Early next morning Odysseus manned his own galley, and set forth to explore the mainland, leaving the rest of the crews to await his return on the island.  As they drew near the opposite shore of the bay, the mariners came in view of a gigantic cavern overshadowed by laurel-trees.  Round the front of the cavern was a wide court-yard rudely fenced with huge blocks of stone and unhewn trunks of trees.

Having moored his vessel in a sheltered place, Odysseus chose twelve of his men to accompany him on his perilous adventure, and charging the others to keep close, and not stir from the ship, he prepared for his visit to the Cyclops, who dwelt apart from his brethren in the cavern.  Amongst the spoils obtained in Thrace was a small store of peculiarly rich and generous wine, which had been given him by a priest of Apollo whom he had protected, with his wife and child, while his men were pillaging the town.  Twelve jars of this precious vintage the priest brought forth from a secret hiding-place, known only to himself and his wife and one trusty servant.  So potent was the wine that it needed but one measure of it to twenty of water to make a fragrant and comfortable drink, from which few could refrain.  Odysseus now filled a great goatskin bottle with this wine, and carried it with him.  And well it was for him that he did so.

During the day the Cyclops was abroad, watching his flocks as they grazed on the mountain pastures; so that when Odysseus and his men came to the cavern, they had ample time to look about them.  The courtyard was fenced off into pens, well stocked with ewes and she-goats, with their young—­huge beasts, rivalling in stature their gigantic shepherd.  Within the cavern was a sort of dairy, with great piles of cheeses, and vessels brimming with whey.

“Quick now,” whispered one of the men to Odysseus.  “Let us take of the cheeses, and drive off the best of the lambs and kids to the ship before the Cyclops returns; for methinks he will give us but sorry welcome if he finds us here.”  “Nay,” answered Odysseus, “I will wait for the master, that I may see him face to face.  It may be that he will bestow on me some gift, such as strangers receive from their hosts.”  So they remained, and having kindled a fire they prepared savoury meat, and ate of the cheeses which they found in the cave.  Then they waited, until the lengthening shadows showed that evening was drawing near.

While they sat thus, conversing in low tones, and casting fearful glances towards the cavern’s mouth, all at once they heard a sound like the trampling of many feet, accompanied by loud bleatings, which were answered by the ewes and she-goats in the courtyard.  Then a vast shadow darkened the cavern’s entrance, and in came Polyphemus, driving his flock before him.  At the sight of that fearful monster, huge as a mountain, with one vast red eye glaring in the middle of his forehead, Odysseus and his comrades fled in terror