Eclogues |
Translator: James Rhoades
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ECLOGA VII . MELIBOEUS, CORYDON, THYRSIS Meliboeus Forte sub arguta consederat ilice Daphnis , compulerantque greges Corydon et Thyrsis in unum , Trhyrsis ovis , Corydon distentas lacte capellas , ambo florentes aetatibus , Arcades ambo , et cantare pares , et respondere parati . Huc mihi , dum teneras defendo a frigore myrtos , vir gregis ipse caper deerraverat ; atque ego Daphnim aspicio . Ille ubi me contra videt : “Ocius ” inquit “ huc ades , O Meliboee , caper tibi salvus et haedi ; et , si quid cessare potes , requiesce sub umbra . huc ipsi potum venient per prata iuvenci , hic viridis tenera praetexit arundine ripas Mincius , eque sacra resonant examina quercu .” Quid facerem ? Neque ego Alcippen , nec Phyllida habebam , depulsos a lacte domi quae clauderet agnos , et certamen erat , Corydon cum Thyrside , magnum . posthabui tamen illorum mea seria ludo : alternis igitur contendere versibus ambo coepere ; alternos Musae meminisse volebant . hos Corydon , illos referebat in ordine Thyrsis . Corydon Nymphae , noster amor , Libethrides , aut mihi carmen , quale meo Codro , concedite : proxima Phoebi versibus ille facit ; aut , si non possumus omnes , hic arguta sacra pendebit fistula pinu . Thyrsis Pastores , hedera crescentem ornate poetam , Arcades , invidia rumpantur ut ilia Codro ; aut si ultra placitum laudarit , baccare frontem cingite , ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro . Corydon Saetosi caput hoc apri tibi , Delia , parvus et ramosa Micon vivacis cornua cervi . Si proprium hoc fuerit , levi de marmore tota puniceo stabis suras evincta coturno . Thyrsis Sinum lactis et haec te liba , Priape , quotannis exspectare sat est : custos es pauperis horti . Nunc te marmoreum pro tempore fecimus ; at tu , si fetura gregem suppleverit , aureus esto . Corydon Nerine Galatea , thymo mihi dulcior Hyblae , candidior cycnis , hedera formosior alba , cum primum pasti repetent praesepia tauri , si qua tui Corydonis habet te cura , venito . Thyrsis Immo ego Sardoniis videar tibi amarior herbis , horridior rusco , proiecta vilior alga , si mihi non haec lux toto iam longior anno est . Ite domum pasti , si quis pudor , ite iuvenci . Corydon Muscosi fontes et somno mollior herba , et quae vos rara viridis tegit arbutus umbra , solstitium pecori defendite ; iam venit aestas torrida , iam lento turgent in palmite gemmae . Thyrsis Hic focus et taedae pingues , hic plurimus ignis semper , et adsidua postes fuligine nigri ; hic tantum Boreae curamus frigora , quantum aut numerum lupus , aut torrentia flumina ripas . Corydon Stant et iuniperi , et castaneae hirsutae ; strata iacent passim sua quaque sub arbore poma ; omnia nunc rident : at si formosus Alexis montibus his abeat , videas et flumina sicca . Thyrsis Aret ager ; vitio moriens sitit aeris herba ; Liber pampineas invidit collibus umbras : Phyllidis adventu nostrae nemus omne virebit , Iuppiter et laeto descendet plurimus imbri . Corydon Populus Alcidae gratissima , vitis Iaccho , formosae myrtus Veneri , sua laurea Phoebo ; Phyllis amat corylos : illas dum Phyllis amabit , nec myrtus vincet corylos , nec laurea Phoebi . Thyrsis Fraxinus in silvis pulcherrima , pinus in hortis , populus in fluviis , abies in montibus altis : saepius at si me , Lycida formose , revisas , fraxinus in silvis cedat tibi , pinus in hortis . Haec memini , et victum frustra contendere Thyrsim : ex illo Corydon Corydon est tempore nobis .
