University of Virginia Library

[Act 5]

ULYSSES, CHORUS, CYCLOPS.
(The latter in his cave.)
ULYSSES.
Peace, peace,—by all the gods, I pray you, silence;
Breathe not a word, nor cough, nor wink your eye,
Lest ye may rouze the Cyclops from his slumber.

CHORUS.
There—there—we hold our breath—

ULYSSES.
Come in, I say,
And help to do the deed.

CHORUS.
We cannot stir.

ULYSSES.
Are ye all lame?

CHORUS.
I rather think we are;
Our legs shake under us—

ULYSSES.
Ye seem convuls'd.

CHORUS.
'T is very strange—I'm sure we cannot help you,
But we can sing an Orphic ode—

ULYSSES.
O cowards!
Well—be it so—I and my brave companions
Will do without you; sing some cheering ditty.

CHORUS.
How base is fear—the truly brave
Snatch the deathless wreath of fame;
Shouting crouds their steps attend.
Warriors, raise the sinewy arm;
Deeper, deeper plunge your fires;
Warriors, work the deed of wrath,
Laugh to scorn the monster's groans,
And stain, with impious blood,
The massy shaft.

CYCLOPS,
from within.
Alas! alas! I'm blinded, scorch'd, and pierc'd.

CHORUS.
O! sing that strain again!

CYCLOPS.
Alas! alas!
I perish, I am blinded—do not think
The dogs will 'scape me yet—here, by this entrance,
I'll stand, and close it with my arms. Alas!

CHORUS.
Cyclops, what means this clamour? hast thou reel'd
Into the fire?

CYCLOPS.
No-one, I say, has pierc'd me.

CHORUS.
Then No-one is to blame.

CYCLOPS.
No-one has blinded me.

CHORUS.
Then thou canst see.

CYCLOPS.
Would thou could'st see no better!

CHORUS.
And how did No-one blind thee?

CYCLOPS.
Out, thou scoffer!
Where is that No-one?

CHORUS.
He is no where, Cyclops.

CYCLOPS.
That cursed guest, I tell thee, has destroyed me;
He gave me drink that burnt my flesh—where is he?
Where are my other guests? have they escaped?
Or are they in my cave?

CHORUS.
They're in thy cave.

CYCLOPS.
Where—where?

CHORUS.
They're close beneath the rock, thou hast them.

CYCLOPS.
Alas! I've split my skull against this ridge.

CHORUS.
And now thou'lt lose them.

CYCLOPS.
Tell me where they are—

CHORUS.
There—there—

CYCLOPS.
I cannot catch them.

CHORUS.
There again,
More to the left.

CYCLOPS.
Alas! alas! thou mock'st me.

CHORUS.
Now I'll speak truly, Cyclops; they're before thee.

ULYSSES.
Yes, monster, far enough from thee; and know,
Ulysses leads them hence.

CYCLOPS.
What? hast thou chang'd
Thy name then, and procur'd a new one?

ULYSSES.
No—I keep that my father gave to me—
I tell thee that I glory in thy sufferings;
I should have blush'd, when Troy was spoken of,
Had I not punish'd thy detested crime.
And now I quit thee—soon my ship shall bear me
To my much long'd-for country.

CYCLOPS.
Never, never,
I'll follow to the sea—tear up a rock,
And hurl it on thy vessel—

CHORUS.
We shall join
Ulysses' crew, and seek our jovial god.

CHORUS.
Bear me, O! Bacchus, to thy sunny hills,
Where twisted tendrils bend
Beneath the clustering grape!
With ready hand I'll press
The purple spoil,
And drain the fragrant stream.