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Cyclops
Ye lie; for my part I put more faith in him than Rhadamanthus, declaring him more just.
But I have some questions to ask. Whence sailed ye, strangers? of what country are you? what city was it nursed your childhood?
275
Ye lie; for my part I put more faith in him than Rhadamanthus, declaring him more just.
But I have some questions to ask. Whence sailed ye, strangers? of what country are you? what city was it nursed your childhood?
275
Odysseus
We are Ithacans by birth, and have been driven from our course by the winds of the sea on our way from Ilium, after sacking its citadel.
We are Ithacans by birth, and have been driven from our course by the winds of the sea on our way from Ilium, after sacking its citadel.
Cyclops
Are ye the men who visited on Ilium, that bordereth on Scamander’s wave, the rape of Helen, worst of women?
280
Are ye the men who visited on Ilium, that bordereth on Scamander’s wave, the rape of Helen, worst of women?
280
Odysseus
We are; that was the fearful labour we endured.
We are; that was the fearful labour we endured.
Cyclops
A sorry expedition yours, to have sailed to the land of Phrygia for the sake of one woman!
A sorry expedition yours, to have sailed to the land of Phrygia for the sake of one woman!
Odysseus
It was a god’s doing; blame not any son of man. But thee do we implore, most noble son of Ocean’s god, speaking as free-born men; be not so cruel as to slay thy friends on their coming to thy cave, nor regard us as food for thy jaws, an impious meal;
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for we preserved thy sire, O king, in possession of his temple-seats deep in the nooks of Hellas; and the sacred port of Taenarus and Malea’s furthest coves remain unharmed; and Sunium’s rock, the silver-veined, sacred to Zeus-born Athena, still is safe,
290
and Geraestus, the harbour of refuge; and we did not permit Phrygians to put such an intolerable reproach on Hellas.
1
Now in these things thou too hast a share, for thou dwellest in a corner of the land of Hellas beneath Aetna’s fire-streaming rock; and although thou turn from arguments,
295
still it is a custom amongst mortal men to receive shipwrecked sailors as their suppliants and show them hospitality and help them with raiment; not that these should fill thy jaws and belly, their limbs transfixed with spits for piercing ox-flesh. The land of Priam hath emptied Hellas quite enough,
300
drinking the blood of many whom the spear laid low, with the ruin it has brought on widowed wives, on aged childless dames, and hoary-headed sires; and if thou roast and consume the remnant,—a meal thou wilt rue,—why, where shall one turn? Nay, be persuaded by me, Cyclops;
305
forego thy ravenous greed and choose piety rather than wickedness; for on many a man ere now unrighteous gains have brought down retribution.
310
It was a god’s doing; blame not any son of man. But thee do we implore, most noble son of Ocean’s god, speaking as free-born men; be not so cruel as to slay thy friends on their coming to thy cave, nor regard us as food for thy jaws, an impious meal;
285
for we preserved thy sire, O king, in possession of his temple-seats deep in the nooks of Hellas; and the sacred port of Taenarus and Malea’s furthest coves remain unharmed; and Sunium’s rock, the silver-veined, sacred to Zeus-born Athena, still is safe,
290
and Geraestus, the harbour of refuge; and we did not permit Phrygians to put such an intolerable reproach on Hellas.
1
Now in these things thou too hast a share, for thou dwellest in a corner of the land of Hellas beneath Aetna’s fire-streaming rock; and although thou turn from arguments,
295
still it is a custom amongst mortal men to receive shipwrecked sailors as their suppliants and show them hospitality and help them with raiment; not that these should fill thy jaws and belly, their limbs transfixed with spits for piercing ox-flesh. The land of Priam hath emptied Hellas quite enough,
300
drinking the blood of many whom the spear laid low, with the ruin it has brought on widowed wives, on aged childless dames, and hoary-headed sires; and if thou roast and consume the remnant,—a meal thou wilt rue,—why, where shall one turn? Nay, be persuaded by me, Cyclops;
305
forego thy ravenous greed and choose piety rather than wickedness; for on many a man ere now unrighteous gains have brought down retribution.
310
Silenus
. . . . . I will give thee a word of advice! as for his flesh, leave not a morsel of it, and if thou eat his tongue,
Cyclops, thou wilt become a monstrous clever talker.
315
. . . . . I will give thee a word of advice! as for his flesh, leave not a morsel of it, and if thou eat his tongue,
Cyclops, thou wilt become a monstrous clever talker.
315
Cyclops. Euripides. London. 1891.
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