In Bacchus, whom I gave thee of to drink. Cyclops. What sort of God is Bacchus then accounted? Ulysses. The greatest among men for joy of life. Cyclops. I gulpt him down with very great delight. Ulysses. This is a God who never injures men. Cyclops. How does the God like living in a skin? Ulysses. He is content wherever he is put. Cyclops. Gods should not have their body in a skin. Ulysses. If he gives joy, what is his skin to you? Cyclops. I hate the skin, but love Ulysses. Stay here, now drink, and Ulysses. But village mirth breeds contests, broils, and blows. Cyclops. He is a fool, who drinking, Silenus. Stay-for what need have With flowers and grass. Silenus. noon Placing your mighty sides upon the ground. Cyclops. What do you put the cup behind me for? Silenus. That no one here may touch it. Cyclops. Thievish one! You want to drink;-here place it in the midst. And thou, O stranger, tell how art thou called? Ulysses. My name is Nobody. What favour now Shall I receive to praise you at your hands? Cyclops. I'll feast on you the last of your companions. Ulysses. You grant your guest a fair Cyclops. Ha! what is this? Steal- I looked so beautiful. You shall repent For kissing the coy wine that loves you not. Silenus. By Jupiter! you said that I am fair. Cyclops. Pour out, and only give me the cup full. Silenus. How is it mixed? let me observe. Cyclops. Give it me so. Silenus. Curse you! Not till I see you wear Cyclops. See now, my lip is clean Silenus. Now put your elbow right and drink again. And in the sun - warm As you see me drink 'Tis sweet to drink. Lie down beside me now, Cyclops. How now? Silenus. a delicious gulp! Ye Gods, what Cyclops. Guest, take it;-you pour out the wine for me. Ulysses. The wine is well accustomed to my hand. Cyclops. Pour out the wine! Ulysses. I pour; only be silent. Cyclops. Silence is a hard task to him who drinks. Ulysses. Take Ulysses. Vulcan, Etnean king! burn out with fire The shining eye of this thy neighbouring monster ! And thou, O sleep, nursling of gloomy night, Descend unmixed on this God-hated beast, and drink it off; And suffer not Ulysses and his comrades, Returning from their famous Trojan leave not a dreg. Oh, that the drinker died with his own draught! Cyclops. Papai! the vine must be a sapient plant. Ulysses. If you drink much after a mighty feast, toils, To perish by this man, who cares not either For God or mortal; or I needs must think That Chance is a supreme divinity, Moistening your thirsty maw, you will And things divine are subject to her power. Chorus Soon a crab the throat will seize Of him who feeds upon his guest, Come, Maron, come ! Oh! I long to dance and revel And keep your lips quite close; dare not to breathe, Or spit, or e'en wink, lest ye wake the Until his eye be tortured out with fire. chaw the air. Ulysses. Come now, and lend a hand to the great stake Within-it is delightfully red hot. Chorus. You then command who first should seize the stake To burn the Cyclops' eye, that all may share Semichorus I. Thrust fire into his eye. Semichorus II. And we just now Cyclops. Ah me! my eyesight is parched up to cinders. Chorus. What a sweet pæan! sing me that again! Cyclops. Ah me! indeed, what woe has fallen upon me! Have become lame; cannot move hand But wretched nothings, think ye not to or foot. flee Chorus. The same thing has occurred Out of this rock; I, standing at the to us, our ankles outlet, Are sprained with standing here, I know Will bar the way and catch you as you Chorus. This I will do with peril of First gave me wine and then burnt out blithe words. And blind you with my exhortations, For wine is strong and hard to struggle Chorus. You have them. Near the rock itself. I will descend upon the shore, though Ulysses. I bid thee weep-consider what I say, EAGLE! why soarest thou above that I go towards the shore to drive my ship wave. Cyclops. Not so, if whelming you with this huge stone home Floatest thou? star-ypaven I am the image of swift Plato's spirit, I can crush you and all your men to- Ascending heaven-Athens doth inherit gether; His corpse below. |