Silenus enters, grumbling over his lot. He pursued Bacchus, who had been stolen by robbers, and ended up (along with his sons) on the island of the Cyclops, a slave of Polyphemus. The chorus of his sons, the satyrs, enters driving the herd from the fields.

Odysseus arrives and for food trades some wine, which is received with ecstasy by Silenus.

Polyphemus arrives. Silenus pretends to have been beaten up and robbed by the strangers. Odysseus pleas for mercy, invoking Poseidon. Polyphemus doesn't give a damn for Poseidon or any of the gods, and intends to eat the Greeks.

Odysseus sneaks out and reports the horrible sight of his two companions killed and eaten. He concocts a plan with the satyrs to get Polyphemus drunk and put his eye out.

Polyphemus and Silenus are very drunk; P. chases S. in his lust. P. falls asleep in the cave. The satyrs show themselves cowards at the moment, so Odysseus puts his eye out with the help of his companions.

Polyphemus staggers out, in pain and rage. The satyrs pretend to direct the blinded Cyclops to the men of Odysseus; as he lunges to one side, the men are able to escape out the other. With threats from the Cyclops and merriment for the rest, the company with satyrs depart.

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