THE CYCLOPS [7]
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