2 Prologue ¢ O Sun, great Oriental, my proud mind's golden cap, Hove to wear you cocked askew and to burst in song to rouse our hearts, so long as you and I both live. Good is this earth, it suits us! Like the global grape it hangs, dear God, in the blue air and sways in the gale, nibbled by all the birds and spirits of the four winds. Come, let's start nibbling too and so refresh our minds! Between two throbbing temples in the mind's great wine vats tread on the crisp grapes until the wild must boils and my mind laughs and steams within the upright day. Has the earth sprouted wings and sails, has my mind swayed until black-eyed Necessity got drunk and burst in song? Above me spreads the raging sky, below me swoops my belly, a white gull that breasts the cooling waves; my nostrils fill with salty spray, the billows burst swiftly against my back, rush on, and I rush after. Great Sun, who pass on high yet watch all things below, I see the sun-drenched cap of the great castle-wrecker: let's kick and scuff it round to see where it will take us! Learn, lads, that Time has cycles and that Fate has wheels and that the mind of man sits high and twirls them round; come quick, let's spin the world about and send it tumbling! O Sun, my quick coquetiing eye, my red-haired hound, sniff out all quarries that I love, give them swift chase, tell me all that you've seen on earth, all that you've heard, and I shall pass them through my entrails’ secret forge till slowly, with profound caresses, play and laughter, stones, water, fire, and earth shall be transformed 10 spirit, and the mud-winged and heavy soul, freed of its flesh, shall like a flame serene ascend and fade in sun. You've drunk and eaten well, my lads, on festive shores, until the feast within you turned to dance and laughter, love-bites and idle chatter that dissolved in flesh; but in myself the meat turned monstrous, the wine rose, @ seachant leapt within me, rushed to knock me down, until I longed to sing this song—make way, my brothers! C1] 20 as 30IB ODYSSEY 10, the festival lasts long, the place is small; ke way, let me have air, give me a ring to stretch in, lace to spread my shinbones, to kick up my heels, that my giddiness won't wound your wives and children. soon as | let loose my words along the shore aunt all mankind down, I know they'll choke my throat, Lwhen my full neck smothers and my pain grows vast tall rise up—make wayl—to dance on raging shores. itch prudence from me, God, burst my brows wide, fling far trap doors of my mind, let the world breathe awhile. , workers, peasants, you ant-swarms, carters of grain, ‘ng red poppies down, may the world burst in flames! idens, with wild doves fluttering in your soothing breasts, ve lads, with your black-hilted swords thrust in your belts, natter how you strive, earth’s but a barren tree, I, ahoy, with my salt songs shall force the flower! Lup your aprons, craftsmen, cast your tools away, a off Necessity's firm yoke, for Freedom calls. zdom, my lads, is neither wine nor a sweet maid, ‘goods stacked in vast cellars, no, nor sons in cradles; but a scornful, lonely song the wind has taken . . . ne, drink of Lethe’s brackish spring to cleanse your minds, et your cares, your poisons, your ignoble profits, make your hearts as babes, unburdened, pure and light. rain, be flowers that nightingales may come to sing! men, howl all you can to bring your white teeth back, sake your hair crow-black, your youthful wits go wild, by our Lady Moon and our Lord Sun, I swear age is a false dream and Death but fantasy, slaythings of the brain and the soul's affectations, rut a mistral’s blast that blows the temples wide; dream was lightly dreamt and thus the earth was made; take possession of the world with song, my lads! , fellow craftsmen, seize your oars, the Captain comes; ‘mothers, give your sweet babes suck to stop their wailing! ‘yucast wretched sorrow out, prick up your ears— ig the sufferings and the torments of renowned Odysseus! [a] 40 45 65 70