Book IX

Homeric Greek

1τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,

ἦ τοι μὲν τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦ

τοιοῦδ' οἷος ὅδ' ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.

5οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι τέλος χαριέστερον εἶναι

Transliteration

1ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polymētis Odysseus:

"Alkinoe kreion, pantōn arideikete laōn,

ē toi men tode kalon akouemen estin aoidou

toioud' hoios hod' esti, theois enalinkios audēn.

5ou gar egō ge ti phēmi telos chariesteron einai

English

And Odysseus answered, "King Alkinoos, it is a good thing to hear a bard with such a divine voice as this man has. There is nothing better or more delightful than when merriment prevails over a whole dêmos, with the guests sitting orderly

Homeric Greek

ἢ ὅτ' ἐυφροσύνη μὲν ἔχῃ κάτα δῆμον ἅπαντα,

δαιτυμόνες δ' ἀνὰ δώματ' ἀκουάζωνται ἀοιδοῦ

ἥμενοι ἑξείης, παρὰ δὲ πλήθωσι τράπεζαι

σίτου καὶ κρειῶν, μέθυ δ' ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων

10οἰνοχόος φορέῃσι καὶ ἐγχείῃ δεπάεσσι:

Transliteration

ē hot' euphrosynē men echēi kata dēmon hapanta,

daitymones d' ana dōmat' akouazōntai aoidou

hēmenoi hexeiēs, para de plēthōsi trapezai

sitou kai kreiōn, methy d' ek krētēros aphyssōn

10oinochoos phoreēisi kai encheiēi depaessi:

English

to listen, while the table is loaded with bread and meats, and the cup-bearer draws wine and fills his cup for every man. This is indeed as fair a sight as a man can see.

Homeric Greek

τοῦτό τί μοι κάλλιστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν εἴδεται εἶναι.

σοὶ δ' ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμὸς ἐπετράπετο στονόεντα

εἴρεσθ', ὄφρ' ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω:

τί πρῶτόν τοι ἔπειτα, τί δ' ὑστάτιον καταλέξω;

15κήδε' ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.

Transliteration

touto ti moi kalliston eni phresin eidetai einai.

soi d' ema kēdea thymos epetrapeto stonoenta

eiresth', ophr' eti mallon odyromenos stenachizō:

ti prōton toi epeita, ti d' hystation katalexō;

15kēde' epei moi polla dosan theoi Ouraniōnes.

English

Now, however, since you are inclined to ask the story of my sorrows, and rekindle my own sad memories in respect of them, I do not know how to begin, nor yet how to continue and conclude my tale, for the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me.

Homeric Greek

νῦν δ' ὄνομα πρῶτον μυθήσομαι, ὄφρα καὶ ὑμεῖς

εἴδετ', ἐγὼ δ' ἂν ἔπειτα φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ

ὑμῖν ξεῖνος ἔω καὶ ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίων.

εἴμ' Ὀδυσεὺς Λαερτιάδης, ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισιν

20ἀνθρώποισι μέλω, καί μευ κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει.

Transliteration

nyn d' onoma prōton mythēsomai, ophra kai hymeis

eidet', egō d' an epeita phygōn hypo nēlees ēmar

hymin xeinos eō kai apoprothi dōmata naiōn.

eim' Odyseus Laertiadēs, hos pasi doloisin

20anthrōpoisi melō, kai meu kleos ouranon hikei.

English

"Firstly, then, I will tell you my name that you too may know it, and that one day, if I outlive this time of sorrow, I may become a guest-friend to you, though I live so far away from all of you. I am Odysseus son of Laertes, renowned among humankind for all manner of subtlety, so that my kleos ascends to heaven.

Homeric Greek

ναιετάω δ' Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον: ἐν δ' ὄρος αὐτῇ

Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἀριπρεπές: ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆσοι

πολλαὶ ναιετάουσι μάλα σχεδὸν ἀλλήλῃσι,

Δουλίχιόν τε Σάμη τε καὶ ὑλήεσσα Ζάκυνθος.

25αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ πανυπερτάτη εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται

Transliteration

naietaō d' Ithakēn eudeielon: en d' oros autēi

Nēriton einosiphyllon, ariprepes: amphi de nēsoi

pollai naietaousi mala schedon allēlēisi,

Doulichion te Samē te kai hylēessa Zakynthos.

25autē de chthamalē panypertatē ein hali keitai

English

I live in Ithaca, where there is a high mountain called Neritum, covered with forests; and not far from it there is a group of islands very near to one another - Dulichium, Same, and the wooded island of Zacynthus.

Homeric Greek

πρὸς ζόφον, αἱ δέ τ' ἄνευθε πρὸς ἠῶ τ' ἠέλιόν τε,

τρηχεῖ', ἀλλ' ἀγαθὴ κουροτρόφος: οὔ τοι ἐγώ γε

ἧς γαίης δύναμαι γλυκερώτερον ἄλλο ἰδέσθαι.

ἦ μέν μ' αὐτόθ' ἔρυκε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,

30ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι:

Transliteration

pros zophon, hai de t' aneuthe pros ēō t' ēelion te,

trēchei', all' agathē kourotrophos: ou toi egō ge

hēs gaiēs dynamai glykerōteron allo idesthai.

ē men m' autoth' eryke Kalypsō, dia theaōn,

30en spessi glaphyroisi, lilaiomenē posin einai:

English

It lies squat on the horizon, all highest up in the sea towards the sunset, while the others lie away from it towards dawn. It is a rugged island, but it breeds brave men, and my eyes know none that they better love to look upon.

Homeric Greek

ὣς δ' αὔτως Κίρκη κατερήτυεν ἐν μεγάροισιν

Αἰαίη δολόεσσα, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι:

ἀλλ' ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθον.

ὣς οὐδὲν γλύκιον ἧς πατρίδος οὐδὲ τοκήων

35γίγνεται, εἴ περ καί τις ἀπόπροθι πίονα οἶκον

Transliteration

hōs d' autōs Kirkē katerētyen en megaroisin

Aiaiē doloessa, lilaiomenē posin einai:

all' emon ou pote thymon eni stēthessin epeithon.

hōs ouden glykion hēs patridos oude tokēōn

35gignetai, ei per kai tis apoprothi piona oikon

English

The goddess Calypso kept me with her in her cave, and wanted me to marry her, as did also the cunning Aeaean goddess Circe; but they could neither of them persuade me, for there is nothing dearer to a man than his own country and his parents, and however splendid a home he may have in a foreign country, if

Homeric Greek

γαίῃ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῇ ναίει ἀπάνευθε τοκήων.

εἰ δ' ἄγε τοι καὶ νόστον ἐμὸν πολυκηδέ' ἐνίσπω,

ὅν μοι Ζεὺς ἐφέηκεν ἀπὸ Τροίηθεν ἰόντι.

"Ἰλιόθεν με φέρων ἄνεμος Κικόνεσσι πέλασσεν,

40Ἰσμάρῳ. ἔνθα δ' ἐγὼ πόλιν ἔπραθον, ὤλεσα δ' αὐτούς:

Transliteration

gaiēi en allodapēi naiei apaneuthe tokēōn.

ei d' age toi kai noston emon polykēde' enispō,

hon moi Zeus epheēken apo Troiēthen ionti.

"Iliothen me pherōn anemos Kikonessi pelassen,

40Ismarōi. entha d' egō polin eprathon, ōlesa d' autous:

English

it be far from father or mother, he does not care about it. Now, however, I will tell you of the many hazardous adventures which by Zeus’ will I met with on my return from Troy. "When I had set sail thence the wind took me first to Ismaros, which is the city of the Kikones.

Homeric Greek

ἐκ πόλιος δ' ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ λαβόντες

δασσάμεθ', ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.

ἔνθ' ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ διερῷ ποδὶ φευγέμεν ἡμέας

ἠνώγεα, τοὶ δὲ μέγα νήπιοι οὐκ ἐπίθοντο.

45ἔνθα δὲ πολλὸν μὲν μέθυ πίνετο, πολλὰ δὲ μῆλα

Transliteration

ek polios d' alochous kai ktēmata polla labontes

dassameth', hōs mē tis moi atembomenos kioi isēs.

enth' ē toi men egō dierōi podi pheugemen hēmeas

ēnōgea, toi de mega nēpioi ouk epithonto.

45entha de pollon men methy pineto, polla de mēla

English

There I sacked the town and put the people to the sword. We took their wives and also much booty, which we divided equitably amongst us, so that none might have reason to complain. I then said that we had better make off at once, but my men very foolishly would not obey me, so

Homeric Greek

ἔσφαζον παρὰ θῖνα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς:

τόφρα δ' ἄρ' οἰχόμενοι Κίκονες Κικόνεσσι γεγώνευν,

οἵ σφιν γείτονες ἦσαν, ἅμα πλέονες καὶ ἀρείους,

ἤπειρον ναίοντες, ἐπιστάμενοι μὲν ἀφ' ἵππων

50ἀνδράσι μάρνασθαι καὶ ὅθι χρὴ πεζὸν ἐόντα.

Transliteration

esphazon para thina kai eilipodas helikas bous:

tophra d' ar' oichomenoi Kikones Kikonessi gegōneun,

hoi sphin geitones ēsan, hama pleones kai areious,

ēpeiron naiontes, epistamenoi men aph' hippōn

50andrasi marnasthai kai hothi chrē pezon eonta.

English

they stayed there drinking much wine and killing great numbers of sheep and oxen on the sea shore. Meanwhile the Kikones cried out for help to other Kikones who lived inland. These were more in number, and stronger, and they were more skilled in the art of war, for they could fight, either from chariots or on foot as the occasion served;

Homeric Greek

ἦλθον ἔπειθ' ὅσα φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ,

ἠέριοι: τότε δή ῥα κακὴ Διὸς αἶσα παρέστη

ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν, ἵν' ἄλγεα πολλὰ πάθοιμεν.

στησάμενοι δ' ἐμάχοντο μάχην παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσι,

55βάλλον δ' ἀλλήλους χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.

Transliteration

ēlthon epeith' hosa phylla kai anthea gignetai hōrēi,

ēerioi: tote dē rha kakē Dios aisa parestē

hēmin ainomoroisin, hin' algea polla pathoimen.

stēsamenoi d' emachonto machēn para nēusi thoēisi,

55ballon d' allēlous chalkēresin encheiēisin.

English

in the morning, therefore, they came as thick as leaves and bloom in summertime, and the hand of heaven was against us, so that we were hard pressed. They set the battle in array near the ships, and the hosts aimed their bronze-shod spears at one another.

Homeric Greek

ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,

τόφρα δ' ἀλεξόμενοι μένομεν πλέονάς περ ἐόντας.

ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος μετενίσσετο βουλυτόνδε,

καὶ τότε δὴ Κίκονες κλῖναν δαμάσαντες Ἀχαιούς.

60ἓξ δ' ἀφ' ἑκάστης νηὸς ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι

Transliteration

ophra men ēōs ēn kai aexeto hieron ēmar,

tophra d' alexomenoi menomen pleonas per eontas.

ēmos d' ēelios metenisseto boulytonde,

kai tote dē Kikones klinan damasantes Achaious.

60hex d' aph' hekastēs nēos euknēmides hetairoi

English

So long as the day waxed and it was still morning, we held our own against them, though they were more in number than we; but as the sun went down, towards the time when men loose their oxen, the Kikones got the better of us, and we lost half a dozen men from every ship we had;

Homeric Greek

ὤλονθ': οἱ δ' ἄλλοι φύγομεν θάνατόν τε μόρον τε.

"ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,

ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.

οὐδ' ἄρα μοι προτέρω νῆες κίον ἀμφιέλισσαι,

65πρίν τινα τῶν δειλῶν ἑτάρων τρὶς ἕκαστον ἀῦσαι,

Transliteration

ōlonth': hoi d' alloi phygomen thanaton te moron te.

"enthen de proterō pleomen akachēmenoi ētor,

asmenoi ek thanatoio, philous olesantes hetairous.

oud' ara moi proterō nēes kion amphielissai,

65prin tina tōn deilōn hetarōn tris hekaston ausai,

English

so we got away with those that were left. "Thence we sailed onward with sorrow in our hearts, but glad to have escaped death though we had lost our comrades, nor did we leave till we had thrice invoked each one of the poor men who had perished by the hands of the Kikones.

Homeric Greek

οἳ θάνον ἐν πεδίῳ Κικόνων ὕπο δῃωθέντες.

νηυσὶ δ' ἐπῶρσ' ἄνεμον Βορέην νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς

λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε

γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον: ὀρώρει δ' οὐρανόθεν νύξ.

70αἱ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἐφέροντ' ἐπικάρσιαι, ἱστία δέ σφιν

Transliteration

hoi thanon en pediōi Kikonōn hypo dēiōthentes.

nēusi d' epōrs' anemon Boreēn nephelēgereta Zeus

lailapi thespesiēi, syn de nepheessi kalypse

gaian homou kai ponton: orōrei d' ouranothen nyx.

