- Source
- Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:441-538
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
Odysseus reveals his plan to blind the Cyclops with an olive branch to the Satyrs, who eagerly wish to participate in the plot. Soon after, the drunken Cyclops appears and, conversing with Odysseus, drinks even more wine.
ἄκουε δή νυν ἣν ἔχω τιμωρίανθηρὸς πανούργου σῆς τε δουλείας φυγήν.
ODYSSEUS: Listen now to the vengeance I have planned against this wicked beast, and to your escape from slavery.
λέγ’, ὡς Ἀσιάδος οὐκ ἂν ἥδιον ψόφονκιθάρας κλύοιμεν ἢ Κύκλωπ’ ὀλωλότα.1
CHORUS: Tell us; for we would not listen to the sound of an Asian lyre more gladly than to the Cyclops perishing.
ἐπὶ κῶμον ἕρπειν πρὸς κασιγνήτους θέλειΚύκλωπας ἡσθεὶς τῷδε Βακχίου ποτῷ.
ODYSSEUS: He wishes to go to a revel with his brother Cyclopes, having rejoiced in this drink of Bacchus.
ξυνῆκ’· ἔρημον ξυλλαβὼν δρυμοῖσί νινσφάξαι μενοινᾷς, ἢ πετρῶν ὦσαι κάτω.
CHORUS: I understand. Do you desire to slaughter him, catching him alone in the woods, or to push him down from the rocks?
οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον· δόλιος ἡ’πιθυμία.
ODYSSEUS: Nothing of the sort; my desire is crafty.
πῶς δαί; σοφόν τοί σ’ ὄντ’ ἀκούομεν πάλαι.
CHORUS: How so, then? Indeed, we have long heard that you are wise.
κώμου μὲν αὐτὸν τοῦδ’ ἀπαλλάξαι, λέγωνὡς οὐ Κύκλωψι πῶμα χρὴ δοῦναι τόδε,
ODYSSEUS: By freeing him from this revel, saying that he must not give this drink to the Cyclopes,
μόνον δ’ ἔχοντα βίοτον ἡδέως ἄγειν.
but should keep it to himself alone and lead a pleasant life.
ὅταν δ’ ὑπνώσσῃ Βακχίου νικώμενος
But when he falls asleep, overcome by Bacchus,
ἀκρεμὼν ἐλαίας ἔστιν ἐν δόμοισί τις,
there is a certain olive branch in the house,
ὃν φασγάνῳ’γὼ τῷδ’ ἀποξύνας ἄκρον,
whose tip I, having sharpened with this sword,
ἐς πῦρ καθήσω· κᾆθ’, ὅταν κεκαυμένον
will thrust into the fire; and then, when I see it burnt,
ἴδω νιν, ἄρας θερμὸν ἐς μέσην βαλῶ
I will lift it and hurl it hot into the middle of the Cyclops’ face,
Κύκλωπος ὄψιν, ὄμμα τ’ ἐκτήξω πυρί.
and melt out his eye with the fire.
ναυπηγίαν δ’ ὡσεί τις ἁρμόζων ἀνὴρ
And just as a man fitting together shipbuilding timbers
διπλοῖν χαλινοῖν τρύπανον κωπηλατεῖ,2
rotates a drill with double leather straps,
οὕτω κυκλώσω δαλὸν ἐν φαεσφόρῳ
so will I spin the brand in the light-bearing eye of the Cyclops
Κύκλωπος ὄψει καὶ συναυανῶ κόρας.
and dry up his pupil.
ἰοὺ ἰού,
CHORUS: Hurrah, hurrah!
γέγηθα, μαινόμεσθα τοῖς εὑρήμασιν.
I rejoice; we are driven mad with these inventions.
κἄπειτα καὶ σὲ καὶ φίλους γέροντά τε
ODYSSEUS: And then, having embarked you, your friends, and the old man
νεὼς μελαίνης κοῖλον ἐμβήσας σκάφος
into the hollow hull of the black ship,
διπλαῖσι κώπαις τῆσδ’ ἀποστελῶ χθονός.
I will send you away from this land with double oars.
ἔστ’ οὖν ὅπως ἂν ὡσπερεὶ σπονδῆς θεοῦ
CHORUS: Is there any way, then, that I too might lay hold, as if of a god’s libation,
κἀγὼ λαβοίμην3 τοῦ τυφλοῦντος ὄμματα
of the brand that blinds his eye?
δαλοῦ; φόνου γὰρ τοῦδε κοινωνεῖν θέλω.
For I want to share in this slaughter.
δεῖ γοῦν· μέγας γὰρ δαλός· οὗ ξυλληπτέον.
ODYSSEUS: Indeed you must; for the brand is large, and you must hold it together with me.
ὡς κἂν ἁμαξῶν ἑκατὸν ἀραίμην βάρος,
CHORUS: I would raise a weight of even a hundred wagons,
εἰ τοῦ Κύκλωπος τοῦ κακῶς ὀλουμένου
if we are to smoke out the eye of the Cyclops who is about to perish miserably,
ὀφθαλμὸν ὥσπερ σφηκιὰν ἐκθύψομεν.
like a wasp’s nest.
