The Return of Polyphemus and Odysseus' Deception — Odyssey §9.217-9.286 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

εὕρομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνόμευε νομὸν κάτα πίονα μῆλα.

We did not find him, but he was shepherding his fat flocks in the pasture.

ἐλθόντες δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἐθηεύμεσθα ἕκαστα.

Having entered the cave, we gazed at each and every thing with wonder.

ταρσοὶ μὲν τυρῶν βρῖθον, στείνοντο δὲ σηκοὶ

The cheese-crates indeed were heavy, and the pens were crowded with

ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· διακεκριμέναι δὲ ἕκασται

lambs and kids; and they were penned

ἔρχατο, χωρὶς μὲν πρόγονοι, χωρὶς δὲ μέτασσαι,

separately, each group by themselves: the firstlings apart, the summer-born apart,

χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ ἕρσαι. ναῖον δʼ ὀρῷ ἄγγεα πάντα,

and the newly-born again apart. And all the vessels were swimming with whey,

γαυλοί τε σκαφίδες τε, τετυγμένα, τοῖς ἐνάμελγεν.

the well-wrought pails and bowls, into which he used to milk.

ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν πρώτισθʼ ἕταροι λίσσοντʼ ἐπέεσσιν

Then indeed, first of all, my companions pleaded with me with words

τυρῶν αἰνυμένους ἰέναι πάλιν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

to take some cheeses and go back, and then

καρπαλίμως ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐρίφους τε καὶ ἄρνας

quickly to drive the kids and lambs out of the pens

σηκῶν ἐξελάσαντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ·

to our swift ship and sail away over the salty water;

ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην, ἦ τʼ ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν¹,

but I did not listen, though indeed it would have been much better,

ὄφρʼ αὐτόν τε ἴδοιμι, καὶ εἴ μοι ξείνια δοίη.

so that I might see him himself, and if he would give me guest-gifts.

οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλʼ ἑτάροισι φανεὶς ἐρατεινὸς ἔσεσθαι.

Yet he was not, when he appeared, to be a source of joy to my companions.

ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντες ἐθύσαμεν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

There indeed, having kindled a fire, we made offerings, and we ourselves

τυρῶν αἰνύμενοι φάγομεν, μένομέν τέ μιν ἔνδον

took some cheeses and ate, and we waited for him inside,

ἥμενοι, ἧος ἐπῆλθε νέμων. φέρε δʼ ὄβριμον ἄχθος

sitting there, until he came back from shepherding. And he carried a mighty load

ὕλης ἀζαλέης, ἵνα οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη,

of dry wood, so that it might be for him for his supper;

ἔντοσθεν δʼ ἄντροιο βαλὼν ὀρυμαγδὸν ἔθηκεν·

and throwing it down inside the cave, he made a great crash;

ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ ἐς μυχὸν ἄντρου.

and we, being terrified, rushed away into the innermost part of the cave.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα

But he drove his fat flocks into the wide cave,

πάντα μάλʼ ὅσσʼ ἤμελγε, τὰ δʼ ἄρσενα λεῖπε θύρηφιν,

indeed all those that he milked, but the males he left at the door,

ἀρνειούς τε τράγους τε, βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς.

both the rams and the goats, outside the deep yard.

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,

But then he put a great door-stone in place, lifting it high,

ὄβριμον· οὐκ ἂν τόν γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἄμαξαι

a mighty stone; not indeed could twenty-two

ἐσθλαὶ τετράκυκλοι ἀπʼ οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν·

good four-wheeled wagons heave it from the ground;

τόσσην ἠλίβατον πέτρην ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσιν.

so great a towering rock did he set in the doorway.

ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,

And sitting down, he milked the sheep and bleating goats,

πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.

all in due order, and under each he put its young.

αὐτίκα δʼ ἥμισυ μὲν θρέψας λευκοῖο γάλακτος

And straightway, having curdled half of the white milk,

πλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισιν ἀμησάμενος κατέθηκεν,

he gathered it in woven baskets and laid it aside,

ἥμισυ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔστησεν ἐν ἄγγεσιν, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη

and the other half he set in vessels, so that it might be for him

πίνειν αἰνυμένῳ καί οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη.

to take and drink, and might serve as his supper-drink.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,

But when indeed he had busily finished his tasks,

καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσιδεν, εἴρετο δʼ ἡμέας·

then indeed he kindled the fire and saw us, and questioned us:

ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;

"O strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery paths?

ἦ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε,

Is it indeed on some business, or do you wander at random,

οἷά τε ληιστῆρες, ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται

like pirates, over the sea, who wander around

ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι² κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;

hazarding their lives, bringing evil to men of other lands?"

