Eclogues |
Translator: James Rhoades
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ECLOGA I . MELIBOEUS, TITYRUS Meliboeus Tityre , tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi silvestrem tenui Musam meditaris avena ; nos patriae fines et dulcia linquimus arva : nos patriam fugimus ; tu , Tityre , lentus in umbra formosam resonare doces Amaryllida silvas . Tityrus O Meliboee , deus nobis haec otia fecit : namque erit ille mihi semper deus ; illius aram saepe tener nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus . Ille meas errare boves , ut cernis , et ipsum ludere , quae vellem , calamo permisit agresti Meliboeus Non equidem invideo ; miror magis : undique totis usque adeo turbatur agris . En , ipse capellas protinus aeger ago ; hanc etiam vix , Tityre , duco : hic inter densas corylos modo namque gemellos , spem gregis , ah , silice in nuda conixa reliquit . Saepe malum hoc nobis , si mens non laeva fuisset , de caelo tactas memini praedicere quercus :— Sed tamen , iste deus qui sit , da , Tityre , nobis . Tityrus Urbem , quam dicunt Romam , Meliboee , putavi stultus ego huic nostrae similem , quo saepe solemus pastores ovium teneros depellere fetus : sic canibus catulos similis , sic matribus haedos noram , sic parvis componere magna solebam : verum haec tantum alias inter caput extulit urbes , quantum lenta solent inter viburna cupressi . Meliboeus Et quae tanta fuit Romam tibi causa videndi ? Tityrus Libertas ; quae sera , tamen respexit inertem , candidior postquam tondenti barba cadebat ; respexit tamen , et longo post tempore venit , postquam nos Amaryllis habet , Galatea reliquit : namque , fatebor enim , dum me Galatea tenebat , nec spes libertatis erat , nec cura peculi : quamvis multa meis exiret victima saeptis , pinguis et ingratae premeretur caseus urbi , non umquam gravis aere domum mihi dextra redibat . Meliboeus Mirabar , quid maesta deos , Amarylli , vocares , cui pendere sua patereris in arbore poma : Tityrus hinc aberat . Ipsae te , Tityre , pinus , ipsi te fontes , ipsa haec arbusta vocabant . Tityrus Quid facerem ? Neque servitio me exire licebat , nec tam praesentis alibi cognoscere divos . hic illum vidi iuvenem , Meliboee , quot annis bis senos cui nostra dies altaria fumant ; hic mihi responsum primus dedit ille petenti : “ pascite , ut ante , boves , pueri , submittite tauros .” Meliboeus Fortunate senex , ergo tua rura manebunt , et tibi magna satis , quamvis lapis omnia nudus limosoque palus obducat pascua iunco ! Non insueta gravis temptabunt pabula fetas , nec mala vicini pecoris contagia laedent . Fortunate senex , hic , inter flumina nota et fontis sacros , frigus captabis opacum ! hinc tibi , quae semper , vicino ab limite , saepes Hyblaeis apibus florem depasta salicti saepe levi somnum suadebit inire susurro ; hinc alta sub rupe canet frondator ad auras ; nec tamen interea raucae , tua cura , palumbes , nec gemere aëria cessabit turtur ab ulmo . Tityrus Ante leves ergo pascentur in aequore cervi , et freta destituent nudos in litore pisces , ante pererratis amborum finibus exsul aut Ararim Parthus bibet , aut Germania Tigrim , quam nostro illius labatur pectore voltus . Meliboeus At nos hinc alii sitientis ibimus Afros , pars Scythiam et rapidum Cretae veniemus Oaxen , et penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos . En umquam patrios longo post tempore finis , pauperis et tuguri congestum caespite culmen , post aliquot mea regna videns mirabor aristas ? Impius haec tam culta novalia miles habebit , barbarus has segetes ? En , quo discordia civis produxit miseros ! His nos consevimus agros ! Insere nunc , Meliboee , piros , pone ordine vitis . Ite meae , felix quondam pecus , ite capellae . Non ego vos posthac , viridi proiectus in antro , dumosa pendere procul de rupe videbo ; carmina nulla canam ; non , me pascente , capellae , florentem cytisum et salices carpetis amaras . Tityrus Hic tamen hanc mecum poteras requiescere noctem fronde super viridi : sunt nobis mitia poma , castaneae molles , et pressi copia lactis ; et iam summa procul villarum culmina fumant , maioresque cadunt altis de montibus umbrae .
