When last I wrote, I related the tale of the languid Lotus-Eaters, who do no toil and live only to gorge themselves on the dream-fruit of the lotus. Once I looked upon these men in disdain, but now I only pity them. They are not so deserving of disgust as the repulsive monster that my crew and I met next.
The night was murky with a heavy fog. The silver sheen of the moon barely pierced the mist and the stars were obscured. We could not navigate with any ease. The cloud of fog veiled the island so that we could not see it and only knew of it when our keel grated gently against its shore. Thank the gods we were not cast upon the rocks on that night and the seas were fair, though it was a small mercy. Our good fortune that night did not hold even through the next few days.
We awoke with the rosy light of dawn, the sun's fingers stroking the clouds and bathing the sea in its red glow, as if an omen of the blood that would stain us if we lingered - a warning we did not heed.
Free ranging flocks of goats grazed further inland and it pleased us to kill some for our stores. We became aware of the signs of the island's inhabitants throughout the day - we heard the clamour of deep voices and saw the tendrils of grey smoke wafting up into the sky.
"Come," said I to the men of my own ship, who had been with me for these ten years. "Let us discover more about these people. Maybe they will offer us aid and welcome us. And even if they are not so hospitable, are we not men? Should the risk of danger hinder us from undertaking adventures that will glorify and honour us? We, who have survived the greatest war of our time, need not fear the unknown." Our spirits thus roused with pride, my men and I set off to explore the island.
Oh, that my prideful spirit would not rule over my senses and my heart! My pride served me as Achilles' lust for glory served him and has bought me little more than misery. If I had foreseen what would befall us on this island, I would not have dared bring our ships to land on its loathsome shore! But I did, and I curse my own words, for they encouraged my men to follow me in my foolishness and thus meet their end.
When we followed the trail of smoke, we happened upon a cavern, within which a flock of sheep was penned. I was curious and desired to explore the vast cave. Forcing our way through the bleating flock, we found crates of rich cheese and of milk.
"Ought not we take this as plunder, Odysseus?" one of my men, named Artemios, asked of me. "We should not linger here long, by my counsel, for we have been long away from our families in Ithaca."
"Nay," I replied. "That would be base robbery, my friend."
So I spoke, but no sooner had the words left my lips than the light from outside was suddenly obscured. Startled, we turned to face what had come. A hulking figure stood at the mouth of the cave. Its naked grey skin was as rough as raw leather and its single eye appraised us menacingly. It was the son of mighty Poseidon, the fearsome Cyclopes Polyphemus.
Know this, my son. Although the Cyclopes are sons of the great god of the ocean, of earthquakes and of horses, they are far from godly creatures. They dwell in caves, they do not toil. Each is a law unto itself. They are not like us men in many ways. Even so, I hoped for the courteous treatment a guest may expect from their hosts.
He rolled an enormous slab of stone over the mouth of the cavern, thus enshrouding us in pitch black darkness. When he had lit a fire and milked his many ewes, he said in his growling voice, "Strangers, who might you be? Where do you hail from over the highways of the sea?"
We were very much shaken by the suspicion in his voice, for he seemed to think that we were pirates of the seas. I was fast to reply, although it took great strength of will for me to force my voice not to quaver. "We are Achaeans," said I. "We are bound for Ithaca, but have lost our way." I explained to him the course of our travels and how we came to be travelling at all. I told him of our involvement in the armies united under Agamemnon at Troy. Finally, I requested that he show us the generosity and entertainment that a host is obliged to show his guests.
I trust that you, Telemachus, understand what it is right for a host to do for his guests. Of course, I have not been able to teach you such matters myself, but I hope that you have been in the company of descent men in my absence and know of this.
Polyphemus knew not and cared not. "You are a simple fool, stranger, or come from far off!" he guffawed, the ugly laughter echoing deafeningly against the chamber walls. "The Cyclops do not fear the gods" - I had so boldly called on the name of Zeus when I had asked for Polyphemus' generosity - "or fear the wrath of them. We are stronger and mightier than they, little man. What has become of your ship?"
Simple fool he called me, but I thank the gods I am more than that. I could see the ill-intent in his eye and told him that our ship had been destroyed, driven by Poseidon against the treacherous rocks.
Polyphemus reached out his fat-fingered hand and caught up two of my men. They cried out in alarm and fear, but I was powerless to save them. "Unlike you, stranger, I am not under the power of the gods. The gods cannot prevent me from harming you and your men, if I so will it!" the Cyclopes boasted and, before we could do more than shout out in anguish and fear, he had dashed our comrades' heads against the rocks. He tore them limb from limb and devoured them, flesh and bone alike.
I fell to my knees in horror, paralysed by the utter hopelessness I felt at the sight.
Once he had eaten his gruesome dinner, he fell into a deep slumber. Snarling with anger, Artemios drew his sword and was about to launch himself at the sleeping giant, murder in his welling eyes. I grabbed him by the shoulder and hauled him back.
"Still!" I hissed. "Do not be a fool! If you slaughter him in this way we will be trapped here and die in darkness! Have you the strength to remove the door-stone?" I turned and addressed the rest of my men also. "Courage, men of Ithaca!" I said. "We have been greatly wronged, but we must be patient and crafty if we are to have our revenge on this beast. We have faced danger before. I pray you, hold fast to your bravery."
