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Cyclops
Stranger, take the skin thyself and be my cup-bearer.
Stranger, take the skin thyself and be my cup-bearer.
Odysseus
Well, at any rate the grape is no stranger to my hand.
Well, at any rate the grape is no stranger to my hand.
Cyclops
Come, pour it in.
Come, pour it in.
Odysseus
In it goes! keep silence, that is all.
In it goes! keep silence, that is all.
Cyclops
A difficult task when a man is deep in his cups.
A difficult task when a man is deep in his cups.
Odysseus
Here, take and drink it off; leave none.
570
Here, take and drink it off; leave none.
570
Cyclops
Odysseus
Thou must be silent
2
and only give in when the liquor does.
Thou must be silent
2
and only give in when the liquor does.
Cyclops
God wot! it is a clever stock that bears the grape.
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
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
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
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.
(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.
I am undone, my children; outrageous treatment waits me.
Chorus
Dost find fault with thy lover? dost scorn him in his cups?
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.
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
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.
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
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
Cyclops. Euripides. London. 1891.
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