύπνους ἄμμε τίθησθα;through the immortal night, and made us sleepless?
405ἦ μή τίς σευ μῆλα βροτῶν ἀέκοντος ἐλαύνει;Surely no mortal drives off your flocks against your will?
ἦ μή τίς σʼ αὐτὸν κτείνει δόλῳ ἠὲ βίηφιν;Surely no one is killing you by guile or by force?"
τοὺς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξ ἄντρου προσέφη κρατερὸς
Πολύφημος·Then from the cave mighty Polyphemus answered them:
ὦ φίλοι, Οὖτίς με κτείνει δόλῳ οὐδὲ βίηφιν."Friends, Nobody is killing me by guile and not by force."
οἱ δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον·And they answered and spoke winged words to him:
410εἰ μὲν δὴ μή τίς σε βιάζεται οἶον ἐόντα,"If then no one does you violence, and you are alone,
νοῦσον γʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς μεγάλου ἀλέασθαι,there is no way to escape the sickness sent by great Zeus,
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ εὔχεο πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι.so pray to your father, the lord Poseidon."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν ἀπιόντες, ἐμὸν δʼ ἐγέλασσε φίλον
κῆρ,So they spoke and went away, and my own heart laughed,
ὡς ὄνομʼ ἐξαπάτησεν ἐμὸν καὶ μῆτις ἀμύμων.how my name had deceived him, and my flawless cunning.
415Κύκλωψ δὲ στενάχων τε καὶ ὠδίνων ὀδύνῃσιBut the Cyclops, groaning and wracked with pains,
χερσὶ ψηλαφόων ἀπὸ μὲν λίθον εἷλε θυράων,groping with his hands, took the stone from the doorway,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι καθέζετο χεῖρε πετάσσας,and himself sat in the doorway with his arms spread wide,
εἴ τινά που μετʼ ὄεσσι λάβοι στείχοντα θύραζε·to catch anyone who tried to go out among the sheep:
οὕτω γάρ πού μʼ ἤλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ νήπιον εἶναι.so foolish, it seems, he hoped in his heart I was.
420αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον, ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένοιτο,But I kept planning how it might turn out best,
εἴ τινʼ ἑταίροισιν θανάτου λύσιν ἠδʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷwhether I could find some release from death for my comrades
εὑροίμην· πάντας δὲ δόλους καὶ μῆτιν ὕφαινονand for myself; and I wove all manner of guile and cunning,
ὥς τε περὶ ψυχῆς· μέγα γὰρ κακὸν ἐγγύθεν ἦεν.as for my life; for a great evil was near at hand.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.And this seemed to my mind the best of plans.
425ἄρσενες ὄιες ἦσαν ἐυτρεφέες, δασύμαλλοι,There were rams, well-fed, with thick fleeces,
καλοί τε μεγάλοι τε, ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχοντες·handsome and large, bearing wool dark as violets;
τοὺς ἀκέων συνέεργον ἐυστρεφέεσσι λύγοισιν,these I bound together silently with well-twisted withes,
τῇς ἔπι Κύκλωψ εὗδε πέλωρ, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,on which the Cyclops slept, the monster, knowing no law,
σύντρεις αἰνύμενος· ὁ μὲν ἐν μέσῳ ἄνδρα φέρεσκε,taking them three by three: the one in the middle carried a man,
430τὼ δʼ ἑτέρω ἑκάτερθεν ἴτην σώοντες ἑταίρους.and the other two went on either side, keeping my comrades safe.
τρεῖς δὲ ἕκαστον φῶτʼ ὄιες φέρον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε—Three sheep bore each man; but as for me—
ἀρνειὸς γὰρ ἔην μήλων ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων,there was a ram, by far the best of all the flock,
τοῦ κατὰ νῶτα λαβών, λασίην ὑπὸ γαστέρʼ ἐλυσθεὶςhim I seized by the back, and curled beneath his shaggy belly
κείμην· αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἀώτου θεσπεσίοιοI lay; and with my hands, twisted in the wondrous fleece,
435νωλεμέως στρεφθεὶς ἐχόμην τετληότι θυμῷ.I clung there steadfastly with an enduring heart.
ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.So then, groaning, we waited for the bright Dawn.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτα νομόνδʼ ἐξέσσυτο ἄρσενα μῆλα,then the male sheep rushed out to pasture,
θήλειαι δὲ μέμηκον ἀνήμελκτοι περὶ σηκούς·but the females bleated unmilked about the pens,
440οὔθατα γὰρ σφαραγεῦντο. ἄναξ δʼ ὀδύνῃσι κακῇσιfor their udders were bursting. And their master, worn with cruel pains,
τειρόμενος πάντων ὀίων ἐπεμαίετο νῶταworn down, felt over the backs of all the sheep
ὀρθῶν ἑσταότων· τὸ δὲ νήπιος οὐκ ἐνόησεν,as they stood upright; the fool, he did not see this—
ὥς οἱ ὑπʼ εἰροπόκων ὀίων στέρνοισι δέδεντο.how under the breasts of the woolly sheep my men were bound.
ὕστατος ἀρνειὸς μήλων ἔστειχε θύραζεLast of the flock the ram walked toward the door,
445λάχνῳ στεινόμενος καὶ ἐμοὶ πυκινὰ φρονέοντι.heavy with wool and with me, my mind teeming with schemes.
τὸν δʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος·And feeling over him, mighty Polyphemus spoke:
κριὲ πέπον, τί μοι ὧδε διὰ σπέος ἔσσυο
μήλων"Dear ram, why do you come through the cave like this, the last
ὕστατος; οὔ τι πάρος γε λελειμμένος ἔρχεαι οἰῶν,of the flock? Never before did you lag behind the sheep,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος νέμεαι τέρενʼ ἄνθεα ποίηςbut far the first you grazed the tender flowers of the grass,
450μακρὰ βιβάς, πρῶτος δὲ ῥοὰς ποταμῶν ἀφικάνεις,striding wide, and first you reached the streams of the rivers,
πρῶτος δὲ σταθμόνδε λιλαίεαι ἀπονέεσθαιand first you longed to return to the fold again
ἑσπέριος· νῦν αὖτε πανύστατος. ἦ σύ γʼ ἄνακτοςat evening; but now you are last of all. Surely you grieve
ὀφθαλμὸν ποθέεις, τὸν ἀνὴρ κακὸς ἐξαλάωσεfor your master's eye, which a wicked man blinded
σὺν λυγροῖς ἑτάροισι δαμασσάμενος φρένας οἴνῳ,with his miserable comrades, once he had mastered my wits with wine—
455Οὖτις, ὃν οὔ πώ φημι πεφυγμένον εἶναι ὄλεθρον.Nobody, who I say has not yet escaped destruction.
εἰ δὴ ὁμοφρονέοις ποτιφωνήεις τε γένοιοIf only you could share my mind and find a voice
εἰπεῖν ὅππῃ κεῖνος ἐμὸν μένος ἠλασκάζει·to tell me where that man is skulking from my rage—
τῷ κέ οἱ ἐγκέφαλός γε διὰ σπέος ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃthen his brains, struck down and dashed against the ground,
θεινομένου ῥαίοιτο πρὸς οὔδεϊ, κὰδ δέ κʼ ἐμὸν κῆρwould be spattered this way and that across the cave, and my heart
460λωφήσειε κακῶν, τά μοι οὐτιδανὸς πόρεν Οὖτις.would find relief from the evils that worthless Nobody brought me."
ὣς εἰπὼν τὸν κριὸν ἀπὸ ἕο πέμπε θύραζε.So speaking he sent the ram away from him through the door.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἠβαιὸν ἀπὸ σπείους τε καὶ αὐλῆςAnd when we had gone a little way from the cave and the yard,
πρῶτος ὑπʼ ἀρνειοῦ λυόμην, ὑπέλυσα δʼ ἑταίρους.first I loosed myself from under the ram, then freed my comrades.
καρπαλίμως δὲ τὰ μῆλα ταναύποδα, πίονα δημῷ,And swiftly the sheep with trailing legs, rich with fat,
465πολλὰ περιτροπέοντες ἐλαύνομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ νῆαdriving them, turning them often, we went, until we reached
ἱκόμεθʼ. ἀσπάσιοι δὲ φίλοις ἑτάροισι φάνημεν,the ship. Welcome we appeared to our dear comrades,
οἳ φύγομεν θάνατον, τοὺς δὲ στενάχοντο γοῶντες.we who had escaped death; but the others they mourned with groaning.
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ εἴων, ἀνὰ δʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦον ἑκάστῳ,But I would not let them—signaling each with my brows—
κλαίειν, ἀλλʼ ἐκέλευσα θοῶς καλλίτριχα μῆλαto weep, but ordered them to throw quickly the fine-fleeced sheep,
470πόλλʼ ἐν νηὶ βαλόντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.many of them, into the ship, and sail the salt water.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,And at once they went aboard and sat at the oarlocks,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.and sitting in rows they struck the grey sea with their oars.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,But when I was as far off as a man's shout can carry,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων κερτομίοισι·then I called out to the Cyclops with taunting words:
475Κύκλωψ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες ἀνάλκιδος ἀνδρὸς
ἑταίρους"Cyclops, so he was no weakling's comrades, that man
ἔδμεναι ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφι.whose companions you meant to eat in your hollow cave by brute force!