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MELIBOEUS TITYRUS MELIBOEUS You, Tityrus, 'neath a broad beech-canopy reclining, on the slender oat rehearse your silvan ditties: I from my sweet fields, and home's familiar bounds, even now depart. Exiled from home am I; while, Tityrus, you sit careless in the shade, and, at your call, “Fair Amaryllis” bid the woods resound. TITYRUS O Meliboeus, 'twas a god vouchsafed this ease to us, for him a god will I deem ever, and from my folds a tender lamb oft with its life-blood shall his altar stain. His gift it is that, as your eyes may see, my kine may roam at large, and I myself play on my shepherd's pipe what songs I will. MELIBOEUS I grudge you not the boon, but marvel more, such wide confusion fills the country-side. See, sick at heart I drive my she-goats on, and this one, O my Tityrus, scarce can lead: for 'mid the hazel-thicket here but now she dropped her new-yeaned twins on the bare flint, hope of the flock—an ill, I mind me well, which many a time, but for my blinded sense, the thunder-stricken oak foretold, oft too from hollow trunk the raven's ominous cry. But who this god of yours? Come, Tityrus, tell. TITYRUS The city, Meliboeus, they call Rome, I, simpleton, deemed like this town of ours, whereto we shepherds oft are wont to drive the younglings of the flock: so too I knew whelps to resemble dogs, and kids their dams, comparing small with great; but this as far above all other cities rears her head as cypress above pliant osier towers. MELIBOEUS And what so potent cause took you to Rome? TITYRUS Freedom, which, though belated, cast at length her eyes upon the sluggard, when my beard 'gan whiter fall beneath the barber's blade— cast eyes, I say, and, though long tarrying, came, now when, from Galatea's yoke released, I serve but Amaryllis: for I will own, while Galatea reigned over me, I had no hope of freedom, and no thought to save. Though many a victim from my folds went forth, or rich cheese pressed for the unthankful town, never with laden hands returned I home. MELIBOEUS I used to wonder, Amaryllis, why you cried to heaven so sadly, and for whom you left the apples hanging on the trees; 'twas Tityrus was away. Why, Tityrus, the very pines, the very water-springs, the very vineyards, cried aloud for you. TITYRUS What could I do? how else from bonds be freed, or otherwhere find gods so nigh to aid? There, Meliboeus, I saw that youth to whom yearly for twice six days my altars smoke. There instant answer gave he to my suit, “Feed, as before, your kine, boys, rear your bulls.” MELIBOEUS So in old age, you happy man, your fields will still be yours, and ample for your need! Though, with bare stones o'erspread, the pastures all be choked with rushy mire, your ewes with young by no strange fodder will be tried, nor hurt through taint contagious of a neighbouring flock. Happy old man, who 'mid familiar streams and hallowed springs, will court the cooling shade! Here, as of old, your neighbour's bordering hedge, that feasts with willow-flower the Hybla bees, shall oft with gentle murmur lull to sleep, while the leaf-dresser beneath some tall rock uplifts his song, nor cease their cooings hoarse the wood-pigeons that are your heart's delight, nor doves their moaning in the elm-tree top. TITYRUS Sooner shall light stags, therefore, feed in air, the seas their fish leave naked on the strand, germans and Parthians shift their natural bounds, and these the Arar, those the Tigris drink, than from my heart his face and memory fade. MELIBOEUS But we far hence, to burning Libya some, some to the Scythian steppes, or thy swift flood, cretan Oaxes, now must wend our way, or Britain, from the whole world sundered far. Ah! shall I ever in aftertime behold my native bounds—see many a harvest hence with ravished eyes the lowly turf-roofed cot where I was king? These fallows, trimmed so fair, some brutal soldier will possess these fields an alien master. Ah! to what a pass has civil discord brought our hapless folk! For such as these, then, were our furrows sown! Now, Meliboeus, graft your pears, now set your vines in order! Go, once happy flock, my she-goats, go. Never again shall I, stretched in green cave, behold you from afar hang from the bushy rock; my songs are sung; never again will you, with me to tend, on clover-flower, or bitter willows, browse. TITYRUS Yet here, this night, you might repose with me, on green leaves pillowed: apples ripe have I, soft chestnuts, and of curdled milk enow. And, see, the farm-roof chimneys smoke afar, and from the hills the shadows lengthening fall! |
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ECLOGA II . Formosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim , delicias domini , nec quid speraret habebat ; tantum inter densas , umbrosa cacumina , fagos adsidue veniebat . Ibi haec incondita solus montibus et silvis studio iactabat inani : O crudelis Alexi , nihil mea carmina curas ? Nil nostri miserere ? Mori me denique coges . nunc etiam pecudes umbras et frigora captant ; nunc viridis etiam occultant spineta lacertos , Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus aestu alia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentis . at mecum raucis , tua dum vestigia lustro , sole sub ardenti resonant arbusta cicadis . Nonne fuit satius tristis Amaryllidis iras atque superba pati fastidia , nonne Menalcan , quam vis ille niger , quamvis tu candidus esses ? o formose puer , nimium ne crede colori ! alba ligustra cadunt , vaccinia nigra leguntur . Despectus tibi sum , nec qui sim quaeris , Alexi , quam dives pecoris , nivei quam lactis abundans . mille meae Siculis errant in montibus agnae ; lac mihi non aestate novum , non frigore defit ; canto quae solitus , si quando armenta vocabat , Amphion Dircaeus in Actaeo Aracimtho . Nec sum adeo informis : nuper me in litore vidi , cum placidum ventis staret mare ; non ego Daphnim iudice te metuam , si numquam fallit imago . O tantum libeat mecum tibi sordida rura atque humilis habitare casas , et figere cervos , haedorumque gregem viridi compellere hibisco ! Mecum una in silvis imitabere Pana canendo . Pan primus calamos cera coniungere pluris instituit ; Pan curat ovis oviumque magistros . Nec te paeniteat calamo trivisse labellum : haec eadem ut sciret , quid non faciebat Amyntas ? est mihi disparibus septem compacta cicutis fistula , Damoetas dono mihi quam dedit olim , et dixit moriens : “Te nunc habet ista secundum .” dixit Damoetas , invidit stultus Amyntas . Praeterea duo , nec tuta mihi valle reperti , capreoli , sparsis etiam nunc pellibus albo , bina die siccant ovis ubera ; quos tibi servo : iam pridem a me illos abducere Thestylis orat ; et faciet , quoniam sordent tibi munera nostra . Huc ades , O formose puer : tibi lilia plenis ecce ferunt Nymphae calathis ; tibi candida Nais , pallentis violas et summa papavera carpens , narcissum et florem iungit bene olentis anethi ; tum casia atque aliis intexens suavibus herbis , mollia luteola pingit vaccinia calta . Ipse ego cana legam tenera lanugine mala , castaneasque nuces , mea quas Amaryllis amabat ; addam cerea pruna : honos erit huic quoque pomo ; et vos , O lauri , carpam , et te , proxima myrte , sic positae quoniam suavis miscetis odores . Rusticus es , Corydon : nec munera curat Alexis , nec , si muneribus certes , concedat Iollas . Heu , heu , quid volui misero mihi ! Floribus austrum perditus et liquidis inmisi fontibus apros . Quem fugis , ah , demens ? Habitarunt di quoque silvas , Dardaniusque Paris . Pallas , quas condidit arces , ipsa colat ; nobis placeant ante omnia silvae . Torva leaena lupum sequitur ; lupus ipse capellam ; florentem cytisum sequitur lasciva capella ; te Corydon , o Alexi : trahit sua quemque voluptas . Aspice , aratra iugo referunt suspensa iuvenci , et sol crescentis decedens duplicat umbras : me tamen urit amor ; quis enim modus adsit amori ? Ah , Corydon , Corydon , quae te dementia cepit ! Semiputata tibi frondosa vitis in ulmo est ; quin tu aliquid saltem potius , quorum indiget usus , viminibus mollique paras detexere iunco ? Invenies alium , si te hic fastidit , Alexim .
