"Address suit to my mother, that her mean May make the day of your redition seen. For if she once be won to wish you well, Your hope may instantly your passport seal, And thenceforth sure abide to see your friends, Fair house, and all to which your heart contends." Nausicaa and her maidens went forward, Ulysses following after a time; whom Pallas met, and told him of the King Alcinous and the Queen Arete. Then he, being wrapped in a cloud which she had set about him, entered unmarked; and, the cloud vanishing, embraced the knees of Arete in supplication, as one distressed by many labours. And they all received him graciously. Now, as they sat at meat, a bard sang of the fall of Troy; and Alcinous, the king, marked how Ulysses wept at the tale; and then Ulysses told them who he was, and of his adventures, on this wise. _II_.--_Ulysses Tells of his Wanderings_ After many wanderings, we came to the isle of the Cyclops, and I, with twelve of my men, to his cave. He coming home bespake us. "Ho! guests! What are ye? Whence sail ye these seas? Traffic or rove ye, and, like thieves, oppress Poor strange adventurers, exposing so Your souls to danger, and your lives to woe?" "Reverence the gods, thou greatest of all that live, We suppliants are." "O thou fool," answered he, "To come so far, and to importune me With any god's fear or observed love! We Cyclops care not for your goat-fed Jove Nor other blest ones; we are better far. To Jove himself dare I bid open war." The Cyclop devoured two sailors, and slept. I slew him not sleeping-- For there we all had perished, since it past Our powers to lift aside a log so vast As barred all our escape. At morn, he drove forth the flocks, but barred the entry again, having devoured two more of my comrades. But we made ready a great stake for thrusting out his one eye. And when he came home at night, driving in all his sheep, Two of my soldiers more At once he snatched up, and to supper went. Then dared I words to him, and did present A bowl of wine with these words: "Cyclop! take A bowl of wine." "Thy name, that I may make A hospitable gift; for this rich wine Fell from the river, that is more divine, Of nectar and ambrosia." "Cyclop, see, My name is No-Man." Cruel answered he. "No-Man! I'll eat thee last of all thy friends." He slept; we took the spar, made keen before, And plunged it in his eye. Then did he roar In claps like thunder. Other Cyclops gathered, to inquire who had harmed him; but he--