enturies after Polyphemus' encounter with Odysseus, Polyphemus was still the same, a frightful monster, shapeless, huge, his eye put out. But finally he changed, as what is ugly and evil is apt to change and grow milder with time. Over time Polyphemus moved from his original island of habitude to Sicily and somehow got his eye back, perhaps by some miracle of his father, Poseidon, the great god of the sea. Polyphemus had also fallen madly in love with the charming, mocking sea nymph, Galatea. The lovelorn giant knew that Galatea would never have him; his case was hopeless. And yet, whenever his pain made him harden his heart against her and bid himself, "Milk the ewe that you have; why persue what shuns you?", the minx would come softly stealing near him; and suddenly a shower of apples would pelt his flock and her voice would ring in his ears calling him a laggard in love. But no sooner was he up and after her than she would be off, laughing at his slow clumsiness as he tried to follow her. All he could do was again to sit wretched and helpless on the shore, but this time not trying in fury to kill people, only singing mournful love songs to soften the sea nymph’s heart.

Polyphemus never won Galtea’s heart. She fell in love with a beautiful young prince named Acis, whom Polyphemus, furiously jealous, killed. However, Acis was changed into a river god, so that story ended well. As far as we know, Polyphemus never loved any other maiden than Galatea, and that no maiden ever loved him.