70hai men epeit' epheront' epikarsiai, histia de sphin

English

Then Zeus raised the North wind against us till it blew a blast of wind, so that land and sky were hidden in thick clouds, and night sprang forth out of the heavens. We let the ships run before the gale, but the force of the wind

Homeric Greek

τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διέσχισεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς νῆας κάθεμεν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον,

αὐτὰς δ' ἐσσυμένως προερέσσαμεν ἤπειρόνδε.

ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τ' ἤματα συνεχὲς αἰεὶ

75κείμεθ', ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.

Transliteration

trichtha te kai tetrachtha dieschisen is anemoio.

kai ta men es nēas kathemen, deisantes olethron,

autas d' essymenōs proeressamen ēpeironde.

entha dyō nyktas dyo t' ēmata syneches aiei

75keimeth', homou kamatōi te kai algesi thymon edontes.

English

tore our sails to tatters, so we took them down for fear of shipwreck, and rowed our hardest towards the land. There we lay two days and two nights suffering much alike from toil and distress of mind, but on the morning of the third day we

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσ' Ἠώς,

ἱστοὺς στησάμενοι ἀνά θ' ἱστία λεύκ' ἐρύσαντες

ἥμεθα, τὰς δ' ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τ' ἴθυνον.

καί νύ κεν ἀσκηθὴς ἱκόμην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν:

80ἀλλά με κῦμα ῥόος τε περιγνάμπτοντα Μάλειαν

Transliteration

all' hote dē triton ēmar euplokamos teles' Ēōs,

histous stēsamenoi ana th' histia leuk' erysantes

hēmetha, tas d' anemos te kybernētai t' ithynon.

kai ny ken askēthēs hikomēn es patrida gaian:

80alla me kyma rhoos te perignamptonta Maleian

English

again raised our masts, set sail, and took our places, letting the wind and steersmen direct our ship. I should have got home at that time unharmed had not the North wind and the currents been against me as I was doubling Cape Malea, and set me

Homeric Greek

καὶ Βορέης ἀπέωσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ Κυθήρων.

"ἔνθεν δ' ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν

πόντον ἐπ' ἰχθυόεντα: ἀτὰρ δεκάτῃ ἐπέβημεν

γαίης Λωτοφάγων, οἵ τ' ἄνθινον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν.

85ἔνθα δ' ἐπ' ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθ' ὕδωρ,

Transliteration

kai Boreēs apeōse, pareplanxen de Kythērōn.

"enthen d' ennēmar pheromēn oloois anemoisin

ponton ep' ichthyoenta: atar dekatēi epebēmen

gaiēs Lōtophagōn, hoi t' anthinon eidar edousin.

85entha d' ep' ēpeirou bēmen kai aphyssameth' hydōr,

English

off my course hard by the island of Cythera. "I was driven thence by foul winds for a space of nine days upon the sea, but on the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters, who live on a food that comes from a kind of flower.

Homeric Greek

αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τ' ἐπασσάμεθ' ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,

δὴ τοτ' ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προί̈ειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,

οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες

90ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχ' ἅμ' ὀπάσσας.

Transliteration

aipsa de deipnon helonto thoēis para nēusin hetairoi.

autar epei sitoio t' epassameth' ēde potētos,

dē tot' egōn hetarous proïein peuthesthai iontas,

hoi tines aneres eien epi chthoni siton edontes

90andre dyō krinas, tritaton kērych' ham' opassas.

English

Here we landed to take in fresh water, and our crews got their mid-day meal on the shore near the ships. When they had eaten and drunk I chose two of my company to go see what manner of men the people of the place might be, and they had a third man under them.

Homeric Greek

οἱ δ' αἶψ' οἰχόμενοι μίγεν ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισιν:

οὐδ' ἄρα Λωτοφάγοι μήδονθ' ἑτάροισιν ὄλεθρον

ἡμετέροις, ἀλλά σφι δόσαν λωτοῖο πάσασθαι.

τῶν δ' ὅς τις λωτοῖο φάγοι μελιηδέα καρπόν,

95οὐκέτ' ἀπαγγεῖλαι πάλιν ἤθελεν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι,

Transliteration

hoi d' aips' oichomenoi migen andrasi Lōtophagoisin:

oud' ara Lōtophagoi mēdonth' hetaroisin olethron

hēmeterois, alla sphi dosan lōtoio pasasthai.

tōn d' hos tis lōtoio phagoi meliēdea karpon,

95ouket' apangeilai palin ēthelen oude neesthai,

English

They started at once, and went about among the Lotus-eaters, who did them no harm, but gave them to eat of the lotus, which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home, and did not even want to go back

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ βούλοντο μετ' ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισι

λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι μενέμεν νόστου τε λαθέσθαι.

τοὺς μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἄγον κλαίοντας ἀνάγκῃ,

νηυσὶ δ' ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπὸ ζυγὰ δῆσα ἐρύσσας.

100αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους

Transliteration

all' autou boulonto met' andrasi Lōtophagoisi

lōton ereptomenoi menemen nostou te lathesthai.

tous men egōn epi nēas agon klaiontas anankēi,

nēusi d' eni glaphyrēisin hypo zyga dēsa eryssas.

100autar tous allous kelomēn eriēras hetairous

English

and say what had happened to them, but were for staying and munching lotus with the Lotus-eaters without thinking further of their nostos; nevertheless, though they wept bitterly I forced them back to the ships and made them fast under the benches.

Homeric Greek

σπερχομένους νηῶν ἐπιβαινέμεν ὠκειάων,

μή πώς τις λωτοῖο φαγὼν νόστοιο λάθηται.

οἱ δ' αἶψ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,

ἑξῆς δ' ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.

105"ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ:

Transliteration

sperchomenous nēōn epibainemen ōkeiaōn,

mē pōs tis lōtoio phagōn nostoio lathētai.

hoi d' aips' eisbainon kai epi klēisi kathizon,

hexēs d' hezomenoi poliēn hala typton eretmois.

105"enthen de proterō pleomen akachēmenoi ētor:

English

Then I told the rest to go on board at once, lest any of them should taste of the lotus and leave off wanting to achieve a homecoming, so they took their places and smote the gray sea with their oars. "We sailed hence, always in much distress, till we came to the land of the lawless and inhuman Cyclopes.

Homeric Greek

Κυκλώπων δ' ἐς γαῖαν ὑπερφιάλων ἀθεμίστων

ἱκόμεθ', οἵ ῥα θεοῖσι πεποιθότες ἀθανάτοισιν

οὔτε φυτεύουσιν χερσὶν φυτὸν οὔτ' ἀρόωσιν,

ἀλλὰ τά γ' ἄσπαρτα καὶ ἀνήροτα πάντα φύονται,

110πυροὶ καὶ κριθαὶ ἠδ' ἄμπελοι, αἵ τε φέρουσιν

Transliteration

Kyklōpōn d' es gaian hyperphialōn athemistōn

hikometh', hoi rha theoisi pepoithotes athanatoisin

oute phyteuousin chersin phyton out' aroōsin,

alla ta g' asparta kai anērota panta phyontai,

110pyroi kai krithai ēd' ampeloi, hai te pherousin

English

Now the Cyclopes neither plant nor plough, but trust in providence, and live on such wheat, barley, and grapes as grow wild without any kind of tillage, and their wild grapes yield them wine as the sun and the rain may grow them.

Homeric Greek

οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει.

τοῖσιν δ' οὔτ' ἀγοραὶ βουληφόροι οὔτε θέμιστες,

ἀλλ' οἵ γ' ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ναίουσι κάρηνα

ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, θεμιστεύει δὲ ἕκαστος

115παίδων ἠδ' ἀλόχων, οὐδ' ἀλλήλων ἀλέγουσιν.

Transliteration

oinon eristaphylon, kai sphin Dios ombros aexei.

toisin d' out' agorai boulēphoroi oute themistes,

all' hoi g' hypsēlōn oreōn naiousi karēna

en spessi glaphyroisi, themisteuei de hekastos

115paidōn ēd' alochōn, oud' allēlōn alegousin.

English

They have no laws nor assemblies of the people, but live in caves on the tops of high mountains; each is lord and master in his family, and they take no account of their neighbors.

Homeric Greek

"νῆσος ἔπειτα λάχεια παρὲκ λιμένος τετάνυσται,

γαίης Κυκλώπων οὔτε σχεδὸν οὔτ' ἀποτηλοῦ,

ὑλήεσσ': ἐν δ' αἶγες ἀπειρέσιαι γεγάασιν

ἄγριαι: οὐ μὲν γὰρ πάτος ἀνθρώπων ἀπερύκει,

120οὐδέ μιν εἰσοιχνεῦσι κυνηγέται, οἵ τε καθ' ὕλην

Transliteration

"nēsos epeita lacheia parek limenos tetanystai,

gaiēs Kyklōpōn oute schedon out' apotēlou,

hylēess': en d' aiges apeiresiai gegaasin

agriai: ou men gar patos anthrōpōn aperykei,

120oude min eisoichneusi kynēgetai, hoi te kath' hylēn

English

"Now off their harbor there lies a wooded and fertile island not quite close to the land of the Cyclopes, but still not far. It is overrun with wild goats, that breed there in great numbers and are never disturbed by foot of man;

Homeric Greek

ἄλγεα πάσχουσιν κορυφὰς ὀρέων ἐφέποντες.

οὔτ' ἄρα ποίμνῃσιν καταί̈σχεται οὔτ' ἀρότοισιν,

ἀλλ' ἥ γ' ἄσπαρτος καὶ ἀνήροτος ἤματα πάντα

ἀνδρῶν χηρεύει, βόσκει δέ τε μηκάδας αἶγας.

125οὐ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι νέες πάρα μιλτοπάρῃοι,

Transliteration

algea paschousin koryphas oreōn ephepontes.

out' ara poimnēisin kataïschetai out' arotoisin,

all' hē g' aspartos kai anērotos ēmata panta

andrōn chēreuei, boskei de te mēkadas aigas.

125ou gar Kyklōpessi nees para miltoparēioi,

English

for sportsmen - who as a rule will suffer so much hardship in forest or among mountain precipices - do not go there, nor yet again is it ever ploughed or fed down, but it lies a wilderness untilled and unsown from year to year, and has no living thing upon it but only goats.

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ἄνδρες νηῶν ἔνι τέκτονες, οἵ κε κάμοιεν

νῆας ἐυσσέλμους, αἵ κεν τελέοιεν ἕκαστα

ἄστε' ἐπ' ἀνθρώπων ἱκνεύμεναι, οἷά τε πολλὰ

ἄνδρες ἐπ' ἀλλήλους νηυσὶν περόωσι θάλασσαν:

130οἵ κέ σφιν καὶ νῆσον ἐυκτιμένην ἐκάμοντο.

Transliteration

oud' andres nēōn eni tektones, hoi ke kamoien

nēas eusselmous, hai ken teleoien hekasta

aste' ep' anthrōpōn hikneumenai, hoia te polla

andres ep' allēlous nēusin peroōsi thalassan:

130hoi ke sphin kai nēson euktimenēn ekamonto.

English

For the Cyclopes have no ships, nor yet shipwrights who could make ships for them; they cannot therefore go from city to city, or sail over the sea to one another's country as people who have ships can do; if they had had these they would have colonized the island, for it is a very good one, and would yield everything in due season.

Homeric Greek

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακή γε, φέροι δέ κεν ὥρια πάντα:

ἐν μὲν γὰρ λειμῶνες ἁλὸς πολιοῖο παρ' ὄχθας

ὑδρηλοὶ μαλακοί: μάλα κ' ἄφθιτοι ἄμπελοι εἶεν.

ἐν δ' ἄροσις λείη: μάλα κεν βαθὺ λήιον αἰεὶ

135εἰς ὥρας ἀμῷεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πῖαρ ὑπ' οὖδας.

Transliteration

ou men gar ti kakē ge, pheroi de ken hōria panta:

en men gar leimōnes halos polioio par' ochthas

hydrēloi malakoi: mala k' aphthitoi ampeloi eien.

en d' arosis leiē: mala ken bathy lēion aiei

135eis hōras amōien, epei mala piar hyp' oudas.

English

There are meadows that in some places come right down to the sea shore, well watered and full of luscious grass; grapes would do there excellently; there is level land for ploughing, and it would always yield heavily at harvest time, for the soil is deep.

Homeric Greek

ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ἵν' οὐ χρεὼ πείσματός ἐστιν,

οὔτ' εὐνὰς βαλέειν οὔτε πρυμνήσι' ἀνάψαι,

ἀλλ' ἐπικέλσαντας μεῖναι χρόνον εἰς ὅ κε ναυτέων

θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται.

140αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος ῥέει ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ,

Transliteration

en de limēn euormos, hin' ou chreō peismatos estin,

out' eunas baleein oute prymnēsi' anapsai,

all' epikelsantas meinai chronon eis ho ke nauteōn

thymos epotrynēi kai epipneusōsin aētai.

140autar epi kratos limenos rheei aglaon hydōr,

English

There is a good harbor where no cables are wanted, nor yet anchors, nor need a ship be moored, but all one has to do is to beach one's vessel and stay there till the wind becomes fair for putting out to sea again. At the head of the harbor there is a spring of clear water coming

Homeric Greek

κρήνη ὑπὸ σπείους: περὶ δ' αἴγειροι πεφύασιν.

ἔνθα κατεπλέομεν, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν

νύκτα δι' ὀρφναίην, οὐδὲ προυφαίνετ' ἰδέσθαι:

ἀὴρ γὰρ περὶ νηυσὶ βαθεῖ' ἦν, οὐδὲ σελήνη

145οὐρανόθεν προύφαινε, κατείχετο δὲ νεφέεσσιν.

Transliteration

krēnē hypo speious: peri d' aigeiroi pephyasin.

entha katepleomen, kai tis theos hēgemoneuen

nykta di' orphnaiēn, oude prouphainet' idesthai:

aēr gar peri nēusi bathei' ēn, oude selēnē

145ouranothen prouphaine, kateicheto de nepheessin.

English

out of a cave, and there are poplars growing all round it. "Here we entered, but so dark was the night that some god must have brought us in, for there was nothing whatever to be seen. A thick mist hung all round our ships;

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' οὔ τις τὴν νῆσον ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

οὔτ' οὖν κύματα μακρὰ κυλινδόμενα προτὶ χέρσον

εἰσίδομεν, πρὶν νῆας ἐυσσέλμους ἐπικέλσαι.

κελσάσῃσι δὲ νηυσὶ καθείλομεν ἱστία πάντα,

150ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης:

Transliteration

enth' ou tis tēn nēson esedraken ophthalmoisin,

out' oun kymata makra kylindomena proti cherson

eisidomen, prin nēas eusselmous epikelsai.

kelsasēisi de nēusi katheilomen histia panta,

150ek de kai autoi bēmen epi rhēgmini thalassēs:

English

the moon was hidden behind a mass of clouds so that no one could have seen the island if he had looked for it, nor were there any breakers to tell us we were close in shore before we found ourselves upon the land itself;

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα δ' ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.

"ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

νῆσον θαυμάζοντες ἐδινεόμεσθα κατ' αὐτήν.

ὦρσαν δὲ νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

155αἶγας ὀρεσκῴους, ἵνα δειπνήσειαν ἑταῖροι.

Transliteration

entha d' apobrixantes emeinamen Ēō dian.

"ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs,

nēson thaumazontes edineomestha kat' autēn.

ōrsan de nymphai, kourai Dios aigiochoio,

155aigas oreskōious, hina deipnēseian hetairoi.

English

when, however, we had beached the ships, we took down the sails, went ashore and camped upon the beach till daybreak. "When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, we admired the island and wandered all over it, while the nymphs, Zeus’ daughters, roused the wild goats that we might get some meat for our dinner.

Homeric Greek

αὐτίκα καμπύλα τόξα καὶ αἰγανέας δολιχαύλους

εἱλόμεθ' ἐκ νηῶν, διὰ δὲ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες

βάλλομεν: αἶψα δ' ἔδωκε θεὸς μενοεικέα θήρην.

νῆες μέν μοι ἕποντο δυώδεκα, ἐς δὲ ἑκάστην

160ἐννέα λάγχανον αἶγες: ἐμοὶ δὲ δέκ' ἔξελον οἴῳ.

Transliteration

autika kampyla toxa kai aiganeas dolichaulous

heilometh' ek nēōn, dia de tricha kosmēthentes

ballomen: aipsa d' edōke theos menoeikea thērēn.

nēes men moi heponto dyōdeka, es de hekastēn

160ennea lanchanon aiges: emoi de dek' exelon oiōi.

English

On this we fetched our spears and bows and arrows from the ships, and dividing ourselves into three bands began to shoot the goats. Heaven sent us excellent sport; I had twelve ships with me, and each ship got nine goats, while my own ship had ten;

Homeric Greek

"ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τ' ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ:

οὐ γάρ πω νηῶν ἐξέφθιτο οἶνος ἐρυθρός,

ἀλλ' ἐνέην: πολλὸν γὰρ ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἕκαστοι

165ἠφύσαμεν Κικόνων. ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἑλόντες.

Transliteration

"hōs tote men propan ēmar es ēelion katadynta

hēmetha dainymenoi krea t' aspeta kai methy hēdy:

ou gar pō nēōn exephthito oinos erythros,

all' eneēn: pollon gar en amphiphoreusin hekastoi

165ēphysamen Kikonōn. hieron ptoliethron helontes.

English

thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun we ate and drank our fill, - and we had plenty of wine left, for each one of us had taken many jars full when we sacked the city of the Kikones, and this had not yet run out.

Homeric Greek

Κυκλώπων δ' ἐς γαῖαν ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντων,

καπνόν τ' αὐτῶν τε φθογγὴν ὀίων τε καὶ αἰγῶν.

ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,

δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

170ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

Transliteration

Kyklōpōn d' es gaian eleussomen engys eontōn,

kapnon t' autōn te phthongēn oiōn te kai aigōn.

ēmos d' ēelios katedy kai epi knephas ēlthe,

dē tote koimēthēmen epi rhēgmini thalassēs.

170ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs,

English

While we were feasting we kept turning our eyes towards the land of the Cyclopes, which was hard by, and saw the smoke of their stubble fires. We could almost fancy we heard their voices and the bleating of their sheep and goats, but when the sun went down and it came on dark, we camped

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότ' ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον:

"'ἄλλοι μὲν νῦν μίμνετ', ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι:

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηί τ' ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν

ἐλθὼν τῶνδ' ἀνδρῶν πειρήσομαι, οἵ τινές εἰσιν,

175ἤ ῥ' οἵ γ' ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,

Transliteration

kai tot' egōn agorēn themenos meta pasin eeipon:

"'alloi men nyn mimnet', emoi eriēres hetairoi:

autar egō syn nēi t' emēi kai emois hetaroisin

elthōn tōnd' andrōn peirēsomai, hoi tines eisin,

175ē rh' hoi g' hybristai te kai agrioi oude dikaioi,

English

down upon the beach, and next morning I called a council. "‘Stay here, my brave men,’ said I, ‘all the rest of you, while I go with my ship and make trial of these people myself:

Homeric Greek

ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.'

"ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνὰ νηὸς ἔβην, ἐκέλευσα δ' ἑταίρους

αὐτούς τ' ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.

οἱ δ' αἶψ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,

180ἑξῆς δ' ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.

Transliteration

ēe philoxeinoi, kai sphin noos esti theoudēs.'

"hōs eipōn ana nēos ebēn, ekeleusa d' hetairous

autous t' ambainein ana te prymnēsia lysai.

hoi d' aips' eisbainon kai epi klēisi kathizon,

180hexēs d' hezomenoi poliēn hala typton eretmois.

English

I want to see if they are uncivilized savages, or a race hospitable and endowed with a god-fearing noos.’ "I went on board, bidding my men to do so also and loose the hawsers; so they took their places and smote the gray sea with their oars.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τὸν χῶρον ἀφικόμεθ' ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,

ἔνθα δ' ἐπ' ἐσχατιῇ σπέος εἴδομεν ἄγχι θαλάσσης,

ὑψηλόν, δάφνῃσι κατηρεφές. ἔνθα δὲ πολλὰ

μῆλ', ὄιές τε καὶ αἶγες, ἰαύεσκον: περὶ δ' αὐλὴ

185ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο κατωρυχέεσσι λίθοισι

Transliteration

all' hote dē ton chōron aphikometh' engys eonta,

entha d' ep' eschatiēi speos eidomen anchi thalassēs,

hypsēlon, daphnēisi katērephes. entha de polla

mēl', oies te kai aiges, iaueskon: peri d' aulē

185hypsēlē dedmēto katōrycheessi lithoisi

English

When we got to the land, which was not far, there, on the face of a cliff near the sea, we saw a great cave overhung with laurels. It was a station for a great many sheep and goats, and outside there was a large yard, with a high wall round it made of stones built into the ground and of trees both pine and oak.

Homeric Greek

μακρῇσίν τε πίτυσσιν ἰδὲ δρυσὶν ὑψικόμοισιν.

ἔνθα δ' ἀνὴρ ἐνίαυε πελώριος, ὅς ῥα τὰ μῆλα

οἶος ποιμαίνεσκεν ἀπόπροθεν: οὐδὲ μετ' ἄλλους

πωλεῖτ', ἀλλ' ἀπάνευθεν ἐὼν ἀθεμίστια ᾔδη.

190καὶ γὰρ θαῦμ' ἐτέτυκτο πελώριον, οὐδὲ ἐῴκει

Transliteration

makrēisin te pityssin ide drysin hypsikomoisin.

entha d' anēr eniaue pelōrios, hos rha ta mēla

oios poimainesken apoprothen: oude met' allous

pōleit', all' apaneuthen eōn athemistia ēidē.

190kai gar thaum' etetykto pelōrion, oude eōikei

English

This was the abode of a huge monster who was then away from home shepherding his flocks. He would have nothing to do with other people, but led the life of an outlaw. He was a horrid creature, not like a human being at all, but

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρί γε σιτοφάγῳ, ἀλλὰ ῥίῳ ὑλήεντι

ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων, ὅ τε φαίνεται οἶον ἀπ' ἄλλων.

"δὴ τότε τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους

αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι,

195αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κρίνας ἑτάρων δυοκαίδεκ' ἀρίστους

Transliteration

andri ge sitophagōi, alla rhiōi hylēenti

hypsēlōn oreōn, ho te phainetai oion ap' allōn.

"dē tote tous allous kelomēn eriēras hetairous

autou par nēi te menein kai nēa erysthai,

195autar egō krinas hetarōn dyokaidek' aristous

English

resembling rather some crag that stands out boldly against the sky on the top of a high mountain. "I told my men to draw the ship ashore, and stay where they were, all but the twelve best among them, who were to go along with myself.

Homeric Greek

βῆν: ἀτὰρ αἴγεον ἀσκὸν ἔχον μέλανος οἴνοιο

ἡδέος, ὅν μοι ἔδωκε Μάρων, Εὐάνθεος υἱός,

ἱρεὺς Ἀπόλλωνος, ὃς Ἴσμαρον ἀμφιβεβήκει,

οὕνεκά μιν σὺν παιδὶ περισχόμεθ' ἠδὲ γυναικὶ

200ἁζόμενοι: ᾤκει γὰρ ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι

Transliteration

bēn: atar aigeon askon echon melanos oinoio

hēdeos, hon moi edōke Marōn, Euantheos huios,

hireus Apollōnos, hos Ismaron amphibebēkei,

houneka min syn paidi perischometh' ēde gynaiki

200hazomenoi: ōikei gar en alseï dendrēenti

English

I also took a goatskin of sweet black wine which had been given me by Maron, Apollo son of Euanthes, who was priest of Apollo the patron god of Ismaros, and lived within the wooded precincts of the temple.

Homeric Greek

Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος. ὁ δέ μοι πόρεν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα:

χρυσοῦ μέν μοι ἔδωκ' ἐυεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,

δῶκε δέ μοι κρητῆρα πανάργυρον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι δυώδεκα πᾶσιν ἀφύσσας

205ἡδὺν ἀκηράσιον, θεῖον ποτόν: οὐδέ τις αὐτὸν

Transliteration

Phoibou Apollōnos. ho de moi poren aglaa dōra:

chrysou men moi edōk' euergeos hepta talanta,

dōke de moi krētēra panargyron, autar epeita

oinon en amphiphoreusi dyōdeka pasin aphyssas

205hēdyn akērasion, theion poton: oude tis auton

English

When we were sacking the city we respected him, and spared his life, as also his wife and child; so he made me some presents of great value - seven talents of fine gold, and a bowl of silver, with twelve jars of sweet wine, unblended, and of the most exquisite flavor.

Homeric Greek

ἠείδη δμώων οὐδ' ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ἄλοχός τε φίλη ταμίη τε μί' οἴη.

τὸν δ' ὅτε πίνοιεν μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν,

ἓν δέπας ἐμπλήσας ὕδατος ἀνὰ εἴκοσι μέτρα

210χεῦ', ὀδμὴ δ' ἡδεῖα ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ὀδώδει

Transliteration

ēeidē dmōōn oud' amphipolōn eni oikōi,

all' autos alochos te philē tamiē te mi' oiē.

ton d' hote pinoien meliēdea oinon erythron,

hen depas emplēsas hydatos ana eikosi metra

210cheu', odmē d' hēdeia apo krētēros odōdei

English

Not a man nor maid in the house knew about it, but only himself, his wife, and one housekeeper: when he drank it he mixed twenty parts of water to one of wine, and yet the fragrance from the mixing-bowl was so exquisite that it was impossible to refrain from drinking.