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,

So he spoke, and our dear heart was broken within us,

δεισάντων φθόγγον τε βαρὺν αὐτόν τε πέλωρον.

fearing his deep voice and his monstrous self.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·

But even so, answering him with words, I spoke:

ἡμεῖς τοι Τροίηθεν ἀποπλαγχθέντες Ἀχαιοὶ

"We indeed are Achaeans, driven off course from Troy

παντοίοις ἀνέμοισιν ὑπὲρ μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,

by all kinds of winds over the great gulf of the sea,

οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι, ἄλλην ὁδὸν ἄλλα κέλευθα

seeking our home, but by another way, other paths,

ἤλθομεν· οὕτω που Ζεὺς ἤθελε μητίσασθαι.

we have come; thus, I suppose, Zeus willed to devise.

λαοὶ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,

And we claim to be the people of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

τοῦ δὴ νῦν γε μέγιστον ὑπουράνιον κλέος ἐστί·

whose fame is indeed now the greatest under heaven;

τόσσην γὰρ διέπερσε πόλιν καὶ ἀπώλεσε λαοὺς

for so great a city did he sack and destroyed people

πολλούς. ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε κιχανόμενοι τὰ σὰ γοῦνα

many. And we in turn have come, clasping your knees

ἱκόμεθʼ, εἴ τι πόροις ξεινήιον ἠὲ καὶ ἄλλως

in hope that you might provide a guest-gift, or otherwise

δοίης δωτίνην, ἥ τε ξείνων θέμις ἐστίν.

give us a present, which is the right of guests.

ἀλλʼ αἰδεῖο, φέριστε, θεούς· ἱκέται δέ τοί εἰμεν,

But revere, most noble lord, the gods; and we are your suppliants,

Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπιτιμήτωρ ἱκετάων τε ξείνων τε,

and Zeus is the avenger of suppliants and guests,

ξείνιος, ὃς ξείνοισιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.

the god of strangers, who accompanies revered strangers."

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ·

So I spoke, and he straightway answered me with pitiless heart:

νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,

"You are foolish, O stranger, or you have come from afar,

ὅς με θεοὺς κέλεαι ἢ δειδίμεν ἢ ἀλέασθαι·

who bid me either to fear the gods or to avoid them;

οὐ γὰρ Κύκλωπες Διὸς αἰγιόχου ἀλέγουσιν

for the Cyclopes pay no heed to aegis-bearing Zeus

οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·

nor to the blessed gods, since we are indeed much stronger;

οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ Διὸς ἔχθος ἀλευάμενος πεφιδοίμην

nor would I, to avoid the enmity of Zeus, spare

οὔτε σεῦ οὔθʼ ἑτάρων, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι³.

either you or your companions, unless my own heart should prompt me.

ἀλλά μοι εἴφʼ ὅπῃ ἔσχες ἰὼν ἐυεργέα νῆα,

But tell me where you moored your well-wrought ship when you came,

ἤ που ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ἦ καὶ σχεδόν, ὄφρα δαείω.

whether perhaps at the edge of the land, or close by, so that I may know."

ὣς φάτο πειράζων, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐ λάθεν εἰδότα πολλά⁴,

So he spoke, trying me, but he did not escape me who knew much,

ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην δολίοις ἐπέεσσι·

but I addressed him back with deceitful words:

νέα μέν μοι κατέαξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

"My ship indeed Poseidon, the earth-shaker, shattered,

πρὸς πέτρῃσι βαλὼν ὑμῆς ἐπὶ πείρασι γαίης,

casting it against the rocks at the borders of your land,

ἄκρῃ προσπελάσας· ἄνεμος δʼ ἐκ πόντου ἔνεικεν·

bringing it close to the headland; and the wind brought it from the sea;

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν τοῖσδε ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

but I, with these men here, escaped sheer destruction."

Syntax notes4 items

9.228ἦ τʼ ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν
A counterfactual apodosis expressed by ἄν with the imperfect indicative (ἦεν). Based on the preceding clause οὐ πιθόμην ('I did not listen'), the corresponding protasis ('if I had listened to my companions') is contextually omitted.
9.255ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι
An idiomatic expression using the aorist middle participle παρθέμενοι (from παρατίθημι). Literally meaning 'placing one's own lives aside', it means risking or hazarding one's life.
9.278εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι
The combination of the conjunction εἰ and the optative (κελεύοι). Together with the potential verb structure in the main clause (with ἄν in line 277 modifying the negative potential expression), it forms a remote potential condition, expressing a subjective qualification ('unless my own heart should prompt me').
9.281ἐμὲ δʼ οὐ λάθεν εἰδότα πολλά
A construction with the verb λανθάνω (aorist third-person singular active λάθεν) taking an accusative direct object (ἐμὲ) and a supplementary participle (εἰδότα). It literally means 'it did not escape me, who knew many things', conveying the idea that Odysseus, with his vast experience, immediately saw through the giant's trick.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:9.217-9.286