Odyssey 9.277 · Book 9, lines 277–280
Nor would I spare you
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Polyphemus — οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ Διὸς ἔχθος ἀλευάμενος πεφιδοίμην οὔτε σεῦ οὔθʼ ἑτάρων, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι. ἀλλά μοι εἴφʼ ὅπῃ ἔσχες ἰὼν ἐυεργέα νῆα, ἤ που ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ἦ καὶ σχεδόν, ὄφρα δαείω.
Nor would I, to avoid the enmity of Zeus, spare neither you nor your comrades, unless my heart should bid me. But tell me where you put in with your well-built ship, as you came, whether perhaps at the far edge, or even near by, so that I may know.
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Polyphemus finishes his reply. He would not spare Odysseus or his men to dodge Zeus's anger — only his own appetite decides. Then, casually, he probes for where the ship is moored.
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Polyphemus closes the door on mercy: fear of Zeus will not move him to spare anyone; only his own appetite might. Then he turns, almost genially, to a practical question — where is the ship? The two halves of the speech sit side by side, cruelty and small talk.
The undercurrent is the trap inside the friendly question. He wants the ship's mooring so he can finish the rest of the crew, and Odysseus knows it. The politeness of a monster asking directions is the most chilling thing he says; the lie Odysseus is about to tell is already forming.
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