Pray tell us, sirs, of some river-spring whence we might draw a draught to slake our thirst, or of someone willing to sell victuals to mariners in need. Why, what is this? We seem to have chanced upon a city of the Bromian god; here by the caves I see a group of Satyrs. To the eldest first I bid All hail! Silenus All hail, sir! tell me who thou art, and name thy country. Odysseus Odysseus of Ithaca, king of the Cephallenians’ land. Silenus I know him for a prating knave, one of Sisyphus’ shrewd offspring. Odysseus I am the man; abuse me not. Silenus Whence hast thou sailed hither to Sicily? Odysseus From Ilium and the toils of Troy. Silenus How was that? didst thou not know the passage to thy native land? Odysseus Tempestuous winds drove me hither against my will. Silenus God wot! thou art in the same plight as I am. Odysseus Why, wert thou too drifted hither against thy will? Silenus I was, as I pursued the pirates who carried Bromius off. Odysseus What land is this and who are its inhabitants? Silenus This is mount Aetna, the highest point in Sicily. Odysseus But where are the city-walls and ramparts? Silenus There are none; the headlands, sir, are void of men. Odysseus Who then possess the land? the race of wild creatures? Silenus The Cyclopes, who have caves, not roofed houses. Odysseus Obedient unto whom? or is the power in the people’s hands? Silenus They are rovers; no man obeys another in anything. Odysseus Do they sow Demeter’s grain, or on what do they live? Silenus On milk and cheese and flesh of sheep. Odysseus Have they the drink of Bromius, the juice of the vine? Silenus No indeed! and thus it is a joyless land they dwell in. Odysseus Are they hospitable and reverent towards strangers? Silenus Strangers, they say, supply the daintiest meat. Odysseus What, do they delight in killing men and eating them? Silenus No one has ever arrived here without being butchered.