σιγᾶτε νῦν· δόλον γὰρ ἐξεπίστασαι·
ODYSSEUS: Be silent now; for you know the trick well.
χὥταν κελεύω, τοῖσιν ἀρχιτέκτοσι
And when I command, obey the leaders.
πείθεσθ’. ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄνδρας ἀπολιπὼν φίλους
For I will not save myself alone, abandoning my dear friends
τοὺς ἔνδον ὄντας οὐ μόνος σωθήσομαι.
who are inside.
καίτοι φύγοιμ’ ἄν, κἀκβέβηκ’ ἄντρου μυχῶν·
And yet I could flee, having come out from the recesses of the cave;
ἀλλ’ οὐ δίκαιον ἀπολιπόντ’ ἐμοὺς φίλους,
but it is not right that, abandoning my friends
ξὺν οἷσπερ ἦλθον δεῦρο, σωθῆναι μόνον.
with whom I came here, I should be saved alone.
ἄγε, τίς πρῶτος, τίς δ’ ἐπὶ πρώτῳ
CHORUS: Come, who is first, and who is appointed next after the first
ταχθεὶς δαλοῦ κώπην ὀχμάσας
to grasp the handle of the brand,
Κύκλωπος ἔσω βλεφάρων ὤσας
and having thrust it inside the Cyclops’ eyelids,
λαμπρὰν ὄψιν διακναίσει;
will destroy his bright eye?
σίγα σίγα. καὶ δὴ μεθύων
Silence, silence! And indeed, drunk, singing
ἄχαριν κέλαδον μουσιζόμενος
an unpleasant noise,
σκαιὸς ἀπῳδὸς καὶ κλαυσόμενος
clumsy and out of tune, and about to weep,
χωρεῖ πετρίνων ἔξω μελάθρων
he comes out of his rocky halls.
φέρε νιν κώμοις παιδεύσωμεν
Come, let us educate him,
τὸν ἀπαίδευτον·
the uneducated one, with revels;
πάντως μέλλει τυφλὸς εἶναι.
at all events he is about to be blind.
μάκαρ ὅστις εὐιάζει
Blessed is he who revels
βοτρύων φίλαισι πηγαῖς
with the beloved streams of clusters,
ἐπὶ κῶμον ἐκπετασθείς,4
stretched out for the revel,
φίλον ἄνδρ’ ὑπαγκαλίζων
clasping a dear friend in his arms,
ἐπὶ δεμνίοις τε ξανθὸν
and on his bed having a golden-haired,
χλιδανῆς ἔχων ἑταίρας
luxurious courtesan,
μυρόχριστος λιπαρὸν βό-
anointed with perfume, his sleek lock,
στρυχον, αὐδᾷ δέ· Θύραν τίς οἴξει μοι;
and shouting: “Who will open the door for me?”
παπαπᾶ· πλέως μὲν οἴνου,
CYCLOPS: Papapai! Full indeed of wine,
γάνυμαι δὲ δαιτὸς ἥβῃ,
and I rejoice in the youth of the feast,
σκάφος ὁλκὰς ὣς γεμισθεὶς
loaded like a cargo ship
ποτὶ σέλμα γαστρὸς ἄκρας.5
up to the very top shelf of my belly.
ὑπάγει μ’ ὁ χόρτος εὔφρων
This cheerful pasture leads me gently
ἐπὶ κῶμον ἦρος ὥραις
to the revel in the spring season,
ἐπὶ Κύκλωπας ἀδελφούς.
towards my brother Cyclopes.
φέρε μοι, ξεῖνε, φέρ’, ἀσκὸν ἔνδος μοι.
Come, stranger, come, give me the skin inside.
καλὸν ὄμμασιν δεδορκὼς
CHORUS: Looking with beautiful eyes,
Καλὸς ἐκπερᾷ μελάθρων.
the beautiful one comes forth from the palace.
—παπαπᾶ· φιλεῖ τις ἡμᾶς.–-
CYCLOPS: —Papapai! Someone loves us.—
λύχνα δ’ ἀμμένον δαΐα σὸν
CHORUS: And the burning torch awaits your body,
χρόα χὡς τέρεινα νύμφα
like a tender bride
δροσερῶν ἔσωθεν ἄντρων.
inside the dewy caves.
στεφάνων δ’ οὐ μία χροιὰ
And not just one color of wreaths
περὶ σὸν κρᾶτα τάχ’ ἐξομιλήσει.
will soon gather around your head.
Κύκλωψ, ἄκουσον· ὡς ἐγὼ τοῦ Βακχίου
ODYSSEUS: Cyclops, listen; for I am experienced in this Bacchus,
τούτου τρίβων εἴμ’, ὃν πιεῖν ἔδωκά σοι.
whom I gave you to drink.
ὁ Βάκχιος δὲ τίς θεὸς νομίζεται;
CYCLOPS: And who is Bacchus considered to be as a god?