καὶ λίην σέ γʼ ἔμελλε κιχήσεσθαι κακὰ ἔργα,Indeed your evil deeds were bound to catch up with you,
σχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ ξείνους οὐχ ἅζεο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳhard wretch, since you did not shrink from eating your guests
ἐσθέμεναι· τῷ σε Ζεὺς τίσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.in your own house; therefore Zeus and the other gods have punished you."
480ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα χολώσατο κηρόθι
μᾶλλον,So I spoke, and then he grew still more enraged in his heart,
ἧκε δʼ ἀπορρήξας κορυφὴν ὄρεος μεγάλοιο,and he broke off the peak of a great mountain and hurled it,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε προπάροιθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιοand it fell down before the dark-prowed ship,
τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δʼ οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι,just short, and barely missed the tip of the steering-oar,
ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης·and the sea surged up beneath the falling of the rock,
485τὴν δʼ αἶψʼ ἤπειρόνδε παλιρρόθιον φέρε κῦμα,and the backwash of the wave carried the ship toward land,
πλημυρὶς ἐκ πόντοιο, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.the flood from the deep, and drove it to reach the shore.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χείρεσσι λαβὼν περιμήκεα κοντὸνBut I, seizing in my hands a very long pole,
ὦσα παρέξ, ἑτάροισι δʼ ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσαshoved us off, and urging on my companions ordered them
ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵνʼ ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν,to fall to the oars, so we might escape the danger,
490κρατὶ κατανεύων· οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον.nodding with my head; and they bent forward and rowed.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δὶς τόσσον ἅλα πρήσσοντες ἀπῆμεν,But when we had gone twice as far across the sea,
καὶ τότε δὴ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροιthen I called out to the Cyclops; and around me my companions
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·with soothing words tried to restrain me, one on this side, one on that:
σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἐθέλεις ἐρεθιζέμεν ἄγριον
ἄνδρα;"Reckless man, why do you want to provoke this savage creature?
495ὃς καὶ νῦν πόντονδε βαλὼν βέλος ἤγαγε νῆαEven now he hurled a missile to the sea and drove the ship
αὖτις ἐς ἤπειρον, καὶ δὴ φάμεν αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.back to the land, and we thought we would die there.
εἰ δὲ φθεγξαμένου τευ ἢ αὐδήσαντος ἄκουσε,If he had heard one of us call out or make a sound,
σύν κεν ἄραξʼ ἡμέων κεφαλὰς καὶ νήια δοῦραhe would have smashed our heads and the ship's timbers together,
μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών· τόσσον γὰρ ἵησιν.hurling a jagged boulder—so far can he throw!"
500ὣς φάσαν, ἀλλʼ οὐ πεῖθον ἐμὸν μεγαλήτορα
θυμόν,So they spoke, but they did not persuade my great-hearted spirit,
ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην κεκοτηότι θυμῷ·and once again I addressed him with anger in my heart:
Κύκλωψ, αἴ κέν τίς σε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων"Cyclops, if any mortal man should ever
ὀφθαλμοῦ εἴρηται ἀεικελίην ἀλαωτύν,ask you about the shameful blinding of your eye,
φάσθαι Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον ἐξαλαῶσαι,say that Odysseus, sacker of cities, blinded you,
505υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντα.the son of Laertes, who has his home in Ithaca."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·So I spoke, and he groaned and answered me with these words:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθʼ ἱκάνει."Ah, now indeed the ancient prophecies have come upon me.
ἔσκε τις ἐνθάδε μάντις ἀνὴρ ἠύς τε μέγας τε,There was a seer here, a good man and a great one,
Τήλεμος Εὐρυμίδης, ὃς μαντοσύνῃ ἐκέκαστοTelemus, son of Eurymus, who was surpassing in prophecy
510καὶ μαντευόμενος κατεγήρα Κυκλώπεσσιν·and grew old prophesying among the Cyclopes;
ὅς μοι ἔφη τάδε πάντα τελευτήσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,he told me all this would come to pass hereafter,
χειρῶν ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἁμαρτήσεσθαι ὀπωπῆς.that I would lose my sight at the hands of Odysseus.
