ULYSSES.

How live they? do they sow the corn of Ceres?

SILENUS.

On milk and cheese, and on the flesh of sheep.

ULYSSES.

Have they the Bromian drink from the vine's stream?

SILENUS.

Ah! no; they live in an ungracious land.

ULYSSES.

And are they just to strangers ?—hospitable?

SILENUS.

They think the sweetest thing a stranger brings, Is his own flesh.

ULYSSES.

What do they eat man's flesh?

SILENUS.

No one comes here who is not eaten up.

ULYSSES.

The Cyclops now-where is he? Not at home

SILENUS.

Absent on Etna, hunting with his dogs.

ULYSSES.

Knowst thou what thou must do to aid us hence?

SILENUS.

I know not: we will help you all we can.

ULYSSES.

Provide us food, of which we are in want.

SILENUS.

Here is not any thing, as I said, but meat.

ULYSSES.

But meat is a sweet remedy for hunger.

SILENUS.

Cow's milk there is, and store of curdled cheese.

ULYSSES.

Bring out:-I would see all before I bargain.

SILENUS.

But how much gold will you engage to give?

ULYSSES.

! bring no gold, but Bacchic juice.

SILEN US.

O joy!

'Tis long since these dry lips were wet with wine,

ULYSSES.

Maron, the son of the god, gave it me.

SILENUS.

Whom I have nursed a baby in my arms.

ULYSSES.

The son of Bacchus, for your clearer knowledge.

SILENUS.

Have you it now?—or is it in the ship?

ULYSSES.

Old man, this skin contains it, which you see.

SILENUS.

Why this would hardly be a mouthful for me.

ULYSSES.

Nay, twice as much as you can draw from thence.

SILENUS.

You speak of a fair fountain, sweet to me.

ULYSSES.

Here is the cup, together with the skin.

SILENUS.

Pour; that the draught may fillip my remembrance.

Taste, that you may not praise it in words only.

SILENUS.

Babai! Great Bacchus calls me forth to dance!

Joy! joy!

ULYSSES.

Did it flow sweetly down your throat?

SILENUS.

So that it tingled to my very nails.

ULYSSES.

And in addition I will give you gold.

SILENTS.

Let gold alone! only unlock the cask.

ULYSSES.

Bring out some cheeses now, or a young goat.

SILENUS.

That will I do, despising any master.

Yes, let me drink one cup, and I will give
All that the Cyclops feed upon their mountains.

CHORUS.

Ye have taken Troy, and laid your hands on

Helen?

ULYSSES.

And utterly destroyed the race of Priam.

SILENUS.

The wanton wretch! She was bewitched to see
The many-coloured anklets and the chain

Of woven gold which girt the neck of Paris,
And so she left that good man Menelaus.
There should be no more women in the world
But such as are reserved for me alone.-
See, here are sheep, and here are goats, Ulysses;
Here are unsparing cheeses of pressed milk;
Take them; depart with what good speed ye may: