The deafen'd ears unlock'd, the chains unbound."

Not daring describe to his companions the threatened horrors of
Charybdis and Scylla, Ulysses bade his steersman avoid the whirlpool,
and, fully armed, prepared to brave the monster Scylla. But,
notwithstanding his preparations, she snatched from his galley six men
who were seen no more! Although reluctant to land on Trinacria for
fear his sailors would steal the cattle of the Sun, Ulysses was
constrained to do so to allow them to rest. While they were there,
unfavorable winds began to blow, and continued so long that the Greeks
consumed all their provisions, and, in spite of their efforts to
supply their larder by hunting and fishing, began to suffer from
hunger. During one of Ulysses' brief absences the men, breaking their
promises, slew some of the beeves of the Sun, which although slain
moved and lowed as if still alive! Undeterred by such miracles, the
men feasted, but, on embarking six days later, they were overtaken by
a tempest in which all perished save Ulysses. Clinging to the mast of
his wrecked ship, he drifted between Charybdis and Scylla, escaping
from the whirlpool only by clinging to the branches at an overhanging
fig-tree. Then, tossed by the waves for nine days longer, Ulysses was
finally cast on the isle of Ogygia, whence he had come directly to
Phaeacia as already described.

_Book XIII._ Having finished this account of his ten years'
wanderings, Ulysses, after banqueting with Alcinous, was conveyed with
his gifts to the ship which was to take him home. Then, while he slept
in the prow, the skilful Phaeacian rowers entered a sheltered Ithacan
bay, where they set sleeper and gifts ashore and departed without
awaiting thanks. They were about to re-enter their own port when
Neptune, discovering they had taken his enemy home, struck their