Homeric Greek

θεσπεσίη: τότ' ἂν οὔ τοι ἀποσχέσθαι φίλον ἦεν.

τοῦ φέρον ἐμπλήσας ἀσκὸν μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖα

κωρύκῳ: αὐτίκα γάρ μοι ὀίσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

ἄνδρ' ἐπελεύσεσθαι μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν,

215ἄγριον, οὔτε δίκας ἐὺ εἰδότα οὔτε θέμιστας.

Transliteration

thespesiē: tot' an ou toi aposchesthai philon ēen.

tou pheron emplēsas askon megan, en de kai ēia

kōrykōi: autika gar moi oisato thymos agēnōr

andr' epeleusesthai megalēn epieimenon alkēn,

215agrion, oute dikas eu eidota oute themistas.

English

I filled a large skin with this wine, and took a wallet full of provisions with me, for my mind misgave me that I might have to deal with some savage who would be of great strength, and would respect neither right nor law.

Homeric Greek

"καρπαλίμως δ' εἰς ἄντρον ἀφικόμεθ', οὐδέ μιν ἔνδον

εὕρομεν, ἀλλ' ἐνόμευε νομὸν κάτα πίονα μῆλα.

ἐλθόντες δ' εἰς ἄντρον ἐθηεύμεσθα ἕκαστα.

ταρσοὶ μὲν τυρῶν βρῖθον, στείνοντο δὲ σηκοὶ

220ἀρνῶν ἠδ' ἐρίφων: διακεκριμέναι δὲ ἕκασται

Transliteration

"karpalimōs d' eis antron aphikometh', oude min endon

heuromen, all' enomeue nomon kata piona mēla.

elthontes d' eis antron ethēeumestha hekasta.

tarsoi men tyrōn brithon, steinonto de sēkoi

220arnōn ēd' eriphōn: diakekrimenai de hekastai

English

"We soon reached his cave, but he was out shepherding, so we went inside and took stock of all that we could see. His cheese-racks were loaded with cheeses, and he had more lambs and kids than his pens could hold. They were kept in separate flocks; first there were the hoggets, then the oldest of the younger lambs and lastly the very young ones all kept apart from one another;

Homeric Greek

ἔρχατο, χωρὶς μὲν πρόγονοι, χωρὶς δὲ μέτασσαι,

χωρὶς δ' αὖθ' ἕρσαι. ναῖον δ' ὀρῷ ἄγγεα πάντα,

γαυλοί τε σκαφίδες τε, τετυγμένα, τοῖς ἐνάμελγεν.

ἔνθ' ἐμὲ μὲν πρώτισθ' ἕταροι λίσσοντ' ἐπέεσσιν

225τυρῶν αἰνυμένους ἰέναι πάλιν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

Transliteration

erchato, chōris men progonoi, chōris de metassai,

chōris d' auth' hersai. naion d' orōi angea panta,

gauloi te skaphides te, tetygmena, tois enamelgen.

enth' eme men prōtisth' hetaroi lissont' epeessin

225tyrōn ainymenous ienai palin, autar epeita

English

as for his dairy, all the vessels, bowls, and milk pails into which he milked, were swimming with whey. When they saw all this, my men begged me to let them first steal some cheeses, and make off with them to the ship; they would then return, drive down the lambs and kids, put them on board and sail away with them.

Homeric Greek

καρπαλίμως ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐρίφους τε καὶ ἄρνας

σηκῶν ἐξελάσαντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ:

ἀλλ' ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην, ἦ τ' ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν,

ὄφρ' αὐτόν τε ἴδοιμι, καὶ εἴ μοι ξείνια δοίη.

230οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔμελλ' ἑτάροισι φανεὶς ἐρατεινὸς ἔσεσθαι.

Transliteration

karpalimōs epi nēa thoēn eriphous te kai arnas

sēkōn exelasantas epiplein halmyron hydōr:

all' egō ou pithomēn, ē t' an poly kerdion ēen,

ophr' auton te idoimi, kai ei moi xeinia doiē.

230oud' ar' emell' hetaroisi phaneis erateinos esesthai.

English

It would have been indeed better if we had done so but I would not listen to them, for I wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present. When, however, we saw him my poor men found him ill to deal with.

Homeric Greek

"ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντες ἐθύσαμεν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

τυρῶν αἰνύμενοι φάγομεν, μένομέν τέ μιν ἔνδον

ἥμενοι, ἧος ἐπῆλθε νέμων. φέρε δ' ὄβριμον ἄχθος

ὕλης ἀζαλέης, ἵνα οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη,

235ἔντοσθεν δ' ἄντροιο βαλὼν ὀρυμαγδὸν ἔθηκεν:

Transliteration

"entha de pyr kēantes ethysamen ēde kai autoi

tyrōn ainymenoi phagomen, menomen te min endon

hēmenoi, hēos epēlthe nemōn. phere d' obrimon achthos

hylēs azaleēs, hina hoi potidorpion eiē,

235entosthen d' antroio balōn orymagdon ethēken:

English

"We lit a fire, offered some of the cheeses in sacrifice, ate others of them, and then sat waiting till the Cyclops should come in with his sheep. When he came, he brought in with him a huge load of dry firewood to light the fire for his supper, and this he

Homeric Greek

ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθ' ἐς μυχὸν ἄντρου.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα

πάντα μάλ' ὅσσ' ἤμελγε, τὰ δ' ἄρσενα λεῖπε θύρηφιν,

ἀρνειούς τε τράγους τε, βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς.

240αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσ' ἀείρας,

Transliteration

hēmeis de deisantes apessymeth' es mychon antrou.

autar ho g' eis eury speos ēlase piona mēla

panta mal' hoss' ēmelge, ta d' arsena leipe thyrēphin,

arneious te tragous te, batheiēs ektothen aulēs.

240autar epeit' epethēke thyreon megan hypsos' aeiras,

English

flung with such a noise on to the floor of his cave that we hid ourselves for fear at the far end of the cavern. Meanwhile he drove all the ewes inside, as well as the she-goats that he was going to milk, leaving the males, both rams and he-goats, outside in the yards.

Homeric Greek

ὄβριμον: οὐκ ἂν τόν γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσ' ἄμαξαι

ἐσθλαὶ τετράκυκλοι ἀπ' οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν:

τόσσην ἠλίβατον πέτρην ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσιν.

ἑζόμενος δ' ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,

245πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπ' ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.

Transliteration

obrimon: ouk an ton ge dyō kai eikos' amaxai

esthlai tetrakykloi ap' oudeos ochlisseian:

tossēn ēlibaton petrēn epethēke thyrēisin.

hezomenos d' ēmelgen ois kai mēkadas aigas,

245panta kata moiran, kai hyp' embryon hēken hekastēi.

English

Then he rolled a huge stone to the mouth of the cave - so huge that two and twenty strong four-wheeled wagons 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.

Homeric Greek

αὐτίκα δ' ἥμισυ μὲν θρέψας λευκοῖο γάλακτος

πλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισιν ἀμησάμενος κατέθηκεν,

ἥμισυ δ' αὖτ' ἔστησεν ἐν ἄγγεσιν, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη

πίνειν αἰνυμένῳ καί οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη.

250αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,

Transliteration

autika d' hēmisy men threpsas leukoio galaktos

plektois en talaroisin amēsamenos katethēken,

hēmisy d' aut' estēsen en angesin, ophra hoi eiē

pinein ainymenōi kai hoi potidorpion eiē.

250autar epei dē speuse ponēsamenos ta ha erga,

English

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

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσιδεν, εἴρετο δ' ἡμέας:

" 'ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθ' ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;

ἦ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε,

οἷά τε ληιστῆρες, ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τ' ἀλόωνται

255ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;"

Transliteration

kai tote pyr anekaie kai eisiden, eireto d' hēmeas:

" 'ō xeinoi, tines este; pothen pleith' hygra keleutha;

ē ti kata prēxin ē mapsidiōs alalēsthe,

hoia te lēistēres, hypeir hala, toi t' aloōntai

255psychas parthemenoi kakon allodapoisi pherontes;"

English

then caught sight of us, whereon he said: "‘Strangers, who are you? Where do sail from? Are you traders, or do you sail the sea as rovers, with your hands against every man, and every man's hand against you?’

Homeric Greek

"ὣς ἔφαθ', ἡμῖν δ' αὖτε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,

δεισάντων φθόγγον τε βαρὺν αὐτόν τε πέλωρον.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον:

" 'ἡμεῖς τοι Τροίηθεν ἀποπλαγχθέντες Ἀχαιοὶ

260παντοίοις ἀνέμοισιν ὑπὲρ μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,

Transliteration

"hōs ephath', hēmin d' aute kateklasthē philon ētor,

deisantōn phthongon te baryn auton te pelōron.

alla kai hōs min epessin ameibomenos proseeipon:

" 'hēmeis toi Troiēthen apoplanchthentes Achaioi

260pantoiois anemoisin hyper mega laitma thalassēs,

English

"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 Zeus, and stress of weather, we have been driven far out of our course.

Homeric Greek

οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι, ἄλλην ὁδὸν ἄλλα κέλευθα

ἤλθομεν: οὕτω που Ζεὺς ἤθελε μητίσασθαι.

λαοὶ δ' Ἀτρεί̈δεω Ἀγαμέμνονος εὐχόμεθ' εἶναι,

τοῦ δὴ νῦν γε μέγιστον ὑπουράνιον κλέος ἐστί:

265τόσσην γὰρ διέπερσε πόλιν καὶ ἀπώλεσε λαοὺς

Transliteration

oikade hiemenoi, allēn hodon alla keleutha

ēlthomen: houtō pou Zeus ēthele mētisasthai.

laoi d' Atreïdeō Agamemnonos euchometh' einai,

tou dē nyn ge megiston hypouranion kleos esti:

265tossēn gar dieperse polin kai apōlese laous

English

We are the people of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, who has won infinite kleos throughout the whole world, by sacking so great a city and killing so many people.

Homeric Greek

πολλούς. ἡμεῖς δ' αὖτε κιχανόμενοι τὰ σὰ γοῦνα

ἱκόμεθ', εἴ τι πόροις ξεινήιον ἠὲ καὶ ἄλλως

δοίης δωτίνην, ἥ τε ξείνων θέμις ἐστίν.

ἀλλ' αἰδεῖο, φέριστε, θεούς: ἱκέται δέ τοί εἰμεν,

270Ζεὺς δ' ἐπιτιμήτωρ ἱκετάων τε ξείνων τε,

Transliteration

pollous. hēmeis d' aute kichanomenoi ta sa gouna

hikometh', ei ti porois xeinēion ēe kai allōs

doiēs dōtinēn, hē te xeinōn themis estin.

all' aideio, pheriste, theous: hiketai de toi eimen,

270Zeus d' epitimētōr hiketaōn te xeinōn te,

English

We therefore humbly pray you to show us some hospitality, and otherwise make us such presents as visitors may reasonably expect. May your excellency give reverence to the gods, for we are your suppliants, and Zeus takes all respectable travelers under his protection, for he is

Homeric Greek

ξείνιος, ὃς ξείνοισιν ἅμ' αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.'

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ:

"νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖν', ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,

ὅς με θεοὺς κέλεαι ἢ δειδίμεν ἢ ἀλέασθαι:

275οὐ γὰρ Κύκλωπες Διὸς αἰγιόχου ἀλέγουσιν

Transliteration

xeinios, hos xeinoisin ham' aidoioisin opēdei.'

hōs ephamēn, ho de m' autik' ameibeto nēlei thymōi:

"nēpios eis, ō xein', ē tēlothen eilēlouthas,

hos me theous keleai ē deidimen ē aleasthai:

275ou gar Kyklōpes Dios aigiochou alegousin

English

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 Zeus or any of your blessed gods, for we are ever so much stronger than they.

Homeric Greek

οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν:

οὐδ' ἂν ἐγὼ Διὸς ἔχθος ἀλευάμενος πεφιδοίμην

οὔτε σεῦ οὔθ' ἑτάρων, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι.

ἀλλά μοι εἴφ' ὅπῃ ἔσχες ἰὼν ἐυεργέα νῆα,

280ἤ που ἐπ' ἐσχατιῆς, ἦ καὶ σχεδόν, ὄφρα δαείω.'

Transliteration

oude theōn makarōn, epei ē poly pherteroi eimen:

oud' an egō Dios echthos aleuamenos pephidoimēn

oute seu outh' hetarōn, ei mē thymos me keleuoi.

alla moi eiph' hopēi esches iōn euergea nēa,

280ē pou ep' eschatiēs, ē kai schedon, ophra daeiō.'

