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! 145

SILENUS: 
Papaiapax! what a sweet smell it has!

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.