ἀλλʼ αἰεί τινα φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλὸν ἐδέγμηνBut I always expected some great and handsome man
ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι, μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν·would come here, clothed in mighty strength;
515νῦν δέ μʼ ἐὼν ὀλίγος τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καὶ ἄκικυςbut now one who is small and worthless and feeble
ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐδαμάσσατο οἴνῳ.has blinded my eye, after overpowering me with wine.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείωBut come here, Odysseus, so I may set gifts of welcome before you
πομπήν τʼ ὀτρύνω δόμεναι κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον·and urge the glorious Earthshaker to grant you passage;
τοῦ γὰρ ἐγὼ πάϊς εἰμί, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς εὔχεται εἶναι.for I am his son, and he claims to be my father.
520αὐτὸς δʼ, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσʼ, ἰήσεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλοςHe himself, if he wishes, will heal me, and no other,
οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.neither of the blessed gods nor of mortal men.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, but I answered him and said:
αἲ γὰρ δὴ ψυχῆς τε καὶ αἰῶνός σε δυναίμηνWould that I could rob you of your soul and life
εὖνιν ποιήσας πέμψαι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,and send you down into the house of Hades,
525ὡς οὐκ ὀφθαλμόν γʼ ἰήσεται οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων.as surely as not even the Earthshaker will heal your eye.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτιSo I spoke, and then to lord Poseidon
εὔχετο χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα·he prayed, stretching out his hands to the starry sky:
κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα,Hear me, Poseidon, dark-haired holder of the earth,
εἰ ἐτεόν γε σός εἰμι, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς εὔχεαι εἶναι,if I am truly yours, and you claim to be my father,
530δὸς μὴ Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαιgrant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, never reach his home,
υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντα.the son of Laertes, who has his dwelling in Ithaca.
ἀλλʼ εἴ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαιBut if it is his fate to see his loved ones and to reach
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,his well-built house and his own native land,
ὀψὲ κακῶς ἔλθοι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,let him come late and in evil case, having lost all his companions,
535νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, εὕροι δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ.on an alien ship, and let him find troubles in his house.
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε
κυανοχαίτης.So he spoke in prayer, and the dark-haired one heard him.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξαῦτις πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείραςBut once again he lifted a stone far greater
ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,and slung it, whirling it round, and put boundless force behind it,
κὰδʼ δʼ ἔβαλεν μετόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιοand he cast it down behind the dark-prowed ship,
540τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δʼ οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι.by a little, and it just missed striking the tip of the steering-oar.
ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης·The sea surged up beneath the stone as it came down,
τὴν δὲ πρόσω φέρε κῦμα, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.and the wave bore the ship forward and drove it to reach the shore.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ἔνθα περ
ἄλλαιBut when we came at last to the island, where the other
νῆες ἐύσσελμοι μένον ἁθρόαι, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροιwell-benched ships were waiting all together, and around them the companions
545ἥατʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ἡμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί,sat lamenting, forever watching for us,
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,coming there we ran the ship aground on the sands,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.and we ourselves stepped out onto the breaking surf of the sea.
μῆλα δὲ Κύκλωπος γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντεςAnd taking the flocks of the Cyclops from the hollow ship
δασσάμεθʼ, ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.we divided them, that none through me might go cheated of a fair share.
550ἀρνειὸν δʼ ἐμοὶ οἴῳ ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροιBut the ram, to me alone the well-greaved companions
μήλων δαιομένων δόσαν ἔξοχα· τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶgave over and above, when the flocks were divided; and on the shore
Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέι Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει,to Zeus of the dark clouds, son of Cronus, who rules over all,
ῥέξας μηρίʼ ἔκαιον· ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο ἱρῶν,I sacrificed it and burned the thigh-pieces; but he heeded not the offerings,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μερμήριξεν ὅπως ἀπολοίατο πᾶσαιbut instead was pondering how they all might perish,
555νῆες ἐύσσελμοι καὶ ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι.the well-benched ships and my trusty companions.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύνταSo then the whole day long until the sun went down
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·we sat feasting on abundant meat and sweet wine;
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,but when the sun went down and the darkness came on,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.then we lay down to sleep on the breaking surf of the sea.
560ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσαthen indeed I roused my companions and gave the order
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι·for them to climb aboard and loose the stern cables;
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,and quickly they went aboard and sat down at the oarlocks,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.and sitting in rows they struck the grey sea with their oars.
565ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,From there we sailed onward, grieving in our hearts,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.glad to have escaped death, though we had lost dear companions.