Euripides Cyclops 511

Odysseus

(Returning with the wineskin.) Hearken, Cyclops; for I am well versed in the ways of Bacchus,

whom I have given thee to drink.

520

Cyclops

And who is Bacchus? some reputed god?

Odysseus

The greatest god men know to cheer their life.

Cyclops

I like his after-taste at any rate.

Odysseus

This is the kind of god he is; he harmeth no man.

Cyclops

But how does a god like being housed in a wine-skin?

525

Odysseus

Put him where one may, he is content there.

Cyclops

It is not right that gods should be clad in leather.

Odysseus

What of that, provided he please thee? does the leather hurt thee?

Cyclops

I hate the wine-skin, but the liquor we have here I love.

Odysseus

Stay, then, Cyclops; drink and be merry.

530

Cyclops

Must I not give my brethren a share in this liquor?

Odysseus

No, keep it thyself and thou wilt appear of more honour.

Cyclops

Give it my friends and I shall appear of more use.

Odysseus

Revelling is apt to end in blows, abuse, and strife.

Cyclops

I may be drunk, but no man will lay hands on me for all that.

535

Odysseus

Better stay at home, my friend, after a carouse.

Cyclops

Who loves not revelling then is but a simpleton.

Odysseus

But whoso stays at home, when drunk, is wise.

Cyclops

What shall we do, Silenus? art minded to stay?

Silenus

That I am; for what need have we of others to share our drink, Cyclops?

540

Cyclops

Well, truly the turf is soft as down with its fresh flowering plants.

Silenus

(seating himself.) Aye, and ’tis pleasant drinking in the warm sunshine.

Cyclops

¹

Silenus

Come, let me see thee stretch thy carcase on the ground.

Cyclops

(sitting dawn.) There then!

Why art thou putting the mixing-bowl behind me?

545

Silenus

That no one passing by may come upon it. ²

Cyclops

Nay, but thy purpose is to drink upon the sly; set it between us. (To Odysseus.) Now tell me, stranger, by what name to call thee.

Odysseus

Noman. What boon shall I receive of thee to earn my thanks?

Cyclops

I will feast on thee last, after all thy comrades.

550

Odysseus

Fair indeed the honour thou bestowest on thy guest, sir Cyclops!

Cyclops

(turning suddenly to Silenus.) Ho, sirrah! what art thou about? taking a stealthy pull at the wine?

Silenus

No, but it kissed me for my good looks.

Cyclops

Thou shalt smart, if thou kiss the wine when it kisses not thee.

Silenus

Oh! but it did, for it says it is in love with my handsome face.

555

Cyclops

(holding out his cup.) Pour in; only give me my cup full.

Silenus

H’m! how is it mixed? just let me make sure. (Takes another pull.)

Cyclops

Perdition! give it me at once.

Silenus

Oh, no! I really cannot, till I see thee with a crown on, and have another taste myself.

Cyclops

My cup-bearer is a cheat.

560

Silenus

No really, but the wine is so luscious. Thou must wipe thy lips, though, to get a draught.

Cyclops

There! my lips and beard are clean now.

Silenus

Bend thine elbow gracefully, and then quaff thy cup, as thou seest me do, and as now thou seest me not. (Burying his face in his cup.)

Cyclops

Aha! what next?

565

Silenus

I drank it off at a draught with much pleasure.

Cyclops

Stranger, take the skin thyself and be my cup-bearer.

Odysseus

Well, at any rate the grape is no stranger to my hand.

Cyclops

Come, pour it in.

Odysseus

In it goes! keep silence, that is all.

Cyclops

A difficult task when a man is deep in his cups.

Odysseus

Here, take and drink it off; leave none.

570

Cyclops

³

Odysseus

Thou must be silent ⁴ and only give in when the liquor does.

Cyclops

God wot! it is a clever stock that bears the grape.

Odysseus

Aye, and if thou but swallow plenty of it after a plentiful meal, moistening thy belly till its thirst is gone, it will throw thee into slumber;

but if thou leave aught behind, the Bacchic god will parch thee for it.

575

Cyclops

Ha! ha! what a trouble it was getting out! This is pleasure unalloyed; earth and sky seem whirling round together; I see the throne of Zeus

and all the godhead’s majesty. Kiss thee! no! There are the Graces trying to tempt me. I shall rest well enough with my Ganymede here; yea, by the Graces, right fairly.

580

Silenus

What! Cyclops, am I Ganymede, Zeus’s minion?

585

Cyclops

(attempting to carry him into the cave.) To be sure, Ganymede whom I am carrying off from the halls of Dardanus.

Silenus

I am undone, my children; outrageous treatment waits me.

Chorus

Dost find fault with thy lover? dost scorn him in his cups?

Silenus

Woe is me! most bitter shall I find the wine ere long. [Exit Silenus, dragged away by Cyclops.

Odysseus

Up now, children of Dionysus, sons of a noble sire, soon will yon creature in the cave, relaxed in slumber as ye see him, spew from his shameless maw the meat. Already the brand inside his lair is vomiting a cloud of smoke; and the only reason we prepared it was to burn

590

the Cyclops’ eye; so mind thou quit thee like a man.

595

Chorus

I will have a spirit as of rock or adamant; but go inside, before my father suffers any shameful treatment; for here thou hast things ready.

Odysseus

O Hephaestus, lord of Aetna, rid thyself for once and all of a troublesome neighbour

by burning his bright eye out. Come, Sleep, as well, offspring of sable Night, come with all thy power on the monster god-detested; and never after Troy’s most glorious toils destroy Odysseus and his crew

600

by the hands of one who recketh naught of God or man; else must we reckon Chance a goddess, and Heaven’s wall inferior to hers. [Odysseus re-enters the cave.

605