which　my　father　seats　himself！　Why　hast　thou　put　forward　these
  arguments？　I　shudder　not　at　Zeus's　thunder；　nor　know　I　wherein　Zeus　is
  a　mightier　god　than　I；　stranger；　what　is　more；　I　reck　not　of　him；　my
  reasons　hear。　When　he　pours　down　the　rain　from　above；　here　in　this
  rock　in　quarters　snug；　feasting　on　roast　calf's　flesh　or　some　wild
  game　and　moistening　well　my　up…turned　paunch　with　deep　draughts　from　a
  tub　of　milk；　I　rival　the　thunder…claps　of　Zeus　with　my　artillery；
  and　when　the　north　wind　blows　from　Thrace　and　sheddeth　snow；　I　wrap　my
  carcase　in　the　hides　of　beasts　and　light　a　fire；　and　what　care　I　for
  snow？　The　earth　perforce；　whether　she　like　it　or　not；　produces　grass
  and　fattens　my　flocks；　which　I　sacrifice　to　no　one　save　myself　and
  this　belly；　the　greatest　of　deities；　but　to　the　gods；　not　I！　For
  surely　to　eat　and　drink　one's　fill　from　day　to　day　and　give　oneself　no
  grief　at　all；　this　is　the　king　of　gods　for　your　wise　man；　but
  lawgivers　go　hang；　chequering；　as　they　do；　the　life　of　man！　And　so　I
  will　not　cease　from　indulging　myself　by　devouring　thee；　and　thou　shalt
  receive　this　stranger's　gift；　that　I　may　be　free　of　blame；…fire　and　my
  father's　element　yonder；　and　a　cauldron　to　hold　thy　flesh　and　boil
  it　nicely　in　collops。　So　in　with　you；　that　ye　may　feast　me　well；
  standing　round　the　altar　to　honour　the　cavern's　god。
  （The　CYCLOPS　goes　into　his　cave；　driving　ODYSSEUS'　men　before
  him。）
  ODYSSEUS
  Alas！　escaped　from　the　troubles　of　Troy　and　the　sea；　my　barque　now
  strands　upon　the　whim　and　forbidding　heart　of　this　savage。　O　Pallas；
  mistress　mine；　goddess…daughter　of　Zeus；　help　me；　help　me　now；　for　I
  am　come　to　toils　and　depths　of　peril　worse　than　all　at　Ilium；　and
  thou；　O　Zeus；　the　stranger's　god；　who　hast　thy　dwelling　'mid　the
  radiant　stars；　behold　these　things；　for；　if　thou　regard　them　not；　in
  vain　art　thou　esteemed　the　great　god　Zeus；　though　but　a　thing　of
  naught。
  （He　follows　the　CYCLOPS　reluctantly。　SILENUS　also　goes　in。）
  CHORUS　（singing）
  Ope　wide　the　portal　of　thy　gaping　throat；　Cyclops；　for
  strangers'　limbs；　both　boiled　and　grilled；　are　ready　from　off　the
  coals　for　the　to　gnaw　and　tear　and　mince　up　small；　reclining　in　thy
  shaggy　goat…skin　coat。
  Relinquish　not　thy　meal　for　me；　keep　that　boat　for　thyself
  alone。　Avaunt　this　cave！　avaunt　the　burnt…offerings；　which　the　godless
  Cyclops　offers　on　Aetna's　altars；　exulting　in　meals　on　strangers'
  flesh！
  Oh！　the　ruthless　monster！　to　sacrifice　his　guests　at　his　own
  hearth；　the　suppliants　of　his　halls；　cleaving　and　tearing　and
  serving　up　to　his　loathsome　teeth　a　feast　of　human　flesh；　hot　from　the
  coals。
  ODYSSEUS　（reappearing　with　a　look　of　horror）
  O　Zeus！　what　can　I　say　after　the　hideous　sights　I　have　seen　inside
  the　cave；　things　past　belief；　resembling　more　the　tales　men　tell
  than　aught　they　do？
  LEADER　OF　THE　CHORUS
  What　news；　Odysseus？　has　the　Cyclops；　most　godless　monster；　been
  feasting　on　thy　dear　comrades？
  ODYSSEUS
  Aye；　he　singled　out　a　pair；　on　whom　the　flesh　was　fattest　and　in
