Eksodos
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
Paley agrees with Kirchhoff in thinking a line has been lost here.
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.καταλάβῃ, but one MS. has καταβάλῃ upset, which Kirchhoff prefers.
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.
560
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.
565
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
Paley supposes a line to have been lost here in which the Cyclops asked And how must I drink this?
570
Odysseus
Thou must be silentσιγῶντα, but many editors follow Casaubon in reading δὲ σπῶντα drink it off. 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