4
Then we got on a desert island with many natural beauties. I left
back the eleven ships and I along with some mates who I had chosen
we took the twelfth ship and reached the land of Cyclopes. There we
found a cave and we entered in. Despite the exhortation of my
comrades to go, I was very curious to meet its owner. They were right!
How many adventures I would have avoided if I had heard them!
When we faced a huge giant an indescribable fear and terror
grabbed us. We had to deal with a horrible monster which didn’t
recognize or respect the gods. Not only that… He dismembered and
devoured six of our comrades. We had to find a way to survive. After
much thought we put into practice our fraudulent plan. After
having drunk him with the sweet wine of Maron we blinded his
only eye. But how would we have gone out of the cave since a huge
rock had been blocking its entrance? My mind came up with a new
deception so as to overcome our difficulties. The solution was to tie
ourselves in the bellies of the animals, which soon would have come
out with their master to graze. It was a very big risk! My happiness
was untold when we finally managed to come through from the
wolf’s feed thanks to my ingenious plan. After having moved away
with our ship, I revealed my name to the Cyclop Polyphemus. With
my words I challenged him rigorously. That hubris was the cause of
many of my sufferings until I reached the land of Ithaca. Poseidon,
was Polyphemus’ father who made my life difficult until I stepped
onto my country’s soil. But all these were made according to Zeus’
will. This was confirmed later when we arrived on the Island where
he didn’t accept the sacrifice that I offered.