88.1Sub vesperum Polyphēmus ad spēluncam rediit, et eōdem modō quō anteā cēnāvit.Towards evening Polyphemus came back to the cave and dined in the same way as before. 88.2Tum Ulixēs ūtrem vīnī prōmpsit, quem forte (id quod eī erat salūtī) sēcum attulerat; et postquam magnum pōculum vīnō complēvit, mōnstrum ad bibendum prōvocāvit.Then Ulysses brought out a skin of wine, which by chance he had brought with him (and this was his salvation); and after he had filled a large cup with wine, he invited the monster to drink.Note. id quod eī erat salūtī: a double dative, 'which was a means of safety for him'. 88.3Polyphēmus, quī numquam anteā vīnum gustāverat, tōtum pōculum statim exhausit; quod cum fēcisset, tantam voluptātem percēpit ut iterum et tertium pōculum replērī iusserit.Polyphemus, who had never tasted wine before, drained the whole cup at once; and when he had done so, he took such pleasure in it that he ordered the cup to be filled again, and a third time.Note. iterum et tertium: 'a second and a third time'. 88.4Tum, cum quaesīvisset quō nōmine Ulixēs appellārētur, ille respondit sē Nēminem appellārī; quod cum audīvisset, Polyphēmus ita locūtus est: "Hanc, tibi grātiam prō tantō beneficiō referam; tē postrēmum omnium dēvorābō."Then, when he had asked by what name Ulysses was called, Ulysses answered that he was called Nobody; when Polyphemus heard this, he spoke as follows: "This is the thanks I will give you for so great a kindness: I will eat you last of all."Note. Nēminem: Ulysses gives his name as Nēmō, 'Nobody'. The joke pays off in chapter 89.
88.5Hoc cum dīxisset, cibō vīnōque gravis recubuit et brevī tempore somnō oppressus est.When he had said this, heavy with food and wine he lay down, and in a short time he was overcome by sleep. 88.6Tum Ulixēs sociīs convocātīs, "Habēmus," inquit, "quam petiimus facultātem; nē igitur tantam occāsiōnem reī gerendae omittāmus."Then Ulysses called his companions together and said, "We have the chance we were looking for; so let us not let so great an opportunity for action slip."Note. nē … omittāmus: a negative command in the first person, 'let us not miss'.