weeping should betray them to the giant, where they were.  Then they all climbed into the ship, and sitting well in order on the benches, smote the sea with their oars, laying-to right lustily, that they might the sooner get away from the accursed land.  And when they had rowed a hundred yards or so, so that a man’s voice could yet be heard by one who stood upon the shore, Ulysses stood up in the ship and shouted: 

“He was no coward, O Cyclops, whose comrades thou didst so foully slay in thy den.  Justly art thou punished, monster, that devourest thy guests in thy dwelling.  May the gods make thee suffer yet worse things than these!”

Then the Cylops, in his wrath, broke off the top of a great hill, a mighty rock, and hurled it where he had heard the voice.  Right in front of the ship’s bow it fell, and a great wave rose as it sank, and washed the ship back to the shore.  But Ulysses seized a long pole with both hands and pushed the ship from the land, and bade his comrades ply their oars, nodding with his head, for he was too wise to speak, lest the Cyclops should know where they were.  Then they rowed with all their might and main.

And when they had gotten twice as far as before, Ulysses made as if he would speak again; but his comrades sought to hinder him, saying, “Nay, my lord, anger not the giant any more.  Surely we thought before we were lost, when he threw the great rock, and washed our ship back to the shore.  And if he hear thee now, he may crush our ship and us, for the man throws a mighty bolt, and throws it far.”

But Ulysses would not be persuaded, but stood up and said, “Hear, Cyclops!  If any man ask who blinded thee, say that it was the warrior Ulysses, son of Laertes, dwelling in Ithaca.”

And the Cyclops answered with a groan, “Of a truth, the old oracles are fulfilled, for long ago there came to this land one Telemus, a prophet, and dwelt among us even to old age.  This man foretold me that one Ulysses would rob me of my sight.  But I looked for a great man and a strong, who should subdue me by force, and now a weakling has done the deed, having cheated me with wine.  But come thou hither, Ulysses, and I will be a host indeed to thee.  Or, at least, may Poseidon give thee such a voyage to thy home as I would wish thee to have.  For know that Poseidon is my sire.  May be that he may heal me of my grievous wound.”

And Ulysses said, “Would to God, I could send thee down to the abode of the dead, where thou wouldst be past all healing, even from Poseidon’s self.”

Then Cyclops lifted up his hands to Poseidon and prayed: 

“Hear me, Poseidon, if I am indeed thy son and thou my father.  May this Ulysses never reach his home! or, if the Fates have ordered that he should reach it, may he come alone, all his comrades lost, and come to find sore trouble in his house!”