  best　condition；　and　took　them　up　in　his　hand　to　weigh。
  LEADER
  How　went　it　with　you　then；　poor　wretch？
  ODYSSEUS
  When　we　had　entered　yonder　rocky　abode；　he　lighted　first　a　fire；
  throwing　logs　of　towering　oak　upon　his　spacious　hearth；　enough　for
  three　wagons　to　carry　as　their　load；　next；　close　by　the　blazing　flame；
  he　placed　his　couch　of　pine…boughs　laid　upon　the　floor；　and　filled　a
  bowl　of　some　ten　firkins；　pouring　white　milk　thereinto；　after　he　had
  milked　his　kine；　and　by　his　side　he　put　a　can　of　ivy…wood；　whose
  breadth　was　three　cubits　and　its　depth　four　maybe；　next　he　set　his
  brazen　pot　a…boiling　on　the　fire；　spits　too　he　set　beside　him；
  fashioned　of　the　branches　of　thorn；　their　points　hardened　in　the
  fire　and　the　rest　of　them　trimmed　with　the　hatchet；　and　the
  blood…bowls　of　Aetna　for　the　axe's　edge。　Now　when　that　hell…cook；
  god…detested；　had　everything　quite　ready；　he　caught　up　a　pair　of　my
  companions　and　proceeded　deliberately　to　cut　the　throat　of　one　of　them
  over　the　yawning　brazen　pot；　but　the　other　he　clutched　by　the　tendon
  of　his　heel；　and；　striking　him　against　a　sharp　point　of　rocky　stone；
  dashed　out　his　brains；　then；　after　hacking　the　fleshy　parts　with
  glutton　cleaver；　he　set　to　grilling　them；　but　the　limbs　he　threw
  into　his　cauldron　to　seethe。　And　I；　poor　wretch；　drew　near　with
  streaming　eyes　and　waited　on　the　Cyclops；　but　the　others　kept　cowering
  like　frightened　birds　in　crannies　of　the　rock；　and　the　blood　forsook
  their　skin。　Anon；　when　he　had　gorged　himself　upon　my　comrades'　flesh
  and　had　fallen　on　his　back；　breathing　heavily；　there　came　a　sudden
  inspiration　to　me。　I　filled　a　cup　of　this　Maronian　wine　and　offered
  him　a　draught；　saying；　〃Cyclops；　son　of　Ocean's　god；　see　here　what
  heavenly　drink　the　grapes　of　Hellas　yield；　glad　gift　of　Dionysus。〃　He；
  glutted　with　his　shameless　meal；　took　and　drained　it　at　one　draught；
  and；　lifting　up　his　hand；　he　thanked　me　thus　〃Dearest　to　me　of　all
  my　guests！　fair　the　drink　thou　givest　me　to　crown　so　fair　a　feast。〃
  Now　when　I　saw　his　delight；　I　gave　him　another　cup；　knowing　the　wine
  would　make　him　rue　it；　and　he　would　soon　be　paying　the　penalty。　Then
  he　set　to　singing；　but　I　kept　filling　bumper　after　bumper　and
  heating　him　with　drink。　So　there　he　is　singing　discordantly　amid　the
  weeping　of　my　fellow…sailors；　and　the　cave　re…echoes；　but　I　have
  made　my　way　out　quietly　and　would　fain　save　thee　and　myself；　if　thou
  wilt。　Tell　me　then；　is　it　your　wish；　or　is　it　not；　to　fly　from　this
  unsocial　wretch　and　take　up　your　abode　with　Naiad　nymphs　in　the
  halls　of　the　Bacchic　god？　Thy　father　within　approves　this　scheme；
  but　there！　he　is　powerless；　getting　all　he　can　out　of　his　liquor；
  his　wings　are　snared　by　the　cup　as　if　he　had　flown　against
  bird…lime；　and　he　is　fuddled；　but　thou　art　young　and　lusty；　so　save
  thyself　with　my　help　and　regain　thy　old　friend　Dionysus；　so　little
  like　the　Cyclops。
  LEADER
  Best　of　friends；　would　we　might　see　that　day；　escaping　the　godless
  Cyclops！
  ODYSSEUS