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MELIBOEUS CORYDON THYRSIS daphnis beneath a rustling ilex-tree had sat him down; Thyrsis and Corydon had gathered in the flock, Thyrsis the sheep, and Corydon the she-goats swollen with milk— both in the flower of age, Arcadians both, ready to sing, and in like strain reply. Hither had strayed, while from the frost I fend my tender myrtles, the he-goat himself, lord of the flock; when Daphnis I espy! Soon as he saw me, “Hither haste,” he cried, “O Meliboeus! goat and kids are safe; and, if you have an idle hour to spare, rest here beneath the shade. Hither the steers will through the meadows, of their own free will, untended come to drink. Here Mincius hath with tender rushes rimmed his verdant banks, and from yon sacred oak with busy hum the bees are swarming.” What was I to do? No Phyllis or Alcippe left at home had I, to shelter my new-weaned lambs, and no slight matter was a singing-bout 'twixt Corydon and Thyrsis. Howsoe'er, I let my business wait upon their sport. So they began to sing, voice answering voice in strains alternate—for alternate strains the Muses then were minded to recall— first Corydon, then Thyrsis in reply. CORYDON “Libethrian Nymphs, who are my heart's delight, grant me, as doth my Codrus, so to sing— next to Apollo he—or if to this we may not all attain, my tuneful pipe here on this sacred pine shall silent hang.” THYRSIS “ Arcadian shepherds, wreathe with ivy-spray your budding poet, so that Codrus burst with envy: if he praise beyond my due, then bind my brow with foxglove, lest his tongue with evil omen blight the coming bard.” CORYDON “This bristling boar's head, Delian Maid, to thee, with branching antlers of a sprightly stag, young Micon offers: if his luck but hold, full-length in polished marble, ankle-bound with purple buskin, shall thy statue stand.” THYRSIS “A bowl of milk, Priapus, and these cakes, yearly, it is enough for thee to claim; thou art the guardian of a poor man's plot. Wrought for a while in marble, if the flock at lambing time be filled,stand there in gold.” CORYDON “Daughter of Nereus, Galatea mine, sweeter than Hybla-thyme, more white than swans, fairer than ivy pale, soon as the steers shall from their pasture to the stalls repair, if aught for Corydon thou carest, come.” THYRSIS “Now may I seem more bitter to your taste than herb Sardinian, rougher than the broom, more worthless than strewn sea-weed, if to-day hath not a year out-lasted! Fie for shame! Go home, my cattle, from your grazing go!” CORYDON “Ye mossy springs, and grass more soft than sleep, and arbute green with thin shade sheltering you, ward off the solstice from my flock, for now comes on the burning summer, now the buds upon the limber vine-shoot 'gin to swell.” THYRSIS “Here is a hearth, and resinous logs, here fire unstinted, and doors black with ceaseless smoke. Here heed we Boreas' icy breath as much as the wolf heeds the number of the flock, or furious rivers their restraining banks.” CORYDON “The junipers and prickly chestnuts stand, and 'neath each tree lie strewn their several fruits, now the whole world is smiling, but if fair alexis from these hill-slopes should away, even the rivers you would ; see run dry.” THYRSIS “The field is parched, the grass-blades thirst to death in the faint air; Liber hath grudged the hills his vine's o'er-shadowing: should my Phyllis come, green will be all the grove, and Jupiter descend in floods of fertilizing rain.” CORYDON “The poplar doth Alcides hold most dear, the vine Iacchus, Phoebus his own bays, and Venus fair the myrtle: therewithal phyllis doth hazels love, and while she loves, myrtle nor bay the hazel shall out-vie.” THYRSIS “Ash in the forest is most beautiful, pine in the garden, poplar by the stream, fir on the mountain-height; but if more oft thou'ldst come to me, fair Lycidas, to thee both forest-ash, and garden-pine should bow.” MELIBOEUS These I remember, and how Thyrsis strove for victory in vain. From that time forth is Corydon still Corydon with us. |
