There much cattle lay at rest, Both sheep and goats. Around it was a court, A high enclosure of hewn stone, and pines Tall stemmed, and towering oaks. Here dwelt a man Of giant bulk, who by himself, alone, Was wont to tend his flocks. He never held Converse with others, but devised apart His wicked deeds. A frightful prodigy Was he, and like no man who lives by bread, But more like a huge mountain summit, rough With woods, that towers alone above the rest.
“Then, bidding all the others stay and guard The ship, I chose among my bravest men Twelve whom I took with me. I had on board A goatskin of dark wine—a pleasant sort, Which Maron late, Evanthes’ son, a priest Of Phoebus, guardian god of Ismarus, Gave me, when, moved with reverence, we saved Him and his children and his wife from death. For his abode was in the thick-grown grove Of Phoebus. Costly were the gifts he gave— Seven talents of wrought gold; a chalice all Of silver; and he drew for me, besides, Into twelve jars, a choice rich wine, unspoiled By mixtures, and a beverage for gods.
No one within his dwellings, maids or men, Knew of it, save the master and his wife, And matron of the household. Whensoe’er They drank this rich red wine, he only filled A single cup with wine, and tempered that With twenty more of water. From the cup Arose a fragrance that might please the gods, And hard it was to put the draught aside.
Of this I took a skin well filled, besides Food in a hamper—for my thoughtful mind Misgave me, lest I should encounter one Of formidable strength and savage mood, And with no sense of justice or of right.
“Soon were we at the cave, but found not him Within it; he was in the fertile meads, Tending his flocks. We entered, wondering much At all we saw.