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[408] οὐδὲ βίηφιν. The ambiguity in the word Οὖτις involves a similar ambiguity in οὐδέ. The Cyclopes understand the words to mean, ‘neither by craft nor by violence;’ but Polyphemus intended to signify, ‘he is slaying me by craft, and not by violence.’ The ambiguity might be rendered thus, ‘It is no man's craft, no violence that is murdering me.’ The Cyclopes regard Οὖτις as equivalent to “οὔ τις”, as may be seen by their quoting it in the form “μή τις” in v. 410. It is difficult not to suppose that a pun is intended between “μή τίς σε βιάζεται” and “μῆτις ἀμύμων”, for the Cyclops has been over-reached by the “μῆτις” of the “οὔτις” or “Οὖτις”.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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