Polyphemus, whose one eye expressed a savage ferocity, shut up Ulysses and
his companions in a cavern, where he kept his sheep. In the morning
Polyphemus came, took two sailors and devoured them; at his repast in the
evening he took two more. Ulysses, horrified at his danger, thought how he
could avoid it. He amused the Cyclop by his recitals; and by giving him
intoxicating drink, the monster slept; then, assisted by his companions, he
put out his eye. Ulysses had provided for their escape, for fastening
himself under the stomach of a sheep when it was going to the fields, and
ordering his companions to follow his example, they escaped the rage of the
Cyclop, who could only indulge his wrath by throwing at random large pieces
of rock after their vessel, which was bearing them quickly away from the
scene of their danger.
[Illustration]
He arrived in the isle of Aeolia, where reigned Aeolus, king of the winds.
This monarch treated him with much kindness, and to assure him a prosperous
voyage, he gave him, enclosed in a leather bottle, all the dangerous winds.
The vessels went first to the {243} borders of Ithaca, when the companions
of Ulysses opened the leather bottle, believing that a precious wine was
contained in it, all the winds escaped, and a furious tempest convulsed the
sea. The vessels were thrown upon the coast of the Lestrigones, who ate
human flesh. Two Greeks were devoured by them. In alarm the vessels again
put to sea, and they landed in an isle where abode Circe, a famous
magician.
When he had anchored, he sent some of his men on shore, to discover what
place it was, but Circe gave them drink under pretence of refreshing them,
which transformed them into swine. One only tasted not of the enchanted
drink, and escaped to acquaint Ulysses with the strange metamorphose.
Ulysses was astonished and resolved to seek the witch in person: and,
provided with a certain herb, to preserve himself from witchcraft, he went
to her with his drawn sword, to compel her to restore his companions to
their previous shapes. The fascinations of Circe proved more powerful than
the sword of Ulysses, and he staid with her on the island, in the enjoyment
of her society, for the space of a year.
After concluding his eventful history, he remained some time with Alcinous,
who gave him a ship, which carried him safely to Ithaca.
It was now the twentieth year of the absence of Ulysses from his home,
during which time his wife had held him in continual remembrance, and
though she had been pressed by her numerous suitors to consider him as dead
and make a second choice, yet she retained such faithful love for her
husband, with such a full and prophetic assurance that she should once more
see him, that all their efforts to influence her were vain.
In order to put them off more effectually, she undertook to make a piece of
cloth, promising that when it was finished, she would choose one of her
numerous suitors: but the better to deceive them, she undid at night that
which she worked in the day, so that when Ulysses arrived, she was no
nearer its completion than at first.
Meanwhile Ulysses scarcely knew how to discover himself with safety to his
own person, fearing that he might be slain by those who were suitors to his
wife. By the advice of Minerva, he disguised himself as a beggar, first
making himself known to Telemachus, and one of the old officers of the
kingdom.
In the same disguise he introduced himself to Penelope, by whom {244} he
was received with joy; and with the assistance of his friends, who flocked
around him, he entered in possession of his throne.
[Illustration]
But still his mind was uneasy and disturbed, as Tyresias, the soothsayer,
had informed him that he should be killed by one of his sons. To prevent
this misery, he determined to forsake the world, and retire into some
solitary place, to end his days in peace.
About that time, Telegonus, one of his sons by Circe, came to his city to
pay unto him his respects; and, as he was striving to enter the palace,
there arose a great tumult, the officers of the place refusing him
admission; at this moment Ulysses stepped out, and Telegonus not knowing
him, ran him through with his lance, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the
soothsayer.
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