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is the city of the Cicons。 There I sacked the town and put the
people to the sword。 We took their wives and also much booty； which we
divided equitably amongst us； so that none might have reason to
complain。 I then said that we had better make off at once； but my
men very foolishly would not obey me； so they stayed there drinking
much wine and killing great numbers of sheep and oxen on the sea
shore。 Meanwhile the Cicons cried out for help to other Cicons who
lived inland。 These were more in number； and stronger； and they were
more skilled in the art of war； for they could fight； either from
chariots or on foot as the occasion served； in the morning； therefore；
they came as thick as leaves and bloom in summer； and the hand of
heaven was against us； so that we were hard pressed。 They set the
battle in array near the ships； and the hosts aimed their
bronze…shod spears at one another。 So long as the day waxed and it was
still morning； we held our own against them； though they were more
in number than we； but as the sun went down； towards the time when men
loose their oxen； the Cicons got the better of us； and we lost half
a dozen men from every ship we had； so we got away with those that
were left。
〃Thence we sailed onward with sorrow in our hearts； but glad to have
escaped death though we had lost our comrades； nor did we leave till
we had thrice invoked each one of the poor fellows who had perished by
the hands of the Cicons。 Then Jove raised the North wind against us
till it blew a hurricane； so that land and sky were hidden in thick
clouds； and night sprang forth out of the heavens。 We let the ships
run before the gale； but the force of the wind tore our sails to
tatters； so we took them down for fear of shipwreck； and rowed our
hardest towards the land。 There we lay two days and two nights
suffering much alike from toil and distress of mind； but on the
morning of the third day we again raised our masts； set sail； and took
our places； letting the wind and steersmen direct our ship。 I should
have got home at that time unharmed had not the North wind and the
currents been against me as I was doubling Cape Malea； and set me
off my course hard by the island of Cythera。
〃I was driven thence by foul winds for a space of nine days upon the
sea； but on the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus…eater；
who live on a food that comes from a kind of flower。 Here we landed to
take in fresh water； and our crews got their mid…day meal on the shore
near the ships。 When they had eaten and drunk I sent two of my company
to see what manner of men the people of the place might be； and they
had a third man under them。 They started at once； and went about among
the Lotus…eaters； who did them no hurt； but gave them to eat of the
lotus； which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring
about home； and did not even want to go back and say what had happened
to them； but were for staying and munching lotus with the
Lotus…eater without thinking further of their return； nevertheless；
though they wept bitterly I forced them back to the ships and made
them fast under the benches。 Then I told the rest to go on board at
once； lest any of them should taste of the lotus and leave off wanting
to get home； so they took their places and smote the grey sea with
their oars。
〃We sailed hence； always in much distress； till we came to the
land of the lawless and inhuman Cyclopes。 Now the Cyclopes neither
plant nor plough； but trust in providence； and live on such wheat；
barley； and grapes as grow wild without any kind of tillage； and their
wild grapes yield them wine as the sun and the rain may grow them。
They have no laws nor assemblies of the people； but live in caves on
the tops of high mountains； each is lord and master in his family； and
they take no account of their neighbours。
〃Now off their harbour there lies a wooded and fertile island not
quite close to the land of the Cyclopes； but still not far。 It is
overrun with wild goats； that breed there in great numbers and are
never disturbed by foot of man； for sportsmen… who as a rule will
suffer so much hardship in forest or among mountain precipices… do not
go there； nor yet again is it ever ploughed or fed down； but it lies a
wilderness untilled and unsown from year to year； and has no living
thing upon it but only goats。 For the Cyclopes have no ships； nor
yet shipwrights who could make ships for them； they cannot therefore
go from city to city； or sail over the sea to one another's country as
people who have ships can do； if they had had these they would have
colonized the island； for it is a very good one； and would yield
everything in due season。 There are meadows that in some places come
right down to the sea shore； well watered and full of luscious
grass； grapes would do there excellently； there is level land for
ploughing； and it would always yield heavily at harvest time； for
the soil is deep。 There is a good harbour where no cables are
wanted； nor yet anchors； nor need a ship be moored； but all one has to
do is to beach one's vessel and stay there till the wind becomes
fair for putting out to sea again。 At the head of the harbour there is
a spring of clear water coming out of a cave； and there are poplars
growing all round it。
〃Here we entered； but so dark was the night that some god must
have brought us in； for there was nothing whatever to be seen。 A thick
mist hung all round our ships； the moon was hidden behind a mass of
clouds so that no one could have seen the island if he had looked
for it； nor were there any breakers to tell us we were close in
shore before we found ourselves upon the land itself； when； however；
we had beached the ships； we took down the sails； went ashore and
camped upon the beach till daybreak。
〃When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； we admired
the island and wandered all over it； while the nymphs Jove's daughters
roused the wild goats that we might get some meat for our dinner。 On
this we fetched our spears and bows and arrows from the ships； and
dividing ourselves into three bands began to shoot the goats。 Heaven
sent us excellent sport； I had twelve ships with me； and each ship got
nine goats； while my own ship had ten； thus through the livelong day
to the going down of the sun we ate and drank our fill；… and we had
plenty of wine left； for each one of us had taken many jars full
when we sacked the city of the Cicons； and this had not yet run out。
While we were feasting we kept turning our eyes towards the land of
the Cyclopes； which was hard by； and saw the smoke of their stubble
fires。 We could almost fancy we heard their voices and the bleating of
their sheep and goats； but when the sun went down and it came on dark；
we camped down upon the beach； and next morning I called a council。
〃'Stay here； my brave fellows；' said I； 'all the rest of you；
while I go with my ship and exploit these people myself： I want to see
if they are uncivilized savages； or a hospitable and humane race。'
〃I went on board； bidding my men to do so also and loose the
hawsers； so they took their places and smote the grey sea with their
oars。 When we got to the land； which was not far； there； on the face
of a cliff near the sea； we saw a great cave overhung with laurels。 It
was a station for a great many sheep and goats； and outside there
was a large yard； with a high wall round it made of stones built
into the ground and of trees both pine and oak。 This was the abode
of a huge monster who was then away from home shepherding his
flocks。 He would have nothing to do with other people； but led the
life of an outlaw。 He was a horrid creature； not like a human being at
all； but resembling rather some crag that stands out boldly against
the sky on the top of a high mountain。
〃I told my men to draw the ship ashore； and stay where they were；
all but the twelve best among them； who were to go along with
myself。 I also took a goatskin of sweet black wine which had been
given me by Maron； Apollo son of Euanthes； who was priest of Apollo
the patron god of Ismarus； and lived within the wooded precincts of
the temple。 When we were sacking the cit