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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？
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。
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。
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？
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。 Come； let me
see thee stretch thy carcase on the ground。
CYCLOPS （sitting down）
There then Why art thou putting the mixing…bowl behind me？
SILENUS
That no one passing by may upset it。
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。
（SILENUS is drinking steadily and stealthily。）
ODYSSEUS
Noman。 What boon shall I receive of thee to earn my thanks？
CYCLOPS
I will feast on thee last； after all thy comrades。
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。
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。
SILENUS
No really； but the wine is so luscious。 Thou must wipe thy lips；
though； to get a draught。
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？
SILENUS
I drunk it off at a draught with much pleasure。
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。 Thou must be silent 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。
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； for I like lads
better than the wenches。
SILENUS
What！ Cyclops； am I Ganymede； Zeus's minion？
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。
LEADER OF THE 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。
（SILENUS is dragged into the cave by the 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 cloud of smoke； and the only reason we prepared it was
to burn the Cyclops' eye； so mind thou quit thee like a man。
LEADER
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 by the hands of one who recketh naught of God or
man； else roust we reckon Chance a goddess； and Heaven's will inferior
to hers。
（ODYSSEUS re…enters the cave。）
CHORUS （singing）
Tightly the pincers shall grip the neck of him who feasts upon his
guests； for soon will he lose the light of his eye by fire； already
the brand； a tree's huge limb； lurks amid the embers charred。 Oh！ come
ye then and work his doom； pluck out the maddened Cyclops' eye； that
he may rue his drinking。 And I too fain would leave the Cyclops'
lonely land and see king Bromius； ivy…crowned； the god I sorely
miss。 Ah！ shall I ever come to that？
ODYSSEUS （leaving the cave cautiously）
Silence； ye cattle！ I adjure you； close your lips； make not a
sound I'll not let a man of you so much as breathe or wink or clear
his throat； that yon pest awake not； until the sight in the Cyclops'
eye has passed through the fiery ordeal。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Silent we stand with bated breath。
ODYSSEUS
In then； and mind your fingers grip the brand； for it is
splendidly red…hot。
LEADER
Thyself ordain who first must seize the blazing bar and burn the
Cyclops' eye out； that we may share alike whate'er betides。
FIRST SEMI…CHORUS
Standing where I am before the door； I am too far off to thrust
the fire into his eye。
SECOND SEMI…CHORUS
I have just gone lame。
FIRST SEMI…CHORUS
Why； then； thou art in the same plight as I； for somehow or
other I sprained my ankle； standing still。
OD