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ALEXIS the shepherd Corydon with love was fired for fair Alexis, his own master's joy: no room for hope had he, yet, none the less, the thick-leaved shadowy-soaring beech-tree grove still would he haunt, and there alone, as thus, to woods and hills pour forth his artless strains. “Cruel Alexis, heed you naught my songs? Have you no pity? you'll drive me to my death. Now even the cattle court the cooling shade and the green lizard hides him in the thorn: now for tired mowers, with the fierce heat spent, pounds Thestilis her mess of savoury herbs, wild thyme and garlic. I, with none beside, save hoarse cicalas shrilling through the brake, still track your footprints 'neath the broiling sun. Better have borne the petulant proud disdain of Amaryllis, or Menalcas wooed, albeit he was so dark, and you so fair! Trust not too much to colour, beauteous boy; white privets fall, dark hyacinths are culled. You scorn me, Alexis, who or what I am care not to ask—how rich in flocks, or how in snow-white milk abounding: yet for me roam on Sicilian hills a thousand lambs; summer or winter, still my milk-pails brim. I sing as erst Amphion of Circe sang, what time he went to call his cattle home on Attic Aracynthus. Nor am I so ill to look on: lately on the beach I saw myself, when winds had stilled the sea, and, if that mirror lie not, would not fear daphnis to challenge, though yourself were judge. Ah! were you but content with me to dwell. Some lowly cot in the rough fields our home, shoot down the stags, or with green osier-wand round up the straggling flock! There you with me in silvan strains will learn to rival Pan. Pan first with wax taught reed with reed to join; for sheep alike and shepherd Pan hath care. Nor with the reed's edge fear you to make rough your dainty lip; such arts as these to learn what did Amyntas do?—what did he not? A pipe have I, of hemlock-stalks compact in lessening lengths, Damoetas' dying-gift: ‘Mine once,’ quoth he, ‘now yours, as heir to own.’ Foolish Amyntas heard and envied me. Ay, and two fawns, I risked my neck to find in a steep glen, with coats white-dappled still, from a sheep's udders suckled twice a day— these still I keep for you; which Thestilis implores me oft to let her lead away; and she shall have them, since my gifts you spurn. Come hither, beauteous boy; for you the Nymphs bring baskets, see, with lilies brimmed; for you, plucking pale violets and poppy-heads, now the fair Naiad, of narcissus flower and fragrant fennel, doth one posy twine— with cassia then, and other scented herbs, blends them, and sets the tender hyacinth off with yellow marigold. I too will pick quinces all silvered-o'er with hoary down, chestnuts, which Amaryllis wont to love, and waxen plums withal: this fruit no less shall have its meed of honour; and I will pluck you too, ye laurels, and you, ye myrtles, near, for so your sweets ye mingle. Corydon, you are a boor, nor heeds a whit your gifts alexis; no, nor would Iollas yield, should gifts decide the day. Alack! alack! What misery have I brought upon my head!— loosed on the flowers Siroces to my bane, and the wild boar upon my crystal springs! Whom do you fly, infatuate? gods ere now, and Dardan Paris, have made the woods their home. Let Pallas keep the towers her hand hath built, us before all things let the woods delight. The grim-eyed lioness pursues the wolf, the wolf the she-goat, the she-goat herself in wanton sport the flowering cytisus, and Corydon Alexis, each led on by their own longing. See, the ox comes home with plough up-tilted, and the shadows grow to twice their length with the departing sun, yet me love burns, for who can limit love? Ah! Corydon, Corydon, what hath crazed your wit? Your vine half-pruned hangs on the leafy elm; why haste you not to weave what need requires of pliant rush or osier? Scorned by this, elsewhere some new Alexis you will find.” |