We wept through the night for our lost comrades, but a plan had to be made if ever we were to escape. The next morning, Polyphemus took his sheep out to the pastures and closed us in the cave once more.
"Have you a plan, Odysseus?" Artemios whispered. "You have made yourself known throughout the known world for your cunning strategies. Do not fail us now, I beg of you."
Casting about the cave, we found a still-green log of wood, about the size of a great ship's mast. I evaluated the log carefully and I considered what could be done with it. Could it perhaps be used to prise the door-stone open? Could we perhaps use it to injure Polyphemus in some way without killing him? I had to decide quickly, or else the Cyclops would return and we would lose another day and more men.
I detailed my men to smooth the pole, so that all of them were involved. Understand, my son, that it is important to encourage and depend on your men, but also to act with them so that they respect you and your judgement. One day, I have no doubt, you will be a great leader of men. Therefore, allow me to advise you that working together is essential. I, too, prepared the log for its purpose. While my men smoothed the wood, I sharpened one end of it so that it was as sharp as a spear. When this was done, I hardened the wood in the fire. It was difficult to hide our new weapon, but we secreted it in sheep dung.
"Let us draw lots to decide which of you will help me to maim this brute," said I to my men. The lot fell on four brave and worthy men, Artemios among them. We then awaited the return of the worst host, Polyphemus.
We were not long in waiting. He came back, ushered in his sheep and rolled the boulder into its place. He set about milking his sheep, and we waited for the right moment. Without warning, Polyphemus snatched up two more of our friends and did to them what he had done the previous night. The blood soaked the earth as the red rays of dawn had bathed the sky just the day before.
"Cyclops," I said boldly, stepping forth. I took from my belt a flask of the rich red wine that we had stolen from the Ciconians and poured it into a bowl, unwatered. "You have killed my friends and have acted in a manner unfitting a host, but I pray you, taste the wine that I brought with me as an offering for you, that you may treat us more kindly in future. It is a sample of the best vintage from the cargo of our now destroyed ship."
Polyphemus, never suspecting a trick, laughed at my seemingly foolish request. Nevertheless, he snatched the bowl from my hand and drank deeply from it. He was indeed impressed with the taste.
"Although we have our own wine here, from the grapes of our vineyards, never have I tasted such a wine as this, little man!" He thrust the bowl towards me and commanded, "Pour me some more!" I did as he said and he drained the bowl three times. Drunk with the strong liquid, he leaned towards me. "What is your name, little man," he said, "that I might give you a gift as a host to a guest?"
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| The Blinding of Polyphemus (https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/content/blinding- polyphemos-laconian-black-figure-cup-c-540-bce) |
A cunning thought slipped into my mind and I hastened to say, "All who know me call me Nobody."
Polyphemus laughed unpleasantly. "I promise I will eat Nobody last of all!" he said mirthfully. Then he collapsed, overcome by the strong drink he had so greedily accepted.
A word of warning, Telemachus. Wine can bring pleasure and make good fellowship, but it can also be dangerous, confounding the mind and misleading the senses. I advise you not to be like the wretched Polyphemus when you drink wine.
Returning to my tale… Now that Polyphemus was sleeping soundly under the influence of the mellow vintage, I beckoned my four accomplices to my side. We hefted the weighty log and I struck its point in the ash of the fire to heat it. When it was about to catch fire, we angled it up and plunged it into the Cyclops' eye. While Artemios and the others pushed it with their might, I drilled it in so that the eye sizzled and crackled, blood spilling over Polyphemus' face.
Polyphemus shouted out in dumb pain. He tore the makeshift spear from his blinded eye and screamed out to his fellows for aid with brutish voice. I urged my companions towards the sheep and we hid among them.
Outside, we heard the voices of the other Cyclops. "Polyphemus?" they shouted. "What ails you? Are you being attacked or robbed? Who is doing this to you?"
The blinded giant bellowed, "Nobody is attacking me!"
I would have laughed, but the severity of the situation stilled my mirth.
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| Sneaking out of Polyphemus' Cave (http://www.necessaryprose.com/vases.htm) |
"Men," I said quietly. "Grab hold of the wooliest sheep and cling to their bellies. We may be able to pass him in this way."
They did as I told them and in this manner, hidden in the fleece of Polyphemus' own sheep, we slipped through the injured Cyclops' fingers. We fled back to the ships, but as we ran we heard Polyphemus' spiteful cry. "My father Poseidon will curse you, Nobody!" he screamed bloodcurdlingly. "You will be long in returning to your beloved home shore! But as I promised, you will be the last to die, Nobody!"
I ordered my men to set sail without delay. Polyphemus' words echoed in my ears and I wondered at them. I still wonder. Have I sealed my own fate? Will I be cursed to stay from you for even longer than I have already been? Will you think me dead? Will my beloved Penelope turn from me and marry another? My victory over Polyphemus is tainted with this dread.
Oh, my son, I pray that these things are not true and that some day soon I will see the young man of my own flesh that you are. Telemachus, Penelope - I love the both of you and will strive to reach you with all my strength and will!
Telemachus, I offer you this wisdom: be cunning, but also be gracious to your guests.
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