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ECLOGA VIII . DAMON, ALPHESIBOEUS Pastorem Musam Damonis et Alphesiboei — immemor herbarum quos est mirata iuvenca certantis , quorum stupefactae carmine lynces , et mutata suos requierunt flumina cursus — Illonis Musam dicemus et Alphesiboei . Tu mihi seu magni superas iam saxa Timavi , sive oram Illyrici legis aequoris , en erit umquam ille dies , mihi cum liceat tua dicere facta ? en erit ut liceat totum mihi ferre per orbem sola Sophocleo tua carmina digna coturno ? A te principium , tibi desinam : accipe iussis carmina coepta tuis , atque hanc sine tempora circum inter victrices hederam tibi serpere laurus . Frigida vix caelo noctis decesserat umbra , cum ros in tenera pecori gratissimus herba ; incumbens tereti Damon sic coepit olivae . Damon Nascere , praeque diem veniens age , Lucifer , almum , coniugis indigno Nisae deceptus amore dum queror , et divos , quamquam nil testibus illis profeci , extrema moriens tamen adloquor hora . Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . Maenalus argutumque nemus pinosque loquentis semper habet ; semper pastorum ille audit amores , Panaque , qui primus calamos non passus inertis . Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . Mopso Nisa datur : quid non speremus amantes ? Iungentur iam grypes equis , aevoque sequenti cum canibus timidi venient ad pocula dammae . Mopse , novas incide faces : tibi ducitur uxor ; sparge , marite , nuces : tibi deserit Hesperus Oetam . Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . O digno coniuncta viro , dum despicis omnes , dumque tibi est odio mea fistula , dumque capellae , hirsutumque supercilium promissaque barba , nec curare deum credis mortalia quemquam ! Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . Saepibus in nostris parvam te roscida mala — dux ego vester eram —vidi cum matre legentem . Alter ab undecimo tum me iam acceperat annus ; iam fragilis poteram ab terra contingere ramos . Ut vidi , ut perii ! Ut me malus abstulit error ! Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . Nunc scio , quid sit Amor : duris in cotibus illum aut Tmaros , aut Rhodope , aut extremm Garamantes , nec generis nostri puerum nec sanguinis edunt . Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . saevus Amor docuit natorum sanguine matrem commaculare manus ; crudelis tu quoque , mater : crudelis mater magis , an puer improbus ille ? improbus ille puer ; crudelis tu quoque , mater . Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . nunc et ovis ultro fugiat lupus ; aurea durae mala ferant quercus ; narcisso floreat alnus ; pinguia corticibus sudent electra myricae ; certent et cycnis ululae ; sit Tityrus Orpheus , Orpheus in silvis , inter delphinas Arion . Incipe Maenalios mecum , mea tibia , versus . Omnia vel medium fiant mare : vivite , silvae ! praeceps aerii specula de montis in undas deferar ; extremum hoc munus morientis habeto . desine Maenalios , iam desine , tibia , versus . Haec Damon : vos , quae responderit Alphesiboeus , dicite , Pierides ; non omnia possumus omnes . Alphesiboeus Effer aquam , et molli cinge haec altaria vitta , verbenasque adole pinguis et mascula tura , coniugis ut magicis sanos avertere sacris experiar sensus nihil hic nisi carmina desunt . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Carmina vel caelo possunt deducere Lunam ; carminibus Circe socios mutavit Ulixi ; frigidus in pratia cantando rumpitur anguis . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . terna tibi haec primum triplici diversa colore licia circumdo , terque haec altaria circum effigiem duco : numero deus impare gaudet . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Necte tribus nodis ternos , Amarylli , colores , necte , Amarylli , modo , et “Veneris ” dic “vincula necto .” Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Limus ut hic durescit et haec ut cera liquescit uno eodemque igni , sic nostro Daphnis amore . Sparge molam , et fragilis incende bitumine laurus . Daphnis me malus urit , ego hanc in Daphnide laurum . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Talis amor Daphnim , qualis cum fessa iuvencum per nemora atque altos quaerendo bucula lucos propter aquae rivum viridi procumbit in ulva , perdita , nec serae meminit decedere nocti , talis amor teneat , nec sit mihi cura mederi . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Has olim exuvias mihi perfidus ille reliquit , pignora cara sui , quae nunc ego limine in ipso , terra , tibi mando ; debent haec pignora Daphnim . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Has herbas atque haec Ponto mihi lecta venena ipse dedit Moeris ; nascuntur plurima Ponto . His ego saepe lupum fieri et se condere silvis Moerim , saepe animas imis excire sepulcris , atque satas alio vidi traducere messis . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Fer cineres , Amarylli , foras , rivoque fluenti transque caput iace , nec respexeris : his ego Daphnim adgrediar , nihil ille deos , nil carmina curat . Ducite ab urbe domum , mea carmina , ducite Daphnim . Aspice , corripuit tremulis altaria flammis sponte sua , dum ferre moror , cinis ipse : bonum sit ! Nescio quid certe est , et Hylas in limine latrat . Credimus , an , qui amant , ipsi sibi somnia fingunt ? Parcite , ab urbe venit , iam carmina , parcite , Daphnis .