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ECLOGA III . MENALCAS, DAMOETAS, PALAEMON Menalcas Dic mihi , Damoeta , cuium pecus , an Meliboei ? Damoetas Non , verum Aegonis ; nuper mihi tradidit Aegon . Menalcas Infelix o semper , ovis , pecus , ipse Neaeram dum fovet , ac ne me sibi praeferat illa veretur , hic alienus ovis custos bis mulget in hora , et sucus pecori et lac subducitur agnis . Damoetas Parcius ista viris tamen obicienda memento : novimus et qui te , transversa tuentibus hircis , et quo —sed faciles Nymphae risere —sacello . Menalcas Tum , credo , cum me arbustum videre Miconis atque mala vitis incidere falce novellas . Damoetas Aut hic ad veteres fagos cum Daphnidis arcum fregisti et calamos quae tu , perverse Menalca , et cum vidisti puero donata , dolebas , et si non aliqua nocuisses , mortuus esses . Menalcas Quid domini faciant , audent cum talia fures ! non ego te vidi Damonis , pessime , caprum excipere insidiis , multum latrante Lycisca ? et cum clamarem : “Quo nunc se proripit ille ? Tityre , coge pecus ,” tu post carecta latebas . Damoetas An mihi cantando victus non redderet ille quem mea carminibus meruisset fistula caprum ? Si nescis , meus ille caper fuit ; et mihi Damon ipse fatebatur , sed reddere posse negabat . Menalcas Cantando tu illum , aut umquam tibi fistula cera iuncta fuit ? Non tu in triviis , indocte , solebas stridenti miserum stipula disperdere carmen ? Damoetas Vis ergo inter nos quid possit uterque vicissim experiamur ? Ego hanc vitulam —ne forte recuses , bis venit ad mulctram , binos alit ubere fetus — depono : tu dic , mecum quo pignore certes . Menalcas De grege non ausim quicquam deponere tecum . Est mihi namque domi pater , est iniusta noverca ; bisque die numerant ambo pecus , alter et haedos . Verum , id quod multo tute ipse fatebere maius , insanire libet quoniam tibi , pocula ponam fagina , caelatum divini opus Alcimedontis ; lenta quibus torno facili superaddita vitis diffusos hedera vestit pallente corymbos : in medio duo signa , Conon , et —quis fuit alter , descripsit radio totum qui gentibus orbem , tempora quae messor , quae curvus arator haberet ? Necdum illis labra admovi , sed condita servo . Damoetas Et nobis idem Alcimedon duo pocula fecit , et molli circum est ansas amplexus acantho , Orpheaque in medio posuit silvasque sequentis . Necdum illis labra admovi , sed condita servo : si ad vitulam spectas , nihil est quod pocula laudes . Menalcas Nunquam hodie effugies ; veniam , quocumque vocari audiat haec tantum —vel qui venit ecce Palaemon efficiam posthac ne quemquam voce lacessas . Damoetas Quin age , si quid habes , in me mora non erit ulla , nec quemquam fugio : tantum , vicine Palaemon , sensibus haec imis , res est non parva , reponas . Palaemon Dicite , quandoquidem in molli consedimus herba : et nunc omnis ager , nunc omnis parturit arbos , nunc frondent silvae , nunc formosissimus annus . Incipe , Darmoeta ; tu deinde sequere Menalca : alternis dicetis ; amant alterna Camenae . Damoetas Ab Iove principium , Musae ; Iovis omnia plena : ille colit terras , illi mea carmina curae . Menalcas Et me Phoebus amat ; Phoebo sua semper apud me munera sunt , lauri et suave rubens hyacinthus . Damoetas Malo me Galatea petit , lasciva puella , et fugit ad salices , et se cupit ante videri . Menalcas At mihi sese offert ultro , meus ignis , Amyntas , notior ut iam sit canibus non Delia nostris . Damoetas Parta meae Veneri sunt munera : namque notavi ipse locum , aëriae quo congessere palumbes . Menalcas Quod potui , puero silvestri ex arbore lecta aurea mala decem misi ; cras altera mittam . Damoetas O quotiens et quae nobis Galatea locuta est ! partem aliquam , venti , divom referatis ad auris ! Menalcas Quid prodest , quod me ipse animo non spernis , Amynta . si , dum tu sectaris apros , ego retia servo ? Damoetas Phyllida mitte mihi : meus est natalis , Iolla ; cum faciam vitula pro frugibus , ipse venito . Menalcas Phyllida amo ante alias ; nam me discedere flevit , et longum “formose , vale , vale ,” inquit , “Iolla .” Damoetas Triste lupus stabulis , maturis frugibus imbres . arboribus venti , nobis Amaryllidis irae . Menalcas Dulce satis umor , depulsis arbutus haedis , lenta salix feto pecori , mihi solus Amyntas . Damoetas