middle ram Of every three conveyed a man; the two, One on each side, were there to make him safe. Thus each of us was borne by three; but I Chose for myself the finest one of all, And seized him by the back, and, slipping down Beneath his shaggy belly, stretched myself At length, and clung with resolute heart, and hands That firmly clenched the rich abundant fleece. Then sighed we for the holy Morn to rise.
“And when again the daughter of the Dawn, The rosy-fingered Morn, looked forth, the males Went forth to pasture, while the ewes remained Within the stables, bleating, yet unmilked, For heavy were their udders. Carefully The master handled, though in grievous pain, The back of everyone that rose and passed, Yet, slow of thought, perceived not that my men Were clinging hid beneath their woolly breasts. As the last ram of all the flock went out, His thick fleece heavy with my weight, and I In agitated thought, he felt his back, And thus the giant Polyphemus spake:—
“ ‘My favorite ram, how art thou now the last To leave the cave? It hath not been thy wont To let the sheep go first, but thou didst come Earliest to feed among the flowery grass, Walking with stately strides, and thou wert first At the fresh stream, and first at eve to seek The stable; now thou art the last of all. Grievest thou for thy master, who has lost His eye, put out by a deceitful wretch And his vile crew, who stupefied me first With wine—this Noman—who, if right I deem, Has not escaped from death. O, didst thou think As I do, and hadst but the power of speech To tell me where he hides from my strong arm, Then should his brains, dashed out against the ground, Be scattered here and there; then should my heart Be somewhat lighter, even amid the woes Which Noman, worthless wretch, has brought on me!’
“He spake, and sent him forth among the rest; And when we were a little way beyond The cavern and the court, I loosed my hold Upon the animal and unbound my men. Then quickly we surrounded and drove off, Fat