Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/61

31 ODYSSEUS IN THE CAVE OF POLYPHEMUS 31

And bowl of silver, and twelve jars of wine, Which in his halls lay hidden out of view, Mellow with age, unmingled, sweet, divine ; 250

Known but to him the priest and other two, His wife and chief house-darae, of all his retinue.

When they the red wine drank, he filled one cup, Which when in twenty measures he did pour Of water, and the scent divine rose up, 255

'T were hard to hold one's cravings any more. Thereof a goatskin filled I with me bore, And in a wallet did provision crowd. For my brave heart at once foreboded sore How I a man should meet, unpitying, proud, 260 Lawless and void of right, with giant strength endowed.

Soon to the cave we came, nor him there found, Who 'mid the pastures with his flocks did stay. We then the crates admire with cheeses crowned. And the pens, packed with kids and lambs, survey Λyhere in his place each kind distinguished lay. 266 Here rest the firstlings, there the middle-born. And further on the yeanlings. Brimmed with whey Pails, ranged in ordered rank, the walls adorn — Wherein his flocks he wont to milk at e'e and morn. 270

With strong persuasion me my friends besought To steal some cheeses, and return with haste To the swift ship, and thither having brought Both kids and fat lambs, from their pens displaced. Sailing to vanish o'er the watery waste. 275

I, to our loss, would not persuaded be. Wishing to see him and his cheer to taste,