Pollio amat nostram , quamvis est rustica , Musam : Pierides vitulam lectori pascite vestro . Menalcas Pollio et ipse facit nova carmina : pascite taurum , iam cornu petat et pedibus qui spargat arenam . Damoetas Qui te , Pollio , amat , veniat quo te quoque gaudet : mella fluant illi , ferat et rubus asper amomum . Menalcas Qui Bavium non odit , amet tua carmina , Maevi , atque idem iungat vulpes et mulgeat hircos . Damoetas Qui legitis flores et humi nascentia fraga , frigidus , O pueri , fugite hinc , latet anguis in herba . Menalcas Parcite , oves , nimium procedere ; non bene ripae creditur ; ipse aries etiam nunc vellera siccat . Damoetas Tityre , pascentes a flumine reice capellas : ipse ubi tempus erit , omnis in fonte lavabo . Menalcas Cogite ovis , pueri ; si lac praeceperit aestus , ut nuper , frustra pressabimus ubera palmis . Damoetas Heu , heu , quam pingui macer est mihi taurus in ervo ! Idem amor exitium est pecori pecorisque magistro . Menalcas His certe neque amor causa est ; vix ossibus haerent . nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos . Damoetas Dic , quibus in terris —et eris mihi magnus Apollo — tris pateat caeli spatium non amplius ulnas . Menalcas Dic , quibus in terris inscripti nomina regum nascantur flores , et Phyllida solus habeto . Palaemon Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites . Et vitula tu dignus , et hic , et quisquis amores aut metuet dulces , aut experietur amaros . Claudite iam rivos , pueri , sat prata biberunt .
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MENALCAS DAMOETAS PALAEMON MENALCAS Who owns the flock, Damoetas? Meliboeus? DAMOETAS Nay, they are Aegon's sheep, of late by him committed to my care. MENALCAS O every way unhappy sheep, unhappy flock! while he still courts Neaera, fearing lest her choice should fall on me, this hireling shepherd here wrings hourly twice their udders, from the flock filching the life-juice, from the lambs their milk. DAMOETAS Hold! not so ready with your jeers at men! We know who once, and in what shrine with you— the he-goats looked aside—the light nymphs laughed— MENALCAS Ay, then, I warrant, when they saw me slash micon's young vines and trees with spiteful hook. DAMOETAS Or here by these old beeches, when you broke the bow and arrows of Damon; for you chafed when first you saw them given to the boy, cross-grained Menalcas, ay, and had you not done him some mischief, would have chafed to death. MENALCAS With thieves so daring, what can masters do? Did I not see you, rogue, in ambush lie for Damon's goat, while loud Lycisca barked? And when I cried, “Where is he off to now? Gather your flock together, Tityrus,” you hid behind the sedges. DAMOETAS Well, was he whom I had conquered still to keep the goat. Which in the piping-match my pipe had won! You may not know it, but the goat was mine. MENALCAS You out-pipe him? when had you ever pipe wax-welded? in the cross-ways used you not on grating straw some miserable tune to mangle? DAMOETAS Well, then, shall we try our skill each against each in turn? Lest you be loth, I pledge this heifer; every day she comes twice to the milking-pail, and feeds withal two young ones at her udder: say you now what you will stake upon the match with me. MENALCAS Naught from the flock I'll venture, for at home I have a father and a step-dame harsh, and twice a day both reckon up the flock, and one withal the kids. But I will stake, seeing you are so mad, what you yourself will own more priceless far—two beechen cups by the divine art of Alcimedon wrought and embossed, whereon a limber vine, wreathed round them by the graver's facile tool, twines over clustering ivy-berries pale. Two figures, one Conon, in the midst he set, and one—how call you him, who with his wand marked out for all men the whole round of heaven, that they who reap, or stoop behind the plough, might know their several seasons? Nor as yet have I set lip to them, but lay them by. DAMOETAS For me too wrought the same Alcimedon a pair of cups, and round the handles wreathed pliant acanthus, Orpheus in the midst, the forests