Drunken, museless, awkward, yelling,
Far along his rocky dwelling;
Let us with some comic spell
Teach the yet unteachable.

By all means he must be blinded,
If my counsel be but minded.

SEMICHORUS 11.

Happy those made odorous

With the dew which sweet grapes weep
To the village hastening thus,

*

Seek the vines that soothe to sleep;
Having first embraced thy friend,
There in luxury without end,
With the strings of yellow hair
Of thy voluptuous leman fair,
Shalt sit playing on a bed !—
Speak, what door is opened?

CYCLOPS.

Ha, ha, ha! I'm full of wine,
Heavy with the joy divine,
With the young feast oversated.
Like a merchant's vessel freighted
To the water's edge, my crop
Is laden to the gullet's top.
The fresh meadow-grass of spring
Tempts me forth, thus wandering

To my brothers on the mountains,

Who shall share the wine's sweet fountains.

Bring the cask, O stranger, bring '

*Read thou?

CHORUS.

One with eyes the fairest
Cometh from his dwelling;
Some one loves thee, rarest,
Bright beyond my telling.
In thy grace thou shinest
Like some nymph divinest,
In her caverns dewy.

All delights pursue thee;

Soon pied flowers, sweet-breathing,
Shall thy head be wreathing.

ULYSSES.

Listen, O Cyclops, for I am well skilled
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 give joy, what is his skin to you?

CYCLOPS.

I hate the skin, but love the wine within.

ULYSSES.

Stay here; now drink, and make your spirit glad.

CYCLOPS.

Should I not share this liquor with my

ULYSSES.

brothers?

Keep it yourself, and be more honoured so.

CYCLOPS.

I were more useful, giving to

my friends.

ULYSSES.

But village mirth breeds contests, broils, and blows.

CYCLOPS.

When I am drunk none shall lay hands on me.

ULYSSES.

A drunken man is better within doors.

CYCLOPS.

He is a fool, who drinking loves not mirth.

ULYSSES.

But he is wise, who drunk, remains at home.

CYCLOPS.

What shall I do, Silenus? Shall I stay?

SILENUS.

Stay-for what need have you of pot-companions?

CYCLOPS.

Indeed this place is closely carpeted

With flowers and grass.

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 reward, O Cyclops.

CYCLOPS.

Ha! what is this? Stealing the wine, you rogue

SILENUS."

It was this stranger kissing me, because

I looked so beautiful.

CYCLOPS.

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.