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Odysseus
Dost know then what to do, that we may be gone from the land?
Dost know then what to do, that we may be gone from the land?
Silenus
Not I, Odysseus; but I would do anything for thee.
Not I, Odysseus; but I would do anything for thee.
Odysseus
Sell us food, of which we are in need.
Sell us food, of which we are in need.
Silenus
There is nothing but flesh, as I said.
There is nothing but flesh, as I said.
Odysseus
Well, even that is a pleasant preventive of hunger.
135
Well, even that is a pleasant preventive of hunger.
135
Silenus
And there is cheese curdled with fig-juice, and the milk of kine.
And there is cheese curdled with fig-juice, and the milk of kine.
Odysseus
Bring them out; a man should see his purchases.
Bring them out; a man should see his purchases.
Silenus
But tell me, how much gold wilt thou give me in exchange?
But tell me, how much gold wilt thou give me in exchange?
Odysseus
No gold bring I, but Dionysus’ drink.
No gold bring I, but Dionysus’ drink.
Silenus
Most welcome words! I have long been wanting that.
140
Most welcome words! I have long been wanting that.
140
Odysseus
Yes, it was Maron, the god’s son, who gave me a draught.
Yes, it was Maron, the god’s son, who gave me a draught.
Silenus
What! Maron whom once I dandled in these arms?
What! Maron whom once I dandled in these arms?
Odysseus
The son of the Bacchic god, that thou mayst learn more certainly.
The son of the Bacchic god, that thou mayst learn more certainly.
Silenus
Is it inside the ship, or hast thou it with thee?
Is it inside the ship, or hast thou it with thee?
Odysseus
This, as thou seest, is the skin that holds it, old sir.
145
This, as thou seest, is the skin that holds it, old sir.
145
Silenus
Why, that would not give me so much as a mouthful.
Why, that would not give me so much as a mouthful.
Odysseus
This, and twice as much again as will run from the skin.
This, and twice as much again as will run from the skin.
Silenus
Fair the rill thou speakest of, delicious to me.
Fair the rill thou speakest of, delicious to me.
Odysseus
Shall I let thee taste the wine unmixed, to start with?
Shall I let thee taste the wine unmixed, to start with?
Silenus
A reasonable offer; for of a truth a taste invites the purchase.
150
A reasonable offer; for of a truth a taste invites the purchase.
150
Odysseus
Well, I haul about a cup as well as the skin.
Well, I haul about a cup as well as the skin.
Silenus
Come, let it gurgle in, that I may revive my memory by a pull at it.
Come, let it gurgle in, that I may revive my memory by a pull at it.
Odysseus
There then!
There then!
Silenus
Ye gods! what a delicious scent it has!
Ye gods! what a delicious scent it has!
Odysseus
What! didst thou see it?
What! didst thou see it?
Silenus
No, i’ faith, but I smell it.
No, i’ faith, but I smell it.
Odysseus
Taste it then, that thy approval may not stop at words.
155
Taste it then, that thy approval may not stop at words.
155
Silenus
Zounds! Bacchus is inviting me to dance; ha! ha!
Zounds! Bacchus is inviting me to dance; ha! ha!
Odysseus
Did it not gurgle finely down thy throttle?
Did it not gurgle finely down thy throttle?
Silenus
Aye that it did, to the ends of my fingers.
Aye that it did, to the ends of my fingers.
Odysseus
Well, we will give thee money besides.
160
Well, we will give thee money besides.
160
Silenus
Only undo the skin, and never mind the money.
Only undo the skin, and never mind the money.
Odysseus
Bring out the cheeses then and lambs.
Bring out the cheeses then and lambs.
Silenus
I will do so, with small thought of any master. For let me have a single cup of that and I would turn madman,
giving in exchange for it the flocks of every Cyclops and then throwing myself into the sea from the Leucadian rock, once I have been well drunk and smoothed out my wrinkled brow. For if a man rejoice not in his drinking, he is mad; for in drinking there is love
165
with all its frolic, and dancing withal, and oblivion of woe. Shall not I then purchase so rare a drink, bidding the senseless Cyclops and his central eye go hang?
Exit Silenus.
170
I will do so, with small thought of any master. For let me have a single cup of that and I would turn madman,
giving in exchange for it the flocks of every Cyclops and then throwing myself into the sea from the Leucadian rock, once I have been well drunk and smoothed out my wrinkled brow. For if a man rejoice not in his drinking, he is mad; for in drinking there is love
165
with all its frolic, and dancing withal, and oblivion of woe. Shall not I then purchase so rare a drink, bidding the senseless Cyclops and his central eye go hang?
Exit Silenus.
170
Cyclops. Euripides. London. 1891.
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