So we entered the cave, and judged that it was the dwelling of some rich and skillful shepherd.  For within there were pens for the young of the sheep and of the goats, divided all according to their age, and there were baskets full of cheeses, and full milkpails ranged along the wall.  But the Cyclops himself was away in the pastures.  Then my companions besought me that I would depart, taking with me, if I would, a store of cheeses and sundry of the lambs and of the kids.  But I would not, for I wished to see, after my wont, what manner of host this strange shepherd might be, and, if it might be, to take a gift from his hand, such as is the due of strangers.  Verily, his coming was not to be a joy to my company.

It was evening when the Cyclops came home,—­a mighty giant, very tall of stature, and when we saw him we fled into the sacred place of the cave in great fear.  On his shoulder he bore a vast bundle of pine logs for his fire, and threw them down outside the cave with a great crash, and drove the flocks within, and closed the entrance with a huge rock, which twenty wagons and more could not bear.  Then he milked the ewes and all the she-goats, and half of the milk he curdled for cheese, and half he set ready for himself, when he should sup.  Next he kindled a fire with the pine logs, and the flame lighted up all the cave, showing to him both me and my comrades.

“Who are ye?” cried Polyphemus, for that was the giant’s name.  “Are ye traders, or, haply, pirates?”

I shuddered at the dreadful voice and shape, but bare me bravely, and answered, “We are no pirates, mighty sir, but Greeks sailing back from Troy, and subjects of the great King Agamemnon, whose fame is spread from one end of heaven to the other.  And we are come to beg hospitality of thee in the name of Zeus, who rewards or punishes hosts and guests, according as they be faithful the one to the other, or no.”

“Nay,” said the giant; “it is but idle talk to tell me of Zeus and the other Gods.  We Cyclops take no account of gods, holding ourselves to be much better and stronger than they.  But come, tell me, where have you left your ship?”

But I saw his thought when he asked about the ship, how he was minded to break it, and take from us all hope of flight.  Therefore I answered him craftily,—­

“Ship have we none, for that which was ours King Neptune brake, driving it on a jutting rock on this coast, and we whom thou seest are all that are escaped from the waves.”

Polyphemus answered nothing, but without more ado caught up two of the men, as a man might catch up the whelps of a dog, and dashed them on the ground, and tare them limb from limb, and devoured them, with huge draughts of milk between, leaving not a morsel, not even the very bones.  But we that were left, when we saw the dreadful deed, could only weep and pray to Zeus for help.  And when the giant had filled his maw with human flesh and with the milk of the flocks, he lay down among his sheep and slept.