Page:The complete poetical works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, including materials never before printed in any edition of the poems.djvu/729

Rh  And are they just to strangers?—hospitable?

They think the sweetest thing a stranger brings

Is his own flesh.

What! do they eat man's flesh?

No one comes here who is not eaten up.

The Cyclops now—where is he? Not at home?

Absent on Aetna, hunting with his dogs.

Know'st thou what thou must do to aid us hence?

I know not: we will help you all we can.

Provide us food, of which we are in want.

Here is not anything, as I said, but meat.

But meat is a sweet remedy for hunger.

Cow's milk there is, and store of curdled cheese.

Bring out:—I would see all before I bargain.

But how much gold will you engage to give?

I bring no gold, but Bacchic juice.

Oh, joy!

'Tis long since these dry lips were wet with wine.

Maron, the son of the God, gave it me.

Whom I have nursed a baby in my arms.

The son of Bacchus, for your clearer knowledge.

Have you it now?—or is it in the ship?

Old man, this skin contains it, which you see.

Why, this would hardly be a mouthful for me.

Nay, twice as much as you can draw from thence.

You speak of a fair fountain, sweet to me.

Would you first taste of the unmingled wine?

'Tis just—tasting invites the purchaser.

Here is the cup, together with the skin.

Pour: that the draught may fillip my remembrance.

See!

Papaiapax! what a sweet smell it has!

You see it then?—

By Jove, no! but I smell it.

Taste, that you may not praise it in words only.

Babai! Great Bacchus calls me forth to dance!

Joy! joy!

Did it flow sweetly down your throat?

So that it tingled to my very nails.

And in addition I will give you gold.

Let gold alone! only unlock the cask.

Bring out some cheeses now, or a young goat.

That will I do, despising any master.

Yes, let me drink one cup, and I will give

All that the Cyclops feed upon their mountains.

Ye have taken Troy and laid your hands on Helen?

And utterly destroyed the race of Priam.

The wanton wretch! she was bewitched to see

The many-coloured anklets and the chain 