按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
this maw of mine； what time I pick my feast hot from the coals；
waiting not for carvers； and fish up the rest from the cauldron boiled
and sodden； for I have had my fill of mountain…fare and sated myself
with banquets of lions and stags； but 'tis long I have been without
human flesh。
SILENUS
Truly； master； a change like this is all the sweeter after
everyday fare； for just of late there have been no fresh arrivals of
strangers at these caves。
ODYSSEUS
Hear the strangers too in turn； Cyclops。 We had come near the cave
from our ship； wishing to procure provisions by purchase； when this
fellow sold us the lambs and handed them over for a stoup of wine to
drink himself； a voluntary act on both sides； there was no violence
employed at all。 No； there is not a particle of truth in the story
he tells； now that he has been caught selling thy property behind
thy back。
SILENUS
I？ Perdition catch thee！
ODYSSEUS
If I am lying； yes。
SILENUS （in agitation）
O Cyclops； by thy sire Poseidon； by mighty Triton and Nereus； by
Calypso and the daughters of Nereus； by the sacred billows and all the
race of fishes！ I swear to thee； most noble sir； dear little
Cyclops； master mine； it is not I who sell thy goods to strangers；
else may these children； dearly as I love them； come to an evil end。
LEADER
Keep that for thyself； with my own eyes I saw thee sell the
goods to the strangers； and if I lie； perdition catch my sire！ but
injure not the strangers。
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？
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。
CYCLOPS
Are ye the men who visited on Ilium； that bordereth on Scamander's
wave； the rape of Helen； worst of women？
ODYSSEUS
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
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； 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； and
Geraestus； the harbour of refuge； and we did not permit Phrygians to
put such an intolerable reproach on Hellas。 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； 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； 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； forego thy
ravenous greed and choose piety rather than wickedness； for on many
a man ere now unrighteous gains have brought down retribution。
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。
CYCLOPS
Wealth； manikin； is the god for the wise； all else is mere
vaunting and fine words。 Plague take the headlands by the sea； on
which my father seats himself！ Why hast thou put forward these
arguments？ I shudder not at Zeus's thunder； nor know I wherein Zeus is
a mightier god than I； stranger； what is more； I reck not of him； my
reasons hear。 When he pours down the rain from above； here in this
rock in quarters snug； feasting on roast calf's flesh or some wild
game and moistening well my up…turned paunch with deep draughts from a
tub of milk； I rival the thunder…claps of Zeus with my artillery；
and when the north wind blows from Thrace and sheddeth snow； I wrap my
carcase in the hides of beasts and light a fire； and what care I for
snow？ The earth perforce； whether she like it or not； produces grass
and fattens my flocks； which I sacrifice to no one save myself and
this belly； the greatest of deities； but to the gods； not I！ For
surely to eat and drink one's fill from day to day and give oneself no
grief at all； this is the king of gods for your wise man； but
lawgivers go hang； chequering； as they do； the life of man！ And so I
will not cease from indulging myself by devouring thee； and thou shalt
receive this stranger's gift； that I may be free of blame；…fire and my
father's element yonder； and a cauldron to hold thy flesh and boil
it nicely in collops。 So in with you； that ye may feast me well；
standing round the altar to honour the cavern's god。
（The CYCLOPS goes into his cave； driving ODYSSEUS' men before
him。）
ODYSSEUS
Alas！ escaped from the troubles of Troy and the sea； my barque now
strands upon the whim and forbidding heart of this savage。 O Pallas；
mistress mine； goddess…daughter of Zeus； help me； help me now； for I
am come to toils and depths of peril worse than all at Ilium； and
thou； O Zeus； the stranger's god； who hast thy dwelling 'mid the
radiant stars； behold these things； for； if thou regard them not； in
vain art thou esteemed the great god Zeus； though but a thing of
naught。
（He follows the CYCLOPS reluctantly。 SILENUS also goes in。）
CHORUS （singing）
Ope wide the portal of thy gaping throat； Cyclops； for
strangers' limbs； both boiled and grilled； are ready from off the
coals for the to gnaw and tear and mince up small； reclining in thy
shaggy goat…skin coat。
Relinquish not thy meal for me； keep that boat for thyself
alone。 Avaunt this cave！ avaunt the burnt…offerings； which the godless
Cyclops offers on Aetna's altars； exulting in meals on strangers'
flesh！
Oh！ the ruthless monster！ to sacrifice his guests at his own
hearth； the suppliants of his halls； cleaving and tearing and
serving up to his loathsome teeth a feast of human flesh； hot from the
coals。
ODYSSEUS （reappearing with a look of horror）
O Zeus！ what can I say after the hideous sights I have seen inside
the cave； things past belief； resembling more the tales men tell
than aught they do？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What news； Odysseus？ has the Cyclops； most godless monster； been
feasting on thy dear comrades？
ODYSSEUS
Aye； he singled out a pair； on whom the flesh was fattest and in
best condition； and took them up in his hand to weigh。
LEADER
How went it with you then； poor wret