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TO POLLIO. DAMON ALPHESIBOEUS of Damon and Alphesiboeus now, those shepherd-singers at whose rival strains the heifer wondering forgot to graze, the lynx stood awe-struck, and the flowing streams, unwonted loiterers, stayed their course to hear— how Damon and Alphesiboeus sang their pastoral ditties, will I tell the tale. Thou, whether broad Timavus' rocky banks thou now art passing, or dost skirt the shore of the Illyrian main,—will ever dawn that day when I thy deeds may celebrate, ever that day when through the whole wide world I may renown thy verse—that verse alone of Sophoclean buskin worthy found? With thee began, to thee shall end, the strain. Take thou these songs that owe their birth to thee, and deign around thy temples to let creep this ivy-chaplet 'twixt the conquering bays. Scarce had night's chilly shade forsook the sky what time to nibbling sheep the dewy grass tastes sweetest, when, on his smooth shepherd-staff of olive leaning, Damon thus began. DAMON “Rise, Lucifer, and, heralding the light, bring in the genial day, while I make moan fooled by vain passion for a faithless bride, for Nysa, and with this my dying breath call on the gods, though little it bestead— the gods who heard her vows and heeded not. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Ever hath Maenalus his murmuring groves and whispering pines, and ever hears the songs of love-lorn shepherds, and of Pan, who first brooked not the tuneful reed should idle lie. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Nysa to Mopsus given! what may not then we lovers look for? soon shall we see mate griffins with mares, and in the coming age shy deer and hounds together come to drink. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Now, Mopsus, cut new torches, for they bring your bride along; now, bridegroom, scatter nuts: forsaking Oeta mounts the evening star! ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ O worthy of thy mate, while all men else thou scornest, and with loathing dost behold my shepherd's pipe, my goats, my shaggy brow, and untrimmed beard, nor deem'st that any god for mortal doings hath regard or care. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Once with your mother, in our orchard-garth, a little maid I saw you—I your guide— plucking the dewy apples. My twelfth year I scarce had entered, and could barely reach the brittle boughs. I looked, and I was lost; a sudden frenzy swept my wits away. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Now know I what Love is: 'mid savage rocks tmaros or Rhodope brought forth the boy, or Garamantes in earth's utmost bounds— no kin of ours, nor of our blood begot. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Fierce Love it was once steeled a mother's heart with her own offspring's blood her hands to imbrue: mother, thou too wert cruel; say wert thou more cruel, mother, or more ruthless he? Ruthless the boy, thou, mother, cruel too. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Now let the wolf turn tail and fly the sheep, tough oaks bear golden apples, alder-trees bloom with narcissus-flower, the tamarisk sweat with rich amber, and the screech-owl vie in singing with the swan: let Tityrus be Orpheus, Orpheus in the forest-glade, arion 'mid his dolphins on the deep. ‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’ Yea, be the whole earth to mid-ocean turned! Farewell, ye woodlands I from the tall peak of yon aerial rock will headlong plunge into the billows: this my latest gift, from dying lips bequeathed thee, see thou keep. Cease now, my flute, now cease Maenalian lays.’” thus Damon: but do ye, Pierian Maids— we cannot all do all things—tell me how alphesiboeus to his strain replied. ALPHESIBOEUS “Bring water, and with soft wool-fillet bind these altars round about, and burn thereon rich vervain and male frankincense, that I may strive with magic spells to turn astray my lover's saner senses, whereunto there lacketh nothing save the power of song. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ Songs can the very moon draw down from heaven circe with singing changed from human form the comrades of Ulysses, and by song is the cold meadow-snake, asunder burst. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ These triple threads of threefold colour first I twine about thee, and three times withal around these altars do thine image bear: uneven numbers are the god's delight. