and the other half He kept in bowls to be his evening drink. His tasks all ended thus, he lit a fire, And saw us where we lurked, and questioned us:—
“ ‘Who are ye, strangers? Tell me whence ye came Across the ocean. Are ye men of trade, Or wanderers at will, like those who roam The sea for plunder, and, with their own lives In peril, carry death to distant shores?’
“He spake, and we who heard with sinking hearts Trembled at that deep voice and frightful form, And thus I answered: ‘We are Greeks who come From Ilium, driven across the mighty deep By changing winds, and while we sought our home Have made a different voyage, and been forced Upon another course; such was the will Of Jupiter. We boast ourselves to be Soldiers of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, Whose fame is now the greatest under heaven, So mighty was the city which he sacked, So many were the warriors whom he slew; And now we come as suppliants to thy knees, And ask thee to receive us as thy guests, Or else bestow the gifts which custom makes The stranger’s due. Great as thou art, revere The gods; for suitors to thy grace are we, And hospitable Jove, whose presence goes With every worthy stranger, will avenge Suppliants and strangers when they suffer wrong.’
“I spake, and savagely he answered me:— ‘Thou art a fool, O stranger, or art come From some far country—thou who biddest me Fear or regard the gods. We little care— We Cyclops—for the Aegis-bearer, Jove, Or any other of the blessed gods; We are their betters. Think not I would spare Thee or thy comrades to avoid the wrath Of Jupiter, unless it were my choice; But say—for I would know—where hast thou left Thy gallant barque in landing? was it near, Or in some distant corner of the isle?’
“He spake to tempt me, but I well perceived His craft, and answered with dissembling words:—
“ ‘Neptune, who shakes the shores, hath wrecked my barque On rocks that edge thine island, hurling it Against the headland. From the open