Page:The complete poetical works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, including materials never before printed in any edition of the poems.djvu/729

⁠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? 120
⁠Silenus. No one comes here who is not eaten up.
⁠Ulysses. The Cyclops now—where is he? Not at home?
⁠Silenus. Absent on Aetna, hunting with his dogs.
⁠Ulysses. Know'st thou what thou must do to aid us hence?
⁠Silenus. I know not: we will help you all we can. 125
⁠Ulysses. Provide us food, of which we are in want.
⁠Silenus. Here is not anything, 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. 130
⁠Silenus. But how much gold will you engage to give?
⁠Ulysses. I bring no gold, but Bacchic juice.
⁠Silenus. Oh, 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. 135
⁠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. 140
⁠Silenus. You speak of a fair fountain, sweet to me.
⁠Ulysses. Would you first taste of the unmingled wine?
⁠Silenus. 'Tis just—tasting invites the purchaser.
⁠Ulysses. Here is the cup, together with the skin.
⁠Silenus. Pour: that the draught may fillip my remembrance.
⁠Ulysses. See!
⁠Silenus. Papaiapax! what a sweet smell it has! 146
⁠Ulysses. You see it then?—
⁠Silenus. By Jove, no! but I smell it.
⁠Ulysses. 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? 150
⁠Silenus. So that it tingled to my very nails.
⁠Ulysses. And in addition I will give you gold.
⁠Silenus. 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. 155
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 160
The many-coloured anklets and the chain