Passage from Odyssey by Homer, Book 9 line 216-288

Tranlated by Samuel Butler. "Odyssey." Web. http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.9.ix.html.

This online edition was prepared by Xiaowen Zhang

Introduction:

The passage I choose from Odyssey is a simple description of the travel Odysseus and his companions made to the island of Cyclops, the giants. There they met Polyphemos, the son of Poseidon, who owned the greatest power over the island. When Odysseus and his friends firstly arrived at the cave, they found plenty of sheep, cheese and milk in it. His friends suggested that they could take away all the stuff and drive the sheep and kids quickly out of pens to their swift ship, and sailed away from the island. However in Odysseus’ mind, they had to stay until the owner of the cave came back, then they would be given some gifts because they were guests. Unfortunately, the owner of the cave, Polyphemos, was a brutal giant who did not believe in God Zeus and locked up them, at the same time ate two of the companions. I find this passage really fits into the overall story of the epic because the whole story of Odyssey is about the experiences of Odysseus on the way back to his homeland Ithaca. The main point of the story is the miseries he suffered during the trip. The passage I choose is not only one of these miseries he underwent, but also the primary reason of the miseries he had to suffer for next few years, which was hurting the son of Poseidon. Poseidon is the god of ocean in Greek mythology. It was clearly not a good idea to displease the god of ocean when he had to pass the ocean to homeland. And also the passage exposes some weakness of character of Odysseus. That is why I find it interesting to choose the passage.

Passage from Book 9 of Odyssey:

"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 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. Then he rolled a huge stone to the mouth of the cave- so huge that two and twenty strong four-wheeled waggons 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. 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 then caught sight of us, whereon he said:

"'Strangers, who are you? Where do sail from? Are you traders, or do you sail the as rovers, with your hands against every man, and every man's hand against you?'

"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 Jove, and stress of weather, we have been driven far out of our course. We are the people of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, who has won infinite renown throughout the whole world, by sacking so great a city and killing so many people. We therefore humbly pray you to show us some hospitality, and otherwise make us such presents as visitors may reasonably expect. May your excellency fear the wrath of heaven, for we are your suppliants, and Jove takes all respectable travellers under his protection, for he is 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 Jove or any of your blessed gods, for we are ever so much stronger than they. I shall not spare either yourself or your companions out of any regard for Jove, unless I am in the humour 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?'

"He said this to draw me out, but I was too cunning to be caught in that way, so I answered with a lie; 'Neptune,' said I, 'sent my ship on to the rocks at the far end of your country, and wrecked it. 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 vouchsafed 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. 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. 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. 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. So we stayed sobbing and sighing where we were till morning came.


Citations:
1.Xenia. Web.http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/LX/Xenia.html .
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