e a kindly folk and gave of the fruit to some of the sailors, not
meaning them any harm, but thinking it to be the best that they had to
give. These, when they had eaten, said that they would not sail any more
over the sea; which, when the wise Ulysses heard, he bade their comrades
bind them and carry them, sadly complaining, to the ships.

Then, the wind having abated, they took to their oars and rowed for many
days till they came to the country where the Cyclopes dwell. Now, a mile
or so from the shore there was an island, very fair and fertile, but no
man dwells there or tills the soil, and in the island a harbor where a
ship may be safe from all winds, and at the head of the harbor a stream
falling from the rock, and whispering alders all about it. Into this the
ships passed safely and were hauled up on the beach, and the crews slept
by them, waiting for the morning. And the next day they hunted the wild
goats, of which there was great store on the island, and feasted right
merrily on what they caught, with draughts of red wine which they had
carried off from the town of the Ciconians.

But on the morrow, Ulysses, for he was ever fond of adventure and would
know of every land to which he came what manner of men they were that
dwelt there, took one of his twelve ships and bade row to the land.
There was a great hill sloping to the shore, and there rose up here and
there a smoke from the caves where the Cyclopes dwelt apart, holding no
converse with each other, for they were a rude and savage folk, but
ruled each his own household, not caring for others. Now very close to
the shore was one of these caves, very huge and deep, with laurels round
about the mouth, and in front a fold with walls built of rough stone and
shaded by tall oaks and pines. So Ulysses chose out of the crew the
twelve bravest, and bade the rest guard the ship, and went to see what
manner of dwelling this was and who abode there. He had his sword by his
side, and on his shoulder a mighty skin of wine, sweet smelling and
strong, with which he might win the heart of some fierce savage, should
he chance to meet with such, as indeed his prudent heart forecasted that
he might.

So they entered the cave and judged that it was the dwelling of some
rich and skilful shepherd. For within there were pens for the young of
the sheep and of the goats, divided all according to their age, and
there were baskets full of cheeses, and full milk pails ranged along th