μέγιστος ἀνθρώποισιν ἐς τέρψιν βίου.
ODYSSEUS: The greatest to mortals for the enjoyment of life.
ἐρυγγάνω γοῦν αὐτὸν ἡδέως ἐγώ.
CYCLOPS: At any rate, I belch him up with pleasure.
τοιόσδ’ ὁ δαίμων· οὐδένα βλάπτει βροτῶν.
ODYSSEUS: Such is the god; he harms none of mortals.
θεὸς δ’ ἐν ἀσκῷ πῶς γέγηθ’ οἴκους ἔχων;
CYCLOPS: But how does a god rejoice having his home in a skin bag?
ὅπου τιθῇ τις, ἐνθάδ’ ἐστὶν εὐπετής.
ODYSSEUS: Wherever one places him, there he is adaptable.
οὐ τοὺς θεοὺς χρὴ σῶμ’ ἔχειν ἐν δέρμασιν.
CYCLOPS: It is not proper for gods to have their body in hides.
τί δ’, εἴ σε τέρπει γ’; ἢ τὸ δέρμα σοι πικρόν;
ODYSSEUS: What does it matter, if it pleases you? Or is the hide bitter to you?
μισῶ τὸν ἀσκόν· τὸ δὲ ποτὸν φιλῶ τόδε.
CYCLOPS: I hate the skin bag, but I love this drink.
μένων νυν αὐτοῦ πῖνε κεὐθύμει, Κύκλωψ.
ODYSSEUS: Remaining here now, drink and be cheerful, Cyclops.
οὐ χρή μ’ ἀδελφοῖς τοῦδε προσδοῦναι ποτοῦ;
CYCLOPS: Must I not give a share of this drink to my brothers?
ἔχων γὰρ αὐτὸς τιμιώτερος φανῇ.
ODYSSEUS: For keeping it yourself, you will appear more honored.
διδοὺς δὲ τοῖς φίλοισι χρησιμώτερος.
CYCLOPS: But giving to friends, more useful.
πυγμὰς ὁ κῶμος λοίδορόν τ’ ἔριν φιλεῖ.
ODYSSEUS: The revel loves boxing matches and abusive strife.
μεθύω μέν, ἔμπας δ’ οὔτις ἂν ψαύσειέ μου.
CYCLOPS: I am drunk, indeed, yet no one would touch me.
ὦ τᾶν, πεπωκότ’ ἐν δόμοισι χρὴ μένειν.
ODYSSEUS: My friend, one who has drunk must remain in the house.
ἠλίθιος ὅστις μὴ πιὼν κῶμον φιλεῖ.
CYCLOPS: Foolish is he who, not drinking, loves a revel.
ὃς δ’ ἂν μεθυσθείς γ’ ἐν δόμοις μείνῃ, σοφός.
ODYSSEUS: But whoever, having got drunk, remains in the house, is wise.
- 443ὡς Ἀσιάδος οὐκ ἂν ἥδιον ψόφον κιθάρας κλύοιμεν ἢ Κύκλωπ’ ὀλωλότα
In the clause introduced by the conjunction ὡς (for), the potential optative ἄν + κλύοιμεν (we would hear) is used. The comparative adverb ἥδιον (more gladly) correlates with ἤ (than), comparing the sound (ψόφον) of the lyre to the perishing Cyclops (ὀλωλότα, perfect participle accusative). Ἀσιάδος is a genitive adjective modifying κιθάρας.
- 461διπλοῖν χαλινοῖν τρύπανον κωπηλατεῖ
διπλοῖν χαλινοῖν (double straps) is a dative of instrument in the dual number. The verb κωπηλατέω, which originally means 'to row with oars,' is used here metaphorically to describe the motion of a shipwright rotating a drill (τρύπανον) back and forth by pulling double straps.
- 469ἔστ’ οὖν ὅπως ἂν ὡσπερεὶ σπονδῆς θεοῦ κἀγὼ λαβοίμην
The construction ἔστιν ὅπως + ἄν + optative (is there any way that...?) is used here. While ὡσπερεὶ σπονδῆς θεοῦ (as if of a god's libation) is parenthetically introduced, the optative λαβοίμην actually governs the genitive object δαλοῦ in line 471.
- 497ἐπὶ κῶμον ἐκπετασθείς
ἐκπετασθείς is the aorist passive participle of ἐκπετάννυμι (to spread out), used here metaphorically in the sense of 'flinging oneself' or 'venturing out' into the revel. The prepositional phrase ἐπὶ κῶμον (towards the revel) indicates the direction of the movement.
- 505σκάφος ὁλκὰς ὣς γεμισθεὶς ποτὶ σέλμα γαστρὸς ἄκρας
σκάφος (hull) and ὡς ὁλκάς (like a cargo ship) are juxtaposed to create the image of a fully loaded vessel. The phrase ποτὶ σέλμα γαστρὸς ἄκρας (up to the topmost deck of my belly) uses a comic naval metaphor, comparing the deck (σέλμα) of a ship to the upper part of the stomach. ποτί is the Doric form of the preposition πρός.