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best condition； and took them up in his hand to weigh。
LEADER
How went it with you then； poor wretch？
ODYSSEUS
When we had entered yonder rocky abode； he lighted first a fire；
throwing logs of towering oak upon his spacious hearth； enough for
three wagons to carry as their load； next； close by the blazing flame；
he placed his couch of pine…boughs laid upon the floor； and filled a
bowl of some ten firkins； pouring white milk thereinto； after he had
milked his kine； and by his side he put a can of ivy…wood； whose
breadth was three cubits and its depth four maybe； next he set his
brazen pot a…boiling on the fire； spits too he set beside him；
fashioned of the branches of thorn； their points hardened in the
fire and the rest of them trimmed with the hatchet； and the
blood…bowls of Aetna for the axe's edge。 Now when that hell…cook；
god…detested； had everything quite ready； he caught up a pair of my
companions and proceeded deliberately to cut the throat of one of them
over the yawning brazen pot； but the other he clutched by the tendon
of his heel； and； striking him against a sharp point of rocky stone；
dashed out his brains； then； after hacking the fleshy parts with
glutton cleaver； he set to grilling them； but the limbs he threw
into his cauldron to seethe。 And I； poor wretch； drew near with
streaming eyes and waited on the Cyclops； but the others kept cowering
like frightened birds in crannies of the rock； and the blood forsook
their skin。 Anon； when he had gorged himself upon my comrades' flesh
and had fallen on his back； breathing heavily； there came a sudden
inspiration to me。 I filled a cup of this Maronian wine and offered
him a draught； saying； 〃Cyclops； son of Ocean's god； see here what
heavenly drink the grapes of Hellas yield； glad gift of Dionysus。〃 He；
glutted with his shameless meal； took and drained it at one draught；
and； lifting up his hand； he thanked me thus 〃Dearest to me of all
my guests！ fair the drink thou givest me to crown so fair a feast。〃
Now when I saw his delight； I gave him another cup； knowing the wine
would make him rue it； and he would soon be paying the penalty。 Then
he set to singing； but I kept filling bumper after bumper and
heating him with drink。 So there he is singing discordantly amid the
weeping of my fellow…sailors； and the cave re…echoes； but I have
made my way out quietly and would fain save thee and myself； if thou
wilt。 Tell me then； is it your wish； or is it not； to fly from this
unsocial wretch and take up your abode with Naiad nymphs in the
halls of the Bacchic god？ Thy father within approves this scheme；
but there！ he is powerless； getting all he can out of his liquor；
his wings are snared by the cup as if he had flown against
bird…lime； and he is fuddled； but thou art young and lusty； so save
thyself with my help and regain thy old friend Dionysus； so little
like the Cyclops。
LEADER
Best of friends； would we might see that day； escaping the godless
Cyclops！
ODYSSEUS
Hear then how I will requite this vile monster and rescue you from
thraldom。
LEADER
Tell me how； no note of Asiatic lyre would sound more sweetly in
our ears than news of the Cyclops' death。
ODYSSEUS
Delighted with this liquor of the Bacchic god； he fain would go
a…reveling with his brethren。
LEADER
I understand； thy purpose is to seize and slay him in the thickets
when clone； or push him down a precipice。
ODYSSEUS
Not at all； my plan is fraught with subtlety。
LEADER
What then？ Truly we have long heard of thy cleverness。
ODYSSEUS
I mean to keep him from this revel； saying he must not give this
drink to his brethren but keep it for himself alone and lead a happy
life。 Then when he falls asleep； o'ermastered by the Bacchic god； I
will put a point with this sword of mine to an olive…branch I saw
lying in the cave； and will set it on fire； and when I see it well
alight； I will lift the heated brand； and； thrusting it full in the
Cyclops' eye； melt out his sight with its blaze； and； as when a man in
fitting the timbers of a ship makes his auger spin to and fro with a
double strap； so will I make the brand revolve in the eye； that
gives the Cyclops light and will scorch up the pupil thereof。
LEADER
Ho！ ho！ how glad I feel！ wild with joy at the contrivance！
ODYSSEUS
That done； I will embark thee and those thou lovest with old
Silenus in the deep hold of my black ship； my ship with double banks
of oars； and carry you away from this land。
LEADER
Well； can I too lay hold of the blinding brand； as though the
god's libation had been poured？ for I would fain have a share in
this offering of blood。
ODYSSEUS
Indeed thou must； for the brand is large； and thou must help
hold it。
LEADER
How lightly would I lift the load of e'en a hundred wains； if that
will help us to grub out the eye of the doomed Cyclops； like a
wasp's nest。
ODYSSEUS
Hush！ for now thou knowest my plot in full； and when I bid you；
obey the author of it； for I am not the man to desert my friends
inside the cave and save myself alone。 And yet I might escape； I am
clear of the cavern's depths already； but no！ to desert the friends
with whom I journeyed hither and only save myself is not a righteous
course。
（He re…enters the cave。）
FIRST SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
Come； who will be the first and who the next to him upon the
list to grip the handle of the brand； and； thrusting it into the
Cyclops' eye； gouge out the light thereof？
SECOND SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
Hush！ hush！ Behold the drunkard leaves his rocky home； trolling
loud some hideous lay； a clumsy tuneless clown； whom tears await。
Come； let us give this boor a lesson in revelry。 Ere long will he be
blind at any rate。
FIRST SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
Happy he who plays the Bacchanal amid the precious streams
distilled from grapes； stretched at full length for a revel； his arm
around the friend he loves； and some fair dainty damsel on his
couch； his hair perfumed with nard and glossy； the while he calls；
〃Oh！ who will ope the door for me？〃
（The CYCLOPS enters。 He is obviously drunk。）
CYCLOPS （singing）
Ha！ ha！ full of wine and merry with a feast's good cheer am I；
my hold freighted like a merchant…ship up to my belly's very top。 This
turf graciously invites me to seek my brother Cyclopes for revel in
the spring…tide。 Come； stranger； bring the wine…skin hither and hand
it over to me。
SECOND SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
Forth from the house its fair lord comes； casting his fair
glance round him。 We have someone to befriend us。 A hostile brand is
awaiting thee； no tender bride in dewy grot。 No single colour will
those garlands have； that soon shall cling so close about thy brow。
ODYSSEUS
（returning with the wine…skin。 He is followed by SILENUS； who is
also drunk。）
Hearken； Cyclops； for I am well versed in the ways of Bacchus；
whom I have given thee to drink。
CYCLOPS
And who is Bacchus？ some reputed god？
ODYSSEUS
The greatest god men know to cheer their life。
CYCLOPS
I like his after…tast