Thus wandering, as I scanned The distant ocean with despairing eye, I saw your ships first bearing to the land, And vowed, whoe'er ye proved, the strangers' slave to stand.
LXXXIII.

"'Enough, these monsters to escape; O take My life, and tear me as you will from day, Rather than these devour me!'-- Scarce he spake, When from the mountains to the well-known bay, The shepherd Polyphemus gropes his way; Huge, hideous, horrible in shape and show, And visionless.

A pine-trunk serves to stay And guide his footsteps, and around him go The sheep, his only joy and solace of his woe.
LXXXIV.

"Down came the giant, wading in the main, And rinsed his gory socket from the tide, Gnashing his teeth and moaning in his pain.
On through the deep he stalks with awful stride, So tall, the billows scarcely wet his side.
Forthwith our flight we hasten, prickt with fear, On board--'twas due--we let the suppliant hide, Then, mute and breathless, cut the stern-ropes clear, Bend to the emulous oar, and sweep the whitening mere.
LXXXV.

"He heard, and turned his footsteps to the sound.
Short of its mark the huge arm idly fell Outstretched, and swifter than his stride he found The Ionian waves.