English

I shall not spare either yourself or your companions out of any regard for Zeus, unless I am in the humor 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?’

Homeric Greek

"ὣς φάτο πειράζων, ἐμὲ δ' οὐ λάθεν εἰδότα πολλά,

ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην δολίοις ἐπέεσσι:

" 'νέα μέν μοι κατέαξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

πρὸς πέτρῃσι βαλὼν ὑμῆς ἐπὶ πείρασι γαίης,

285ἄκρῃ προσπελάσας: ἄνεμος δ' ἐκ πόντου ἔνεικεν:

Transliteration

"hōs phato peirazōn, eme d' ou lathen eidota polla,

alla min apsorron prosephēn doliois epeessi:

" 'nea men moi kateaxe Poseidaōn enosichthōn

pros petrēisi balōn hymēs epi peirasi gaiēs,

285akrēi prospelasas: anemos d' ek pontou eneiken:

English

"He said this to draw me out, but I was too cunning to be caught in that way, so I answered with a lie; ‘Poseidon,’ said I, ‘sent my ship on to the rocks at the far end of your country, and wrecked it.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν τοῖσδε ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.'

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ,

ἀλλ' ὅ γ' ἀναί̈ξας ἑτάροις ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἴαλλε,

σὺν δὲ δύω μάρψας ὥς τε σκύλακας ποτὶ γαίῃ

290κόπτ': ἐκ δ' ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.

Transliteration

autar egō syn toisde hypekphygon aipyn olethron.'

"hōs ephamēn, ho de m' ouden ameibeto nēlei thymōi,

all' ho g' anaïxas hetarois epi cheiras ialle,

syn de dyō marpsas hōs te skylakas poti gaiēi

290kopt': ek d' enkephalos chamadis rhee, deue de gaian.

English

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 granted 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.

Homeric Greek

τοὺς δὲ διὰ μελεϊστὶ ταμὼν ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον:

ἤσθιε δ' ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, οὐδ' ἀπέλειπεν,

ἔγκατά τε σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα μυελόεντα.

ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαίοντες ἀνεσχέθομεν Διὶ χεῖρας,

295σχέτλια ἔργ' ὁρόωντες, ἀμηχανίη δ' ἔχε θυμόν.

Transliteration

tous de dia meleïsti tamōn hōplissato dorpon:

ēsthie d' hōs te leōn oresitrophos, oud' apeleipen,

enkata te sarkas te kai ostea myeloenta.

hēmeis de klaiontes aneschethomen Dii cheiras,

295schetlia erg' horoōntes, amēchaniē d' eche thymon.

English

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.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωψ μεγάλην ἐμπλήσατο νηδὺν

ἀνδρόμεα κρέ' ἔδων καὶ ἐπ' ἄκρητον γάλα πίνων,

κεῖτ' ἔντοσθ' ἄντροιο τανυσσάμενος διὰ μήλων.

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ βούλευσα κατὰ μεγαλήτορα θυμὸν

300ἆσσον ἰών, ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ,

Transliteration

autar epei Kyklōps megalēn emplēsato nēdyn

andromea kre' edōn kai ep' akrēton gala pinōn,

keit' entosth' antroio tanyssamenos dia mēlōn.

ton men egō bouleusa kata megalētora thymon

300asson iōn, xiphos oxy eryssamenos para mērou,

English

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.

Homeric Greek

οὐτάμεναι πρὸς στῆθος, ὅθι φρένες ἧπαρ ἔχουσι,

χείρ' ἐπιμασσάμενος: ἕτερος δέ με θυμὸς ἔρυκεν.

αὐτοῦ γάρ κε καὶ ἄμμες ἀπωλόμεθ' αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον:

οὐ γάρ κεν δυνάμεσθα θυράων ὑψηλάων

305χερσὶν ἀπώσασθαι λίθον ὄβριμον, ὃν προσέθηκεν.

Transliteration

outamenai pros stēthos, hothi phrenes hēpar echousi,

cheir' epimassamenos: heteros de me thymos eryken.

autou gar ke kai ammes apōlometh' aipyn olethron:

ou gar ken dynamestha thyraōn hypsēlaōn

305chersin apōsasthai lithon obrimon, hon prosethēken.

English

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.

Homeric Greek

ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.

"ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ ἤμελγε κλυτὰ μῆλα,

πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπ' ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.

310αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,

Transliteration

hōs tote men stenachontes emeinamen Ēō dian.

"ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs,

kai tote pyr anekaie kai ēmelge klyta mēla,

panta kata moiran, kai hyp' embryon hēken hekastēi.

310autar epei dē speuse ponēsamenos ta ha erga,

English

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.

Homeric Greek

σὺν δ' ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον.

δειπνήσας δ' ἄντρου ἐξήλασε πίονα μῆλα,

ῥηιδίως ἀφελὼν θυρεὸν μέγαν: αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

ἂψ ἐπέθηχ', ὡς εἴ τε φαρέτρῃ πῶμ' ἐπιθείη.

315πολλῇ δὲ ῥοίζῳ πρὸς ὄρος τρέπε πίονα μῆλα

Transliteration

syn d' ho ge dē aute dyō marpsas hōplissato deipnon.

deipnēsas d' antrou exēlase piona mēla,

rhēidiōs aphelōn thyreon megan: autar epeita

aps epethēch', hōs ei te pharetrēi pōm' epitheiē.

315pollēi de rhoizōi pros oros trepe piona mēla

English

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;

Homeric Greek

Κύκλωψ: αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων,

εἴ πως τισαίμην, δοίη δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.

"ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.

Κύκλωπος γὰρ ἔκειτο μέγα ῥόπαλον παρὰ σηκῷ,

320χλωρὸν ἐλαί̈νεον: τὸ μὲν ἔκταμεν, ὄφρα φοροίη

Transliteration

Kyklōps: autar egō lipomēn kaka byssodomeuōn,

ei pōs tisaimēn, doiē de moi euchos Athēnē.

"hēde de moi kata thymon aristē phaineto boulē.

Kyklōpos gar ekeito mega rhopalon para sēkōi,

320chlōron elaïneon: to men ektamen, ophra phoroiē

English

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;

Homeric Greek

αὐανθέν. τὸ μὲν ἄμμες ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντες

ὅσσον θ' ἱστὸν νηὸς ἐεικοσόροιο μελαίνης,

φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἥ τ' ἐκπεράᾳ μέγα λαῖτμα:

τόσσον ἔην μῆκος, τόσσον πάχος εἰσοράασθαι.

325τοῦ μὲν ὅσον τ' ὄργυιαν ἐγὼν ἀπέκοψα παραστὰς

Transliteration

auanthen. to men ammes eiskomen eisoroōntes

hosson th' histon nēos eeikosoroio melainēs,

phortidos eureiēs, hē t' ekperaāi mega laitma:

tosson eēn mēkos, tosson pachos eisoraasthai.

325tou men hoson t' orguian egōn apekopsa parastas

English

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.

Homeric Greek

καὶ παρέθηχ' ἑτάροισιν, ἀποξῦναι δ' ἐκέλευσα:

οἱ δ' ὁμαλὸν ποίησαν: ἐγὼ δ' ἐθόωσα παραστὰς

ἄκρον, ἄφαρ δὲ λαβὼν ἐπυράκτεον ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ.

καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκα κατακρύψας ὑπὸ κόπρῳ,

330ἥ ῥα κατὰ σπείους κέχυτο μεγάλ' ἤλιθα πολλή:

Transliteration

kai parethēch' hetaroisin, apoxynai d' ekeleusa:

hoi d' homalon poiēsan: egō d' ethoōsa parastas

akron, aphar de labōn epyrakteon en pyri kēleōi.

kai to men eu katethēka katakrypsas hypo koprōi,

330hē rha kata speious kechyto megal' ēlitha pollē:

English

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.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κλήρῳ πεπαλάσθαι ἄνωγον,

ὅς τις τολμήσειεν ἐμοὶ σὺν μοχλὸν ἀείρας

τρῖψαι ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ, ὅτε τὸν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι.

οἱ δ' ἔλαχον τοὺς ἄν κε καὶ ἤθελον αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι,

335τέσσαρες, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πέμπτος μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέγμην.

Transliteration

autar tous allous klērōi pepalasthai anōgon,

hos tis tolmēseien emoi syn mochlon aeiras

tripsai en ophthalmōi, hote ton glykys hypnos hikanoi.

hoi d' elachon tous an ke kai ēthelon autos helesthai,

335tessares, autar egō pemptos meta toisin elegmēn.

English

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.

Homeric Greek

ἑσπέριος δ' ἦλθεν καλλίτριχα μῆλα νομεύων.

αὐτίκα δ' εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα

πάντα μάλ', οὐδέ τι λεῖπε βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς,

ἤ τι ὀισάμενος, ἢ καὶ θεὸς ὣς ἐκέλευσεν.

340αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσ' ἀείρας,

Transliteration

hesperios d' ēlthen kallitricha mēla nomeuōn.

autika d' eis eury speos ēlase piona mēla

panta mal', oude ti leipe batheiēs ektothen aulēs,

ē ti oisamenos, ē kai theos hōs ekeleusen.

340autar epeit' epethēke thyreon megan hypsos' aeiras,

English

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.

Homeric Greek

ἑζόμενος δ' ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,

πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπ' ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,

σὺν δ' ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.

345καὶ τότ' ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων ἄγχι παραστάς,

Transliteration

hezomenos d' ēmelgen ois kai mēkadas aigas,

panta kata moiran, kai hyp' embryon hēken hekastēi.

autar epei dē speuse ponēsamenos ta ha erga,

syn d' ho ge dē aute dyō marpsas hōplissato dorpon.

345kai tot' egō Kyklōpa prosēudōn anchi parastas,

English

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.

Homeric Greek

κισσύβιον μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων μέλανος οἴνοιο:

"Κύκλωψ, τῆ, πίε οἶνον, ἐπεὶ φάγες ἀνδρόμεα κρέα,

ὄφρ' εἰδῇς οἷόν τι ποτὸν τόδε νηῦς ἐκεκεύθει

ἡμετέρη. σοὶ δ' αὖ λοιβὴν φέρον, εἴ μ' ἐλεήσας

350οἴκαδε πέμψειας: σὺ δὲ μαίνεαι οὐκέτ' ἀνεκτῶς.

Transliteration

kissybion meta chersin echōn melanos oinoio:

"Kyklōps, tē, pie oinon, epei phages andromea krea,

ophr' eidēis hoion ti poton tode nēus ekekeuthei

hēmeterē. soi d' au loibēn pheron, ei m' eleēsas

350oikade pempseias: sy de maineai ouket' anektōs.

English

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.

Homeric Greek

σχέτλιε, πῶς κέν τίς σε καὶ ὕστερον ἄλλος ἵκοιτο

ἀνθρώπων πολέων, ἐπεὶ οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔρεξας;"

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δ' ἔδεκτο καὶ ἔκπιεν: ἥσατο δ' αἰνῶς

ἡδὺ ποτὸν πίνων καὶ μ' ᾔτεε δεύτερον αὖτις:

355"'δός μοι ἔτι πρόφρων, καί μοι τεὸν οὔνομα εἰπὲ

Transliteration

schetlie, pōs ken tis se kai hysteron allos hikoito

anthrōpōn poleōn, epei ou kata moiran erexas;"

"hōs ephamēn, ho d' edekto kai ekpien: hēsato d' ainōs

hēdy poton pinōn kai m' ēitee deuteron autis:

355"'dos moi eti prophrōn, kai moi teon ounoma eipe

English

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.

Homeric Greek

αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα τοι δῶ ξείνιον, ᾧ κε σὺ χαίρῃς:

καὶ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα

οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει:

ἀλλὰ τόδ' ἀμβροσίης καὶ νέκταρός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.'

360"ὣς φάτ', ἀτάρ οἱ αὖτις ἐγὼ πόρον αἴθοπα οἶνον.

Transliteration

autika nyn, hina toi dō xeinion, hōi ke sy chairēis:

kai gar Kyklōpessi pherei zeidōros aroura

oinon eristaphylon, kai sphin Dios ombros aexei:

alla tod' ambrosiēs kai nektaros estin aporrōx.'

360"hōs phat', atar hoi autis egō poron aithopa oinon.

English

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;

Homeric Greek

τρὶς μὲν ἔδωκα φέρων, τρὶς δ' ἔκπιεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωπα περὶ φρένας ἤλυθεν οἶνος,

καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισι:

"Κύκλωψ, εἰρωτᾷς μ' ὄνομα κλυτόν, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι

365ἐξερέω: σὺ δέ μοι δὸς ξείνιον, ὥς περ ὑπέστης.

Transliteration

tris men edōka pherōn, tris d' ekpien aphradiēisin.

autar epei Kyklōpa peri phrenas ēlythen oinos,

kai tote dē min epessi prosēudōn meilichioisi:

"Kyklōps, eirōtāis m' onoma klyton, autar egō toi

365exereō: sy de moi dos xeinion, hōs per hypestēs.

