o 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!"

And as he ended he hurled another mighty rock, which almost lighted on
the rudder's end, yet missed it as if by a hair's breadth. So Ulysses
and his comrades escaped and came to the island of the wild goats,
where they found their comrades, who indeed had waited long for them,
in sore fear lest they had perished. Then Ulysses divided among his
company all the sheep which they had taken from the Cyclops. And all,
with one consent, gave him for his share the great ram which had
carried him out of the cave