  Hear　then　how　I　will　requite　this　vile　monster　and　rescue　you　from
  thraldom。
  LEADER
  Tell　me　how；　no　note　of　Asiatic　lyre　would　sound　more　sweetly　in
  our　ears　than　news　of　the　Cyclops'　death。
  ODYSSEUS
  Delighted　with　this　liquor　of　the　Bacchic　god；　he　fain　would　go
  a…reveling　with　his　brethren。
  LEADER
  I　understand；　thy　purpose　is　to　seize　and　slay　him　in　the　thickets
  when　clone；　or　push　him　down　a　precipice。
  ODYSSEUS
  Not　at　all；　my　plan　is　fraught　with　subtlety。
  LEADER
  What　then？　Truly　we　have　long　heard　of　thy　cleverness。
  ODYSSEUS
  I　mean　to　keep　him　from　this　revel；　saying　he　must　not　give　this
  drink　to　his　brethren　but　keep　it　for　himself　alone　and　lead　a　happy
  life。　Then　when　he　falls　asleep；　o'ermastered　by　the　Bacchic　god；　I
  will　put　a　point　with　this　sword　of　mine　to　an　olive…branch　I　saw
  lying　in　the　cave；　and　will　set　it　on　fire；　and　when　I　see　it　well
  alight；　I　will　lift　the　heated　brand；　and；　thrusting　it　full　in　the
  Cyclops'　eye；　melt　out　his　sight　with　its　blaze；　and；　as　when　a　man　in
  fitting　the　timbers　of　a　ship　makes　his　auger　spin　to　and　fro　with　a
  double　strap；　so　will　I　make　the　brand　revolve　in　the　eye；　that
  gives　the　Cyclops　light　and　will　scorch　up　the　pupil　thereof。
  LEADER
  Ho！　ho！　how　glad　I　feel！　wild　with　joy　at　the　contrivance！
  ODYSSEUS
  That　done；　I　will　embark　thee　and　those　thou　lovest　with　old
  Silenus　in　the　deep　hold　of　my　black　ship；　my　ship　with　double　banks
  of　oars；　and　carry　you　away　from　this　land。
  LEADER
  Well；　can　I　too　lay　hold　of　the　blinding　brand；　as　though　the
  god's　libation　had　been　poured？　for　I　would　fain　have　a　share　in
  this　offering　of　blood。
  ODYSSEUS
  Indeed　thou　must；　for　the　brand　is　large；　and　thou　must　help
  hold　it。
  LEADER
  How　lightly　would　I　lift　the　load　of　e'en　a　hundred　wains；　if　that
  will　help　us　to　grub　out　the　eye　of　the　doomed　Cyclops；　like　a
  wasp's　nest。
  ODYSSEUS
  Hush！　for　now　thou　knowest　my　plot　in　full；　and　when　I　bid　you；
  obey　the　author　of　it；　for　I　am　not　the　man　to　desert　my　friends
  inside　the　cave　and　save　myself　alone。　And　yet　I　might　escape；　I　am
  clear　of　the　cavern's　depths　already；　but　no！　to　desert　the　friends
  with　whom　I　journeyed　hither　and　only　save　myself　is　not　a　righteous
  course。
  （He　re…enters　the　cave。）
  FIRST　SEMI…CHORUS　（singing）
  Come；　who　will　be　the　first　and　who　the　next　to　him　upon　the
  list　to　grip　the　handle　of　the　brand；　and；　thrusting　it　into　the
  Cyclops'　eye；　gouge　out　the　light　thereof？
  SECOND　SEMI…CHORUS　（singing）
  Hush！　hush！　Behold　the　drunkard　leaves　his　rocky　home；　trolling
  loud　some　hideous　lay；　a　clumsy　tuneless　clown；　whom　tears　await。
  Come；　let　us　give　this　boor　a　lesson　in　revelry。　Ere　long　will　he　be
  blind　at　any　rate。
  FIRST　SEMI…CHORUS　（singing）
  Happy　he　who　plays　the　Bacchanal　amid　the　precious　streams
  distilled　from　grapes；　stretched　at　full　length　for　a　revel；　his　arm
  around　the　friend　he　loves；　and　some　fair　dainty　damsel　on　his
  couch；　his　hair　perfumed　with　nard　and　glossy；　the　while　he　calls；
  〃Oh！　who　will　ope　the　door　for　me？〃