Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/163

429—467. together; the one in the middle carried a man, hut the other two went on each side, preserving my companions. And three sheep carried each man; but I, for there was a ram, far the best of all the cattle, laying hold of its back, having rolled myself round under its shaggy belly; but being twisted firmly with my hands to the excellent wool, I held to it with an enduring mind; thus then mourning we awaited the divine morning.

"But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then the male cattle immediately rushed to the pasture: and the unmilked females bleated through the pens, for their teats were distended; but the master, afflicted with evil pains, felt the backs of all the sheep which stood upright; but, foolish one, he did not perceive that they were bound under the breasts of the fleecy sheep. The last ram of the cattle was going out of the door, weighed down with the thick wool, and with me who planned crafty things; laying hold of this, strong Polyphemus addressed him:

Dear ram, why hast thou come thus the last of the cattle out of the cave? Before thou by no means camest left behind by the sheep, but much the first thou didst pasture upon the tender flowers of grass, stalking with large steps; and first reached the streams of rivers; and in the evening thou didst desire to return first to the stall; now on the contrary thou art the last of all; dost thou regret the eye of thy master? which an evil man has blinded, with his troublesome companions, having subdued my mind with wine, No-man, whom I think has not yet escaped destruction. But if thou hast a thought for me, and wast able to speak, tell me where he avoids my strength; then in truth the brain of him dashed here and there through the cave should flow on the ground; and my heart would rest from the evils which No-man, a fellow of no value, has brought upon me.'

"Thus speaking, he sent away the ram from him out of the door. And coming a little way from the cave and the hall, I first loosed myself from under the ram, and loosed my companions. And we quickly drove the long-legged cattle, rich with fat, enclosing many, until we came to the ship; and we, who had escaped death, appeared welcome to our dear