Noman fools the neighbors

28“ ‘What hurts you, Polyphemus, that you thus
Do break our slumbers in the ambrosial night
With cries? Has any of the sons of men
Driven off your flocks in spite of you, or tried
By treachery or force to take your life?’

29“Huge Polyphemus answered from his den: —
‘O friends! it is Noman who is killing me;
By treachery Noman kills me; none by force’

30“Then thus with winged words they spoke again: —
‘If no man does you violence, and you
Are quite alone, reflect that none escape
Diseases; they are sent by Zeus. But make
Your prayer to Father Poseidon, ocean’s king.’

31“So spoke they and departed. In my heart
I laughed to think that by the name I took,
And by my shrewd device, I had deceived
The Cyclops. Meantime, groaning and in pain,
And groping with his hands, he moved away
The rock that barred the entrance. There he sat,
With arms outstretched, to seize whoever sought
To issue from the cavern with the flock,
So dull of thought he deemed me. Then I planned
How best to save my comrades and myself
From death. I framed a thousand stratagems
And arts —for here was life at stake, and great
The danger was. At last I fixed on this.