English

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;

Homeric Greek

Οὖτις ἐμοί γ' ὄνομα: Οὖτιν δέ με κικλήσκουσι

μήτηρ ἠδὲ πατὴρ ἠδ' ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι.'

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ:

"Οὖτιν ἐγὼ πύματον ἔδομαι μετὰ οἷς ἑτάροισιν,

370τοὺς δ' ἄλλους πρόσθεν: τὸ δέ τοι ξεινήιον ἔσται.

Transliteration

Outis emoi g' onoma: Outin de me kiklēskousi

mētēr ēde patēr ēd' alloi pantes hetairoi.'

"hōs ephamēn, ho de m' autik' ameibeto nēlei thymōi:

"Outin egō pymaton edomai meta hois hetaroisin,

370tous d' allous prosthen: to de toi xeinēion estai.

English

give me, therefore, the present you promised me; my name is Noman; this is what my father and mother and my friends have always called me.’ "But the cruel wretch said, ‘Then I will eat all Noman's comrades before Noman himself, and will keep Noman for the last. This is the present that I will make him.’

Homeric Greek

"ἦ καὶ ἀνακλινθεὶς πέσεν ὕπτιος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

κεῖτ' ἀποδοχμώσας παχὺν αὐχένα, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος

ᾕρει πανδαμάτωρ: φάρυγος δ' ἐξέσσυτο οἶνος

ψωμοί τ' ἀνδρόμεοι: ὁ δ' ἐρεύγετο οἰνοβαρείων.

375καὶ τότ' ἐγὼ τὸν μοχλὸν ὑπὸ σποδοῦ ἤλασα πολλῆς,

Transliteration

"ē kai anaklintheis pesen hyptios, autar epeita

keit' apodochmōsas pachyn auchena, kad de min hypnos

hēirei pandamatōr: pharygos d' exessyto oinos

psōmoi t' andromeoi: ho d' ereugeto oinobareiōn.

375kai tot' egō ton mochlon hypo spodou ēlasa pollēs,

English

As he spoke he reeled, and fell sprawling face upwards on the ground. His great neck hung heavily backwards and a deep sleep took hold upon him. Presently he turned sick, and threw up both wine and the gobbets of human flesh on which he had been gorging, for he was very drunk.

Homeric Greek

ἧος θερμαίνοιτο: ἔπεσσι δὲ πάντας ἑταίρους

θάρσυνον, μή τίς μοι ὑποδείσας ἀναδύη.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τάχ' ὁ μοχλὸς ἐλάινος ἐν πυρὶ μέλλεν

ἅψεσθαι, χλωρός περ ἐών, διεφαίνετο δ' αἰνῶς,

380καὶ τότ' ἐγὼν ἆσσον φέρον ἐκ πυρός, ἀμφὶ δ' ἑταῖροι

Transliteration

hēos thermainoito: epessi de pantas hetairous

tharsynon, mē tis moi hypodeisas anadyē.

all' hote dē tach' ho mochlos elainos en pyri mellen

hapsesthai, chlōros per eōn, diephaineto d' ainōs,

380kai tot' egōn asson pheron ek pyros, amphi d' hetairoi

English

Then I thrust the beam of wood far into the embers to heat it, and encouraged my men lest any of them should turn faint-hearted. When the wood, green though it was, was about to blaze, I drew it out of the fire glowing with heat, and my men gathered round me, for a daimôn had filled their hearts with courage.

Homeric Greek

ἵσταντ': αὐτὰρ θάρσος ἐνέπνευσεν μέγα δαίμων.

οἱ μὲν μοχλὸν ἑλόντες ἐλάινον, ὀξὺν ἐπ' ἄκρῳ,

ὀφθαλμῷ ἐνέρεισαν: ἐγὼ δ' ἐφύπερθεν ἐρεισθεὶς

δίνεον, ὡς ὅτε τις τρυπῷ δόρυ νήιον ἀνὴρ

385τρυπάνῳ, οἱ δέ τ' ἔνερθεν ὑποσσείουσιν ἱμάντι

Transliteration

histant': autar tharsos enepneusen mega daimōn.

hoi men mochlon helontes elainon, oxyn ep' akrōi,

ophthalmōi enereisan: egō d' ephyperthen ereistheis

dineon, hōs hote tis trypōi dory nēion anēr

385trypanōi, hoi de t' enerthen hyposseiousin himanti

English

We drove the sharp end of the beam into the monster's eye, and bearing upon it with all my weight I kept turning it round and round as though I were boring a hole in a ship's plank with an auger, which two men with a wheel and strap can keep on turning as long as they choose.

Homeric Greek

ἁψάμενοι ἑκάτερθε, τὸ δὲ τρέχει ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.

ὣς τοῦ ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ πυριήκεα μοχλὸν ἑλόντες

δινέομεν, τὸν δ' αἷμα περίρρεε θερμὸν ἐόντα.

πάντα δέ οἱ βλέφαρ' ἀμφὶ καὶ ὀφρύας εὗσεν ἀυτμὴ

390γλήνης καιομένης, σφαραγεῦντο δέ οἱ πυρὶ ῥίζαι.

Transliteration

hapsamenoi hekaterthe, to de trechei emmenes aiei.

hōs tou en ophthalmōi pyriēkea mochlon helontes

dineomen, ton d' haima perirree thermon eonta.

panta de hoi blephar' amphi kai ophryas heusen autmē

390glēnēs kaiomenēs, spharageunto de hoi pyri rhizai.

English

Even thus did we bore the red hot beam into his eye, till the boiling blood bubbled all over it as we worked it round and round, so that the steam from the burning eyeball scalded his eyelids and eyebrows, and the roots of the eye sputtered in the fire.

Homeric Greek

ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἀνὴρ χαλκεὺς πέλεκυν μέγαν ἠὲ σκέπαρνον

εἰν ὕδατι ψυχρῷ βάπτῃ μεγάλα ἰάχοντα

φαρμάσσων: τὸ γὰρ αὖτε σιδήρου γε κράτος ἐστίν

ὣς τοῦ σίζ' ὀφθαλμὸς ἐλαϊνέῳ περὶ μοχλῷ.

395σμερδαλέον δὲ μέγ' ᾤμωξεν, περὶ δ' ἴαχε πέτρη,

Transliteration

hōs d' hot' anēr chalkeus pelekyn megan ēe skeparnon

ein hydati psychrōi baptēi megala iachonta

pharmassōn: to gar aute sidērou ge kratos estin

hōs tou siz' ophthalmos elaïneōi peri mochlōi.

395smerdaleon de meg' ōimōxen, peri d' iache petrē,

English

As a blacksmith plunges an axe or hatchet into cold water to temper it - for it is this that gives strength to the iron - and it makes a great hiss as he does so, even thus did the Cyclops’ eye hiss round the beam of olive wood, and his hideous yells made the cave ring again.

Homeric Greek

ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθ': αὐτὰρ ὁ μοχλὸν

ἐξέρυσ' ὀφθαλμοῖο πεφυρμένον αἵματι πολλῷ.

τὸν μὲν ἔπειτ' ἔρριψεν ἀπὸ ἕο χερσὶν ἀλύων,

αὐτὰρ ὁ Κύκλωπας μεγάλ' ἤπυεν, οἵ ῥά μιν ἀμφὶς

400ᾤκεον ἐν σπήεσσι δι' ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας.

Transliteration

hēmeis de deisantes apessymeth': autar ho mochlon

exerys' ophthalmoio pephyrmenon haimati pollōi.

ton men epeit' erripsen apo heo chersin alyōn,

autar ho Kyklōpas megal' ēpyen, hoi rha min amphis

400ōikeon en spēessi di' akrias ēnemoessas.

English

We ran away in a fright, but he plucked the beam all besmirched with gore from his eye, and hurled it from him in a frenzy of rage and pain, shouting as he did so to the other Cyclopes who lived on the bleak headlands near him;

Homeric Greek

οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀίοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,

ἱστάμενοι δ' εἴροντο περὶ σπέος ὅττι ἑ κήδοι:

"'τίπτε τόσον, Πολύφημ', ἀρημένος ὧδ' ἐβόησας

νύκτα δι' ἀμβροσίην καὶ ἀύπνους ἄμμε τίθησθα;

405ἦ μή τίς σευ μῆλα βροτῶν ἀέκοντος ἐλαύνει;

Transliteration

hoi de boēs aiontes ephoitōn allothen allos,

histamenoi d' eironto peri speos hotti he kēdoi:

"'tipte toson, Polyphēm', arēmenos hōd' eboēsas

nykta di' ambrosiēn kai aupnous amme tithēstha;

405ē mē tis seu mēla brotōn aekontos elaunei;

English

so they gathered from all quarters round his cave when they heard him crying, and asked what was the matter with him. "‘What ails you, Polyphemus,’ said they, ‘that you make such a noise, breaking the stillness of the night, and preventing us from being able to sleep? Surely no man is carrying off your sheep?

Homeric Greek

ἦ μή τίς σ' αὐτὸν κτείνει δόλῳ ἠὲ βίηφιν;"

"τοὺς δ' αὖτ' ἐξ ἄντρου προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος:

'ὦ φίλοι, Οὖτίς με κτείνει δόλῳ οὐδὲ βίηφιν.'

"οἱ δ' ἀπαμειβόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντ' ἀγόρευον:

410εἰ μὲν δὴ μή τίς σε βιάζεται οἶον ἐόντα,

Transliteration

ē mē tis s' auton kteinei dolōi ēe biēphin;"

"tous d' aut' ex antrou prosephē krateros Polyphēmos:

'ō philoi, Outis me kteinei dolōi oude biēphin.'

"hoi d' apameibomenoi epea pteroent' agoreuon:

410ei men dē mē tis se biazetai oion eonta,

English

Surely no man is trying to kill you either by fraud or by force ? "But Polyphemus shouted to them from inside the cave, ‘Noman is killing me by fraud! Noman is killing me by force !’ "‘Then,’ said they, ‘if no man is attacking you, you must be ill;

Homeric Greek

νοῦσον γ' οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς μεγάλου ἀλέασθαι,

ἀλλὰ σύ γ' εὔχεο πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι.'

"ὣς ἄρ' ἔφαν ἀπιόντες, ἐμὸν δ' ἐγέλασσε φίλον κῆρ,

ὡς ὄνομ' ἐξαπάτησεν ἐμὸν καὶ μῆτις ἀμύμων.

415Κύκλωψ δὲ στενάχων τε καὶ ὠδίνων ὀδύνῃσι

Transliteration

nouson g' ou pōs esti Dios megalou aleasthai,

alla sy g' eucheo patri Poseidaōni anakti.'

"hōs ar' ephan apiontes, emon d' egelasse philon kēr,

hōs onom' exapatēsen emon kai mētis amymōn.

415Kyklōps de stenachōn te kai ōdinōn odynēisi

English

when Zeus makes people ill, there is no help for it, and you had better pray to your father Poseidon.’ "Then they went away, and I laughed inwardly at the success of my clever stratagem, but the Cyclops, groaning and in an agony of pain, felt about with his hands till he found the stone and took it from the door;

Homeric Greek

χερσὶ ψηλαφόων ἀπὸ μὲν λίθον εἷλε θυράων,

αὐτὸς δ' εἰνὶ θύρῃσι καθέζετο χεῖρε πετάσσας,

εἴ τινά που μετ' ὄεσσι λάβοι στείχοντα θύραζε:

οὕτω γάρ πού μ' ἤλπετ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ νήπιον εἶναι.

420αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον, ὅπως ὄχ' ἄριστα γένοιτο,

Transliteration

chersi psēlaphoōn apo men lithon heile thyraōn,

autos d' eini thyrēisi kathezeto cheire petassas,

ei tina pou met' oessi laboi steichonta thyraze:

houtō gar pou m' ēlpet' eni phresi nēpion einai.

420autar egō bouleuon, hopōs och' arista genoito,

English

then he sat in the doorway and stretched his hands in front of it to catch anyone going out with the sheep, for he thought I might be foolish enough to attempt this. "As for myself I kept on puzzling to think how I could best save my own life and those of my companions;

Homeric Greek

εἴ τιν' ἑταίροισιν θανάτου λύσιν ἠδ' ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ

εὑροίμην: πάντας δὲ δόλους καὶ μῆτιν ὕφαινον

ὥς τε περὶ ψυχῆς: μέγα γὰρ κακὸν ἐγγύθεν ἦεν.

ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.

425ἄρσενες ὄιες ἦσαν ἐυτρεφέες, δασύμαλλοι,

Transliteration

ei tin' hetairoisin thanatou lysin ēd' emoi autōi

heuroimēn: pantas de dolous kai mētin hyphainon

hōs te peri psychēs: mega gar kakon engythen ēen.

hēde de moi kata thymon aristē phaineto boulē.

