Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/65

35 ODYSSEUS IN THE CAVE OF POLYPHEMUS 35

And in his liver slake my drawn sword deep ; But soon another mind made me forbear ; For so should we have gained destruction sheer, ses Since never from the doorway could we move AVith all our strength the stone which he set there. We all night long with groans our anguish prove, Till rosy-fingered Dawn shone forth in heaven above.

At dawn a fire he kindled in the cave, 370

And milked the famous flocks in order due, And to each mother her young suckling gave. But when the morning tasks were all gone through. He, of my wretched comrades seizing two. Gorged breakfast as became his savage taste, 375 And with the fat flocks from the cave withdrew. Moved he the stone, and set it back with haste. Lightly as on some quiver he the lid replaced ;

Then toward the mountain turned with noise ; but I Sat brooding on revenge, and made my prayer aso To Pallas, and resolved this scheme to try : For a huge club beside the sheepfold there. Green olive-wood, lay drying in his lair. Cut for a staff to serve him out of doors, Which we admiring to the mast compare 385

Of some wide merchantman with twenty oars. Which the divine abysses of the deep explores.

Therefrom I severed as it were an ell,^ And bade my comrades make it smooth and round. Then to a tapering spire I shaped it well, 390

And the green timber in the flame embrowned For hardness ; and, where dung did most abound,

1 For ell, the Greek sa.ys fathom.