following in his wake; nor yet have I set lip to them, but lay them by. Matched with a heifer, who would prate of cups? MENALCAS You shall not balk me now; where'er you bid, I shall be with you; only let us have for auditor—or see, to serve our turn, yonder Palaemon comes! In singing-bouts i'll see you play the challenger no more. DAMOETAS Out then with what you have; I shall not shrink, nor budge for any man: only do you, neighbour Palaemon, with your whole heart's skill— for it is no slight matter—play your part. PALAEMON Say on then, since on the greensward we sit, and now is burgeoning both field and tree; now is the forest green, and now the year at fairest. Do you first, Damoetas, sing, then you, Menalcas, in alternate strain: alternate strains are to the Muses dear. DAMOETAS “From Jove the Muse began; Jove filleth all, makes the earth fruitful, for my songs hath care.” MENALCAS “Me Phoebus loves; for Phoebus his own gifts, bays and sweet-blushing hyacinths, I keep.” DAMOETAS “Gay Galatea throws an apple at me, then hies to the willows, hoping to be seen.” MENALCAS “My dear Amyntas comes unasked to me; not Delia to my dogs is better known.” DAMOETAS “Gifts for my love I've found; mine eyes have marked where the wood-pigeons build their airy nests.” MENALCAS “Ten golden apples have I sent my boy, all that I could, to-morrow as many more.” DAMOETAS “What words to me, and uttered O how oft, hath Galatea spoke! waft some of them, ye winds, I pray you, for the gods to hear.” MENALCAS “It profiteth me naught, Amyntas mine, that in your very heart you spurn me not, if, while you hunt the boar, I guard the nets.” DAMOETAS “Prithee, Iollas, for my birthday guest send me your Phyllis; when for the young crops I slay my heifer, you yourself shall come.” MENALCAS “I am all hers; she wept to see me go, and, lingering on the word, ‘farewell’ she said, ‘My beautiful Iollas, fare you well.’” DAMOETAS “Fell as the wolf is to the folded flock, rain to ripe corn, Sirocco to the trees, the wrath of Amaryllis is to me.” MENALCAS “As moisture to the corn, to ewes with young lithe willow, as arbute to the yeanling kids, so sweet Amyntas, and none else, to me.” DAMOETAS “My Muse, although she be but country-bred, is loved by Pollio: O Pierian Maids, pray you, a heifer for your reader feed!” DAMOETAS “Pollio himself too doth new verses make: feed ye a bull now ripe to butt with horn, and scatter with his hooves the flying sand.” DAMOETAS “Who loves thee, Pollio, may he thither come where thee he joys beholding; ay, for him let honey flow, the thorn-bush spices bear.” MENALCAS “Who hates not Bavius, let him also love thy songs, O Maevius, ay, and therewithal yoke foxes to his car, and he-goats milk.” DAMOETAS “You, picking flowers and strawberries that grow so near the ground, fly hence, boys, get you gone! There's a cold adder lurking in the grass.” MENALCAS “Forbear, my sheep, to tread too near the brink; yon bank is ill to trust to; even now the ram himself, see, dries his dripping fleece!” DAMOETAS “Back with the she-goats, Tityrus, grazing there so near the river! I, when time shall serve, will take them all, and wash them in the pool.” MENALCAS “Boys, get your sheep together; if the heat, as late it did, forestall us with the milk, vainly the dried-up udders shall we wring.” DAMOETAS “How lean my bull amid the fattening vetch! Alack! alack! for herdsman and for herd! It is the self-same love that wastes us both.” MENALCAS “These truly—nor is even love the cause— scarce have the flesh to keep their bones together some evil eye my lambkins hath bewitched.” DAMOETAS “Say in what clime—and you shall be withal my great Apollo—the whole breadth of heaven opens no wider than three ells to view.” MENALCAS “Say in what country grow such flowers as bear the names of kings upon their petals writ, and you shall have fair Phyllis for your own.” PALAEMON Not mine betwixt such rivals to decide: you well deserve the heifer, so does he, with all who either fear the sweets of love, or taste its bitterness. Now, boys, shut off the sluices, for the fields have drunk their fill. |