425arsenes oies ēsan eutrephees, dasymalloi,

English

I schemed and schemed, as one who knows that his life depends upon it, for the danger was very great. In the end I deemed that this plan would be the best. The male sheep were well grown, and carried a heavy black fleece, so I bound them

Homeric Greek

καλοί τε μεγάλοι τε, ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχοντες:

τοὺς ἀκέων συνέεργον ἐυστρεφέεσσι λύγοισιν,

τῇς ἔπι Κύκλωψ εὗδε πέλωρ, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,

σύντρεις αἰνύμενος: ὁ μὲν ἐν μέσῳ ἄνδρα φέρεσκε,

430τὼ δ' ἑτέρω ἑκάτερθεν ἴτην σώοντες ἑταίρους.

Transliteration

kaloi te megaloi te, iodnephes eiros echontes:

tous akeōn syneergon eustrepheessi lygoisin,

tēis epi Kyklōps heude pelōr, athemistia eidōs,

syntreis ainymenos: ho men en mesōi andra phereske,

430tō d' heterō hekaterthen itēn sōontes hetairous.

English

noiselessly in threes together, with some of the withies on which the wicked monster used to sleep. There was to be a man under the middle sheep, and the two on either side were to cover him, so that there were three sheep to each man.

Homeric Greek

τρεῖς δὲ ἕκαστον φῶτ' ὄιες φέρον: αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε--

ἀρνειὸς γὰρ ἔην μήλων ὄχ' ἄριστος ἁπάντων,

τοῦ κατὰ νῶτα λαβών, λασίην ὑπὸ γαστέρ' ἐλυσθεὶς

κείμην: αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἀώτου θεσπεσίοιο

435νωλεμέως στρεφθεὶς ἐχόμην τετληότι θυμῷ.

Transliteration

treis de hekaston phōt' oies pheron: autar egō ge--

arneios gar eēn mēlōn och' aristos hapantōn,

tou kata nōta labōn, lasiēn hypo gaster' elystheis

keimēn: autar chersin aōtou thespesioio

435nōlemeōs strephtheis echomēn tetlēoti thymōi.

English

As for myself there was a ram finer than any of the others, so I caught hold of him by the back, ensconced myself in the thick wool under his belly, and hung on patiently to his fleece, face upwards, keeping a firm hold on it all the time.

Homeric Greek

ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.

"ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

καὶ τότ' ἔπειτα νομόνδ' ἐξέσσυτο ἄρσενα μῆλα,

θήλειαι δὲ μέμηκον ἀνήμελκτοι περὶ σηκούς:

440οὔθατα γὰρ σφαραγεῦντο. ἄναξ δ' ὀδύνῃσι κακῇσι

Transliteration

hōs tote men stenachontes emeinamen Ēō dian.

"ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs,

kai tot' epeita nomond' exessyto arsena mēla,

thēleiai de memēkon anēmelktoi peri sēkous:

440outhata gar spharageunto. anax d' odynēisi kakēisi

English

"Thus, then, did we wait in great fear of mind till morning came, but when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, the male sheep hurried out to feed, while the ewes remained bleating about the pens waiting to be milked, for their udders were full to bursting;

Homeric Greek

τειρόμενος πάντων ὀίων ἐπεμαίετο νῶτα

ὀρθῶν ἑσταότων: τὸ δὲ νήπιος οὐκ ἐνόησεν,

ὥς οἱ ὑπ' εἰροπόκων ὀίων στέρνοισι δέδεντο.

ὕστατος ἀρνειὸς μήλων ἔστειχε θύραζε

445λάχνῳ στεινόμενος καὶ ἐμοὶ πυκινὰ φρονέοντι.

Transliteration

teiromenos pantōn oiōn epemaieto nōta

orthōn hestaotōn: to de nēpios ouk enoēsen,

hōs hoi hyp' eiropokōn oiōn sternoisi dedento.

hystatos arneios mēlōn esteiche thyraze

445lachnōi steinomenos kai emoi pykina phroneonti.

English

but their master in spite of all his pain felt the backs of all the sheep as they stood upright, without being sharp enough to find out that the men were underneath their bellies. As the ram was going out, last of all, heavy with its fleece and with the weight of my crafty self;

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἐπιμασσάμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος:

"'κριὲ πέπον, τί μοι ὧδε διὰ σπέος ἔσσυο μήλων

ὕστατος; οὔ τι πάρος γε λελειμμένος ἔρχεαι οἰῶν,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος νέμεαι τέρεν' ἄνθεα ποίης

450μακρὰ βιβάς, πρῶτος δὲ ῥοὰς ποταμῶν ἀφικάνεις,

Transliteration

ton d' epimassamenos prosephē krateros Polyphēmos:

"'krie pepon, ti moi hōde dia speos essyo mēlōn

hystatos; ou ti paros ge leleimmenos ercheai oiōn,

alla poly prōtos nemeai teren' anthea poiēs

450makra bibas, prōtos de rhoas potamōn aphikaneis,

English

Polyphemus laid hold of it and said: "‘My good ram, what is it that makes you the last to leave my cave this morning? You are not wont to let the ewes go before you, but lead the mob with a run whether to flowery mead or bubbling fountain, and are the first to come home again at night;

Homeric Greek

πρῶτος δὲ σταθμόνδε λιλαίεαι ἀπονέεσθαι

ἑσπέριος: νῦν αὖτε πανύστατος. ἦ σύ γ' ἄνακτος

ὀφθαλμὸν ποθέεις, τὸν ἀνὴρ κακὸς ἐξαλάωσε

σὺν λυγροῖς ἑτάροισι δαμασσάμενος φρένας οἴνῳ,

455Οὖτις, ὃν οὔ πώ φημι πεφυγμένον εἶναι ὄλεθρον.

Transliteration

prōtos de stathmonde lilaieai aponeesthai

hesperios: nyn aute panystatos. ē sy g' anaktos

ophthalmon potheeis, ton anēr kakos exalaōse

syn lygrois hetaroisi damassamenos phrenas oinōi,

455Outis, hon ou pō phēmi pephygmenon einai olethron.

English

but now you lag last of all. Is it because you know your master has lost his eye, and are sorry because that wicked Noman and his horrid crew have got him down in his drink and blinded him? But I will have his life yet.

Homeric Greek

εἰ δὴ ὁμοφρονέοις ποτιφωνήεις τε γένοιο

εἰπεῖν ὅππῃ κεῖνος ἐμὸν μένος ἠλασκάζει:

τῷ κέ οἱ ἐγκέφαλός γε διὰ σπέος ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ

θεινομένου ῥαίοιτο πρὸς οὔδεϊ, κὰδ δέ κ' ἐμὸν κῆρ

460λωφήσειε κακῶν, τά μοι οὐτιδανὸς πόρεν Οὖτις.'

Transliteration

ei dē homophroneois potiphōnēeis te genoio

eipein hoppēi keinos emon menos ēlaskazei:

tōi ke hoi enkephalos ge dia speos allydis allēi

theinomenou rhaioito pros oudeï, kad de k' emon kēr

460lōphēseie kakōn, ta moi outidanos poren Outis.'

English

If you could understand and talk, you would tell me where the wretch is hiding, and I would dash his brains upon the ground till they flew all over the cave. I should thus have some satisfaction for the harm this no-good Noman has done me.’

Homeric Greek

"ὣς εἰπὼν τὸν κριὸν ἀπὸ ἕο πέμπε θύραζε.

ἐλθόντες δ' ἠβαιὸν ἀπὸ σπείους τε καὶ αὐλῆς

πρῶτος ὑπ' ἀρνειοῦ λυόμην, ὑπέλυσα δ' ἑταίρους.

καρπαλίμως δὲ τὰ μῆλα ταναύποδα, πίονα δημῷ,

465πολλὰ περιτροπέοντες ἐλαύνομεν, ὄφρ' ἐπὶ νῆα

Transliteration

"hōs eipōn ton krion apo heo pempe thyraze.

elthontes d' ēbaion apo speious te kai aulēs

prōtos hyp' arneiou lyomēn, hypelysa d' hetairous.

karpalimōs de ta mēla tanaupoda, piona dēmōi,

465polla peritropeontes elaunomen, ophr' epi nēa

English

"As spoke he drove the ram outside, but when we were a little way out from the cave and yards, I first got from under the ram's belly, and then freed my comrades; as for the sheep, which were very fat, by constantly heading them in the right direction we managed to drive them down to the ship.

Homeric Greek

ἱκόμεθ'. ἀσπάσιοι δὲ φίλοις ἑτάροισι φάνημεν,

οἳ φύγομεν θάνατον, τοὺς δὲ στενάχοντο γοῶντες.

ἀλλ' ἐγὼ οὐκ εἴων, ἀνὰ δ' ὀφρύσι νεῦον ἑκάστῳ,

κλαίειν, ἀλλ' ἐκέλευσα θοῶς καλλίτριχα μῆλα

470πόλλ' ἐν νηὶ βαλόντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.

Transliteration

hikometh'. aspasioi de philois hetaroisi phanēmen,

hoi phygomen thanaton, tous de stenachonto goōntes.

all' egō ouk eiōn, ana d' ophrysi neuon hekastōi,

klaiein, all' ekeleusa thoōs kallitricha mēla

470poll' en nēi balontas epiplein halmyron hydōr.

English

The crew rejoiced greatly at seeing those of us who had escaped death, but wept for the others whom the Cyclops had killed. However, I made signs to them by nodding and frowning that they were to hush their crying, and told them to get all the sheep on board at once and put out to sea;

Homeric Greek

οἱ δ' αἶψ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,

ἑξῆς δ' ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.

ἀλλ' ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,

καὶ τότ' ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων κερτομίοισι:

475"Κύκλωψ, οὐκ ἄρ' ἔμελλες ἀνάλκιδος ἀνδρὸς ἑταίρους

Transliteration

hoi d' aips' eisbainon kai epi klēisi kathizon,

hexēs d' hezomenoi poliēn hala typton eretmois.

all' hote tosson apēn, hosson te gegōne boēsas,

kai tot' egō Kyklōpa prosēudōn kertomioisi:

475"Kyklōps, ouk ar' emelles analkidos andros hetairous

English

so they went aboard, took their places, and smote the gray sea with their oars. Then, when I had got as far out as my voice would reach, I began to jeer at the Cyclops. "‘Cyclops,’ said I, ‘you should have taken better measure of your man before eating up his comrades in your cave.

Homeric Greek

ἔδμεναι ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφι.

καὶ λίην σέ γ' ἔμελλε κιχήσεσθαι κακὰ ἔργα,

σχέτλι', ἐπεὶ ξείνους οὐχ ἅζεο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

ἐσθέμεναι: τῷ σε Ζεὺς τίσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.'

480"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δ' ἔπειτα χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

Transliteration

edmenai en spēi glaphyrōi kraterēphi biēphi.

kai liēn se g' emelle kichēsesthai kaka erga,

schetli', epei xeinous ouch hazeo sōi eni oikōi

esthemenai: tōi se Zeus tisato kai theoi alloi.'

480"hōs ephamēn, ho d' epeita cholōsato kērothi mallon,

English

You wretch, do you intend by violence to eat up your visitors in your own cave? You might have known that your derangement would find you out, and now Zeus and the other gods have punished you.’ "He got more and more furious as he heard me,

Homeric Greek

ἧκε δ' ἀπορρήξας κορυφὴν ὄρεος μεγάλοιο,

κὰδ δ' ἔβαλε προπάροιθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο.

ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης:

τὴν δ' αἶψ' ἤπειρόνδε παλιρρόθιον φέρε κῦμα,

485πλημυρὶς ἐκ πόντοιο, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.

Transliteration

hēke d' aporrēxas koryphēn oreos megaloio,

kad d' ebale proparoithe neos kyanoprōiroio.

eklysthē de thalassa katerchomenēs hypo petrēs:

tēn d' aips' ēpeironde palirrothion phere kyma,

485plēmyris ek pontoio, themōse de cherson hikesthai.

English

so he tore the top from off a high mountain, and flung it just in front of my ship so that it was within a little of hitting the end of the rudder. The sea quaked as the rock fell into it, and the wash of the wave it

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χείρεσσι λαβὼν περιμήκεα κοντὸν

ὦσα παρέξ, ἑτάροισι δ' ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα

ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵν' ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν,

κρατὶ κατανεύων: οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον.

490ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ δὶς τόσσον ἅλα πρήσσοντες ἀπῆμεν,

Transliteration

autar egō cheiressi labōn perimēkea konton

ōsa parex, hetaroisi d' epotrynas ekeleusa

embaleein kōpēis, hin' hypek kakotēta phygoimen,

krati kataneuōn: hoi de propesontes eresson.

