University of Virginia Library

[Act 4]

CYCLOPS, ULYSSES, SILENUS, CHORUS.
CYCLOPS.
Whither, whither shall I wander,
Joyous from my rich repast?
As a deeply laden vessel,
Well I'm stor'd with food and wine.
The glowing verdure of the field,
The cooling breezes of the spring,
Entice me to forsake
The gloomy, still retreat,
To join the Cyclops' feasts.

CHORUS.
See, he comes; his shining orb,
Like a flaming pine-tree, burns;
Roseate tints have flush'd his skin,
Brighter than the hue of nymphs
Sporting in their dewy caves;
Haste, and shade his manly brow
With wreaths of flowers.

ULYSSES.
Hear me, O Cyclops, and I'll tell to you
Th' adventures of the god you love so well.

CYLOPS.
And do'st thou call this liquor, then, a god?

ULYSSES.
No doubt—the sweetest comforter of mortals.

CYCLOPS.
Truly he warms my stomach pleasantly.

ULYSSES.
O! he's the best of gods, he never harms us.

CYCLOPS.
And is he pleas'd with dwelling in a skin?

ULYSSES.
Aye, put him where you will, he's always easy.

CYCLOPS.
Surely he might have had some better clothing?

ULYSSES.
Who heeds his covering if the god be good?

CYCLOPS.
True, 't is no matter.

ULYSSES.
Do not leave us, Cyclops—
Stay where you are, and drink, and drink again.

CYCLOPS.
Shall I not give some liquor to my brethren?

ULYSSES.
No—you'll be mightier if you keep it all.

CYCLOPS.
I shall be civiller if I let them taste it.

ULYSSES.
Such drinking-bouts too often end in blood.

CYCLOPS.
O! were I doubly drunk none dares to touch me.

ULYSSES.
Still I advise you not to quit your cave.

CYCLOPS.
Poh! he's a fool who loves to drink alone.

ULYSSES.
A wise man, if he's drunk, will stay at home.

CYCLOPS.
What shall I do, Silenus?

SILENUS.
Never budge;
I see no wit in seeking other mouths.

CYCLOPS.
Well, here the grass looks fresh—

SILENUS.
'T is mighty pleasant
To booze i'the sunshine—please to sit, good master.

CYCLOPS.
Why do you place the cup behind me, rascal?

SILENUS.
Lest any one should touch it.

CYCLOPS.
Out!—I say—
You drink my liquor, rogue, behind my back;
Here, place the cup in sight—approach me, guest,
Tell me thy name—thy name?

ULYSSES.
My name is No-one.—
But say, O Cyclops, what return you'll make me
For all the kind attention I have shewn you.

CYCLOPS.
I'll eat thee last of all.

ULYSSES.
That's very handsome.

CYCLOPS.
What are you doing, scoundrel? are you drinking?

SILENUS.
No—not a drop—only my eyes are dim,
And I look'd close, to see the curious carving
Of this most goodly cup.

CYCLOPS.
Take care, take care—
Here—pour me out a cup-full—fill to the brim.

SILENUS.
And how much water shall I mix with it?

CYCLOPS.
None—none—come, bring it—

SILENUS.
Stop, I'll fetch a wreath
And place it on your head—besides 't is proper
That I, as cup-bearer, should taste the liquor.

CYCLOPS.
Plague on this trifling!

SILENUS.
Trifling? not at all,
The liquor's much too good to trifle with—
Come wipe your mouth—and then I give the cup—

CYCLOPS.
There, there, you fool, my lips and beard are clean.

SILENUS.
Now you should drink it in a proper posture,
Reclining gracefully—here—see me do it—
Thus—thus—

[Drinks.
CYCLOPS.
Hold, hold, you rascal.

SILENUS.
Dearest heart!
I've drunk it out before I was aware.

CYCLOPS.
Out, oaf!—come, guest, be thou my cup-bearer.

ULYSSES.
With all my heart—I'm us'd to such employment.

CYCLOPS.
Now fill the goblet.

ULYSSES.
Yes, I do—be quiet.

CYCLOPS.
'T is not so easy to be drunk and quiet.

ULYSSES.
Here, take the goblet—drain it at a draught—
Would he might swallow it!

CYCLOPS.
'T is well—'t is well—
O! what a charming wood the vine-tree's made of!

ULYSSES.
After your meal you cannot drink too much—
Drench yourself well—then sink to sweetest slumber,
Leave not a drop—

CYCLOPS.
How's this? my brains are swimming,
The sky and earth whirl round me—now I spy
The throne of Jove—I see the gods assembled—
What tho' the graces court me—I'll not kiss 'em.
Hence, hence, and let me sleep.

SILENUS.
Aye, go thy ways.

[Ulysses conducts the Cyclops into his cave and returns.
ULYSSES.
Now, ye brave sons of Bacchus, all is ready;
The monster sleeps, the pointed stake is flaming,
Now let's to work—be men, my friends, be men.

CHORUS.
O! we have hearts of adamant—return—
We'll quickly follow.

ULYSSES.
Vulcan, lord of Ætna,
Now do thy duty—sleep, thou son of night,
Rest heavy on the wretch—What? shall a band
So bold, so fam'd as ours, inglorious perish,
And basely crouch before the impious Cyclops?

CHORUS.
See, they grasp the monster's neck;
See, they point the fiery dart,
And plunge it deep—
Bacchus, Bacchus, fight for us!
Soon again my longing eyes
Shall view thy beauteous front,
With ivy crown'd.