Page 60 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade8_Flipbook

aCTIvITy 1.7
continued
Book IX: 256–306
ODYSSEUS TELLS HIS TALE: TRAPPED
7 Our spirits fell at his words, in terror at his loud voice and monstrous size. Nevertheless I answered him, saying: “We are Achaeans, returning from Troy, driven over the ocean depths by every wind that blows. Heading for home we were forced to take another route, a different course, as Zeus,1 I suppose, intended. We are followers of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, whose fame spreads widest on earth, so great was that city he sacked and host he slew. But we, for our part, come as suppliants to your knees, hoping for hospitality, and the kindness that is due to strangers. Good sir, do not refuse us: respect the gods. We are suppliants and Zeus protects visitors and suppliants, Zeus the god of guests, who follows the steps of sacred travelers.”
8 His answer was devoid of pity. “Stranger, you are a foreigner or a fool, telling me
to fear and revere the gods, since the Cyclopes care nothing for aegis-bearing Zeus: we are greater than they. I would spare neither you nor your friends, to evade Zeus’ anger, but only as my own heart prompted. But tell me, now, where you moored your fine ship, when you landed. Was it somewhere nearby, or further off? I’d like to know.”
9 His words were designed to fool me, but failed. I was too wise for that, and answered him with cunning words: “Poseidon,2 Earth-Shaker, smashed my ship
to pieces, wrecking her on the rocks that edge your island, driving her close to the headland so the wind threw her onshore. But I and my men here escaped destruction.”
10 Devoid of pity, he was silent in response, but leaping up laid hands on my crew. Two he seized and dashed to the ground like whelps, and their brains ran out and stained the earth. He tore them limb from limb for his supper, eating the flesh and entrails, bone and marrow, like a mountain lion, leaving nothing. Helplessly we watched these cruel acts, raising our hands to heaven and weeping. When the Cyclops had filled his huge stomach with human flesh, and had drunk pure milk, he lay down in the cave, stretched out among his flocks. Then I formed a courageous plan to steal up to him, draw my sharp sword,
and feeling for the place where the midriff supports the liver, stab him there. But the next thought checked me. Trapped in the cave we would certainly die, since we’d have no way to move the great stone from the wide entrance. So, sighing, we waited for bright day.
Book IX: 307–359
ODYSSEUS TELLS HIS TALE: OFFERING THE CYCLOPS WINE
11 As soon as rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, Cyclops relit the fire. Then he milked
the ewes, and bleating goats in order, putting her young to each. When he had busied himself at his tasks, he again seized two of my men and began to eat them. When he had finished he drove his well-fed flocks from the cave, effortlessly lifting the huge door stone, and replacing it again like the cap on a quiver. Then whistling loudly he turned his flocks out on to the mountain slopes, leaving me with murder in my heart searching for a way to take vengeance on him, if Athene3 would grant me inspiration. The best plan seemed to be this:
1 Zeus: the king of the gods
2 Poseidon: god of the sea and of earthquakes 3 Athene: goddess of wisdom, the arts, and war
my Notes
Unit 1 • The Challenge of Heroism 33
sacked: attacked a city and stole from it
slew: killed
suppliants: people who beg devoid: absent
revere: to regard with devotion and awe
aegis: protection
whelp: a young child or animal
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