490all' hote dē dis tosson hala prēssontes apēmen,

English

raised carried us back towards the mainland, and forced us towards the shore. But I snatched up a long pole and kept the ship off, making signs to my men by nodding my head, that they must row for their lives, whereon they laid out with a will.

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότε δὴ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων: ἀμφὶ δ' ἑταῖροι

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος:

"'σχέτλιε, τίπτ' ἐθέλεις ἐρεθιζέμεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα;

ὃς καὶ νῦν πόντονδε βαλὼν βέλος ἤγαγε νῆα

495αὖτις ἐς ἤπειρον, καὶ δὴ φάμεν αὐτόθ' ὀλέσθαι.

Transliteration

kai tote dē Kyklōpa prosēudōn: amphi d' hetairoi

meilichiois epeessin erētyon allothen allos:

"'schetlie, tipt' etheleis erethizemen agrion andra;

hos kai nyn pontonde balōn belos ēgage nēa

495autis es ēpeiron, kai dē phamen autoth' olesthai.

English

When we had got twice as far as we were before, I was for jeering at the Cyclops again, but the men begged and prayed of me to hold my tongue. "‘Do not,’ they exclaimed, ‘be mad enough to provoke this savage creature further; he has thrown one rock at us already which drove us back again to

Homeric Greek

εἰ δὲ φθεγξαμένου τευ ἢ αὐδήσαντος ἄκουσε,

σύν κεν ἄραξ' ἡμέων κεφαλὰς καὶ νήια δοῦρα

μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών: τόσσον γὰρ ἵησιν.'

"ὣς φάσαν, ἀλλ' οὐ πεῖθον ἐμὸν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν,

500ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην κεκοτηότι θυμῷ:

Transliteration

ei de phthenxamenou teu ē audēsantos akouse,

syn ken arax' hēmeōn kephalas kai nēia doura

marmarōi okrioenti balōn: tosson gar hiēsin.'

"hōs phasan, all' ou peithon emon megalētora thymon,

500alla min apsorron prosephēn kekotēoti thymōi:

English

the mainland, and we made sure it had been the death of us; if he had then heard any further sound of voices he would have pounded our heads and our ship's timbers into a jelly with the rugged rocks he would have heaved at us, for he can throw them a long way.’ "But I would not listen to them, and

Homeric Greek

"Κύκλωψ, αἴ κέν τίς σε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων

ὀφθαλμοῦ εἴρηται ἀεικελίην ἀλαωτύν,

φάσθαι Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον ἐξαλαῶσαι,

υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκί' ἔχοντα.'

505"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ:

Transliteration

"Kyklōps, ai ken tis se katathnētōn anthrōpōn

ophthalmou eirētai aeikeliēn alaōtyn,

phasthai Odyssēa ptoliporthion exalaōsai,

huion Laerteō, Ithakēi eni oiki' echonta.'

505"hōs ephamēn, ho de m' oimōxas ēmeibeto mythōi:

English

shouted out to him in my rage, ‘Cyclops, if any one asks you who it was that put your eye out and spoiled your beauty, say it was the valiant warrior Odysseus, son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca.’

Homeric Greek

'ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθ' ἱκάνει.

ἔσκε τις ἐνθάδε μάντις ἀνὴρ ἠύς τε μέγας τε,

Τήλεμος Εὐρυμίδης, ὃς μαντοσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο

καὶ μαντευόμενος κατεγήρα Κυκλώπεσσιν:

510ὅς μοι ἔφη τάδε πάντα τελευτήσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,

Transliteration

'ō popoi, ē mala dē me palaiphata thesphath' hikanei.

eske tis enthade mantis anēr ēus te megas te,

Tēlemos Eurymidēs, hos mantosynēi ekekasto

kai manteuomenos kategēra Kyklōpessin:

510hos moi ephē tade panta teleutēsesthai opissō,

English

"On this he groaned, and cried out, ‘Alas, alas, then the old prophecy about me is coming true. There was a seer here, at one time, a man both brave and of great stature, Telemos son of Eurymos, who was an excellent seer, and did all the prophesying for the Cyclopes till he grew old;

Homeric Greek

χειρῶν ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἁμαρτήσεσθαι ὀπωπῆς.

ἀλλ' αἰεί τινα φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλὸν ἐδέγμην

ἐνθάδ' ἐλεύσεσθαι, μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν:

νῦν δέ μ' ἐὼν ὀλίγος τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καὶ ἄκικυς

515ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν, ἐπεί μ' ἐδαμάσσατο οἴνῳ.

Transliteration

cheirōn ex Odysēos hamartēsesthai opōpēs.

all' aiei tina phōta megan kai kalon edegmēn

enthad' eleusesthai, megalēn epieimenon alkēn:

nyn de m' eōn oligos te kai outidanos kai akikys

515ophthalmou alaōsen, epei m' edamassato oinōi.

English

he told me that all this would happen to me some day, and said I should lose my sight by the hand of Odysseus. I have been all along expecting some one of imposing presence and superhuman strength, whereas he turns out to be a little insignificant weakling, who has managed to blind my eye by taking advantage of me in my drink;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄγε δεῦρ', Ὀδυσεῦ, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω

πομπήν τ' ὀτρύνω δόμεναι κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον:

τοῦ γὰρ ἐγὼ πάϊς εἰμί, πατὴρ δ' ἐμὸς εὔχεται εἶναι.

αὐτὸς δ', αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃσ', ἰήσεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

520οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.'

Transliteration

all' age deur', Odyseu, hina toi par xeinia theiō

pompēn t' otrynō domenai klyton ennosigaion:

tou gar egō païs eimi, patēr d' emos euchetai einai.

autos d', ai k' ethelēis', iēsetai, oude tis allos

520oute theōn makarōn oute thnētōn anthrōpōn.'

English

come here, then, Odysseus, that I may make you presents to show my hospitality, and urge Poseidon to help you forward on your journey - for Poseidon and I are father and son.

Homeric Greek

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον:

αἲ γὰρ δὴ ψυχῆς τε καὶ αἰῶνός σε δυναίμην

εὖνιν ποιήσας πέμψαι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,

ὡς οὐκ ὀφθαλμόν γ' ἰήσεται οὐδ' ἐνοσίχθων.'

525"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δ' ἔπειτα Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι

Transliteration

"hōs ephat', autar egō min ameibomenos proseeipon:

ai gar dē psychēs te kai aiōnos se dynaimēn

eunin poiēsas pempsai domon Aïdos eisō,

hōs ouk ophthalmon g' iēsetai oud' enosichthōn.'

525"hōs ephamēn, ho d' epeita Poseidaōni anakti

English

He, if he so will, shall heal me, which no one else neither god nor man can do.’ "Then I said, ‘I wish I could be as sure of killing you outright and sending you down, bereft of your psukhê, to the house of Hades, as I am that it will take more than Poseidon to cure that eye of yours.’

Homeric Greek

εὔχετο χεῖρ' ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα:

'κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα,

εἰ ἐτεόν γε σός εἰμι, πατὴρ δ' ἐμὸς εὔχεαι εἶναι,

δὸς μὴ Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον οἴκαδ' ἱκέσθαι

530υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκί' ἔχοντα.

Transliteration

eucheto cheir' oregōn eis ouranon asteroenta:

'klythi, Poseidaon gaiēoche kyanochaita,

ei eteon ge sos eimi, patēr d' emos eucheai einai,

dos mē Odyssēa ptoliporthion oikad' hikesthai

530huion Laerteō, Ithakēi eni oiki' echonta.

English

"On this he lifted up his hands to the firmament of heaven and prayed, saying, ‘Hear me, great Poseidon; if I am indeed your own true-begotten son, grant that Odysseus may never reach his home alive;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' εἴ οἱ μοῖρ' ἐστὶ φίλους τ' ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι

οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

ὀψὲ κακῶς ἔλθοι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,

νηὸς ἐπ' ἀλλοτρίης, εὕροι δ' ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ.'

535"ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε κυανοχαίτης.

Transliteration

all' ei hoi moir' esti philous t' ideein kai hikesthai

oikon euktimenon kai heēn es patrida gaian,

opse kakōs elthoi, olesas apo pantas hetairous,

nēos ep' allotriēs, heuroi d' en pēmata oikōi.'

535"hōs ephat' euchomenos, tou d' eklye kyanochaitēs.

English

or if he must get back to his friends at last, let him do so late and in sore plight after losing all his men let him reach his home in another man's ship and find trouble in his house.’

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἐξαῦτις πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας

ἧκ' ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶν' ἀπέλεθρον,

κὰδ' δ' ἔβαλεν μετόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δ' οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι.

540ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης:

Transliteration

autar ho g' exautis poly meizona laan aeiras

hēk' epidinēsas, epereise de in' apelethron,

kad' d' ebalen metopisthe neos kyanoprōiroio

tytthon, edeuēsen d' oiēion akron hikesthai.

540eklysthē de thalassa katerchomenēs hypo petrēs:

English

"Thus did he pray, and Poseidon heard his prayer. Then he picked up a rock much larger than the first, swung it aloft and hurled it with prodigious force. It fell just short of the ship, but was within a little of hitting the end of the rudder.

Homeric Greek

τὴν δὲ πρόσω φέρε κῦμα, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.

"ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφικόμεθ', ἔνθα περ ἄλλαι

νῆες ἐύσσελμοι μένον ἁθρόαι, ἀμφὶ δ' ἑταῖροι

ἥατ' ὀδυρόμενοι, ἡμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί,

545νῆα μὲν ἔνθ' ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,

Transliteration

tēn de prosō phere kyma, themōse de cherson hikesthai.

"all' hote dē tēn nēson aphikometh', entha per allai

nēes eusselmoi menon hathroai, amphi d' hetairoi

hēat' odyromenoi, hēmeas potidegmenoi aiei,

545nēa men enth' elthontes ekelsamen en psamathoisin,

English

The sea quaked as the rock fell into it, and the wash of the wave it raised drove us onwards on our way towards the shore of the island. "When at last we got to the island where we had left the rest of our ships, we found our comrades lamenting us, and anxiously awaiting our return.

Homeric Greek

ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

μῆλα δὲ Κύκλωπος γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες

δασσάμεθ', ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.

ἀρνειὸν δ' ἐμοὶ οἴῳ ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι

550μήλων δαιομένων δόσαν ἔξοχα: τὸν δ' ἐπὶ θινὶ

Transliteration

ek de kai autoi bēmen epi rhēgmini thalassēs.

mēla de Kyklōpos glaphyrēs ek nēos helontes

dassameth', hōs mē tis moi atembomenos kioi isēs.

arneion d' emoi oiōi euknēmides hetairoi

550mēlōn daiomenōn dosan exocha: ton d' epi thini

English

We ran our vessel upon the sands and got out of her on to the sea shore; we also landed the Cyclops’ sheep, and divided them equitably amongst us so that none might have reason to complain. As for the ram, my companions agreed that I should have it as an extra share;

Homeric Greek

Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέι Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει,

ῥέξας μηρί' ἔκαιον: ὁ δ' οὐκ ἐμπάζετο ἱρῶν,

ἀλλ' ὅ γε μερμήριξεν ὅπως ἀπολοίατο πᾶσαι

νῆες ἐύσσελμοι καὶ ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι.

555"ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

Transliteration

Zēni kelainephei Kronidēi, hos pasin anassei,

rhexas mēri' ekaion: ho d' ouk empazeto hirōn,

all' ho ge mermērixen hopōs apoloiato pasai

nēes eusselmoi kai emoi eriēres hetairoi.

555"hōs tote men propan ēmar es ēelion katadynta

English

so I sacrificed it on the sea shore, and burned its thigh bones to Zeus, who is the lord of all. But he heeded not my sacrifice, and only thought how he might destroy my ships and my comrades.

Homeric Greek

ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τ' ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ:

ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,

δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

560δὴ τότ' ἐγὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα

Transliteration

hēmetha dainymenoi krea t' aspeta kai methy hēdy:

ēmos d' ēelios katedy kai epi knephas ēlthe,

dē tote koimēthēmen epi rhēgmini thalassēs.

ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs,

560dē tot' egōn hetaroisin epotrynas ekeleusa

English

"Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun we feasted our fill on meat and drink, but when the sun went down and it came on dark, we camped upon the beach.

Homeric Greek

αὐτούς τ' ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι:

οἱ δ' αἶψ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,

ἑξῆς δ' ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.

"ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,

565ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.

Transliteration

autous t' ambainein ana te prymnēsia lysai:

hoi d' aips' eisbainon kai epi klēisi kathizon,

hexēs d' hezomenoi poliēn hala typton eretmois.

"enthen de proterō pleomen akachēmenoi ētor,

565asmenoi ek thanatoio, philous olesantes hetairous.

English

When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, I bade my men on board and loose the hawsers. Then they took their places and smote the gray sea with their oars; so we sailed on with sorrow in our hearts, but glad to have escaped death though we had lost our comrades.