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ Now, Amaryllis, ply in triple knots the threefold colours; ply them fast, and say this is the chain of Venus that I ply. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ As by the kindling of the self-same fire harder this clay, this wax the softer grows, so by my love may Daphnis; sprinkle meal, and with bitumen burn the brittle bays. Me Daphnis with his cruelty doth burn, I to melt cruel Daphnis burn this bay. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ As when some heifer, seeking for her steer through woodland and deep grove, sinks wearied out on the green sedge beside a stream, love-lorn, nor marks the gathering night that calls her home— as pines that heifer, with such love as hers may Daphnis pine, and I not care to heal. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ These relics once, dear pledges of himself, the traitor left me, which, O earth, to thee here on this very threshold I commit— pledges that bind him to redeem the debt. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ These herbs of bane to me did Moeris give, in Pontus culled, where baneful herbs abound. With these full oft have I seen Moeris change to a wolf's form, and hide him in the woods, oft summon spirits from the tomb's recess, and to new fields transport the standing corn. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ Take ashes, Amaryllis, fetch them forth, and o'er your head into the running brook fling them, nor look behind: with these will upon the heart of Daphnis make essay. Nothing for gods, nothing for songs cares he. ‘Draw from the town, my songs, draw Daphnis home.’ Look, look I the very embers of themselves have caught the altar with a flickering flame, while I delay to fetch them: may the sign prove lucky! something it must mean, for sure, and Hylax on the threshold 'gins to bark! May we believe it, or are lovers still by their own fancies fooled? Give o'er, my songs, daphnis is coming from the town, give o'er.” |
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ECLOGA IX . LYCIDAS, MOERIS Lycidas te , Moeri , pedes ? an , quo via ducit , in urbem ? Moeris O Lycida , vivi pervenimus , advena nostri ( quod numquam veriti sumus ) ut possessor agelli diceret : “Haec mea sunt ; veteres migrate coloni !” nunc victi , tristes , quoniam Fors omnia versat , hos illi —quod nec vertat bene —mittimus haedos . Lycidas Certe equidem audieram , qua se subducere colles incipiunt , mollique iugum demittere clivo , usque ad aquam et veteres (iam fracta cacumina ) fagos omnia carminibus vestrum servasse Menalcan . Moeris Audieras , et fama fuit ; sed carmina tantum nostra valent , Lycida , tela inter Martia , quantum Chaonias dicunt aquila veniente columbas . quod nisi me quacumque novas incidere lites ante Sinistra cava monuisset ab ilice cornix , nec tuus hic Moeris , nec viveret ipse Menalcas . Lycidas Heu , cadit in quemquam tantum scelus ? Heu , tua nobis paene simul tecum solatia rapta , Menalca ? quis caneret nymphas ; quis humum florentibus herbis spargeret , aut viridi fontes induceret umbra ? vel quae sublegi tacitus tibi carmina nuper , cum te ad delicias ferres , Amaryllida , nostras ? Tityre , dum redeo —brevis est via —pasce capellas , et potum pastas age , Tityre , et inter agendum occursare capro , cornu ferit ille , caveto . Moeris Immo haec , quae Varo necdum perfecta canebat : “ Vare , tuum nomen , superet modo Mantua nobis — Mantua , vae miserae nimium vicina Cremonae — cantantes sublime ferent ad sidera cycni .” Lycidas Sic tua Cyrneas fugiant examina taxos ; sic cytiso pastae distendant ubera vaccae ! Incipe , si quid habes : et me fecere poetam Pierides ; sunt et mihi carmina ; me quoque dicunt vatem pastores , sed non ego credulus illis . Nam neque adhuc Vario videor , nec dicere Cinna digna , sed argutos inter strepere anser olores . Moeris Id quidem ago et tacitus , Lycida , mecum ipse voluto , si valeam meminisse ; neque est ignobile carmen : ` huc ades , O Galatea ; quis est nam ludus in undis hic ver purpureum ; varios hic flumina circum fundit humus flores ; hic candida populus antro imminet , et lentae texunt umbracula vites . huc ades : insani feriant sine litora fluctus . Lycidas Quid , quae te pura solum sub nocte canentem audieram ? Numeros memini , si verba tenerem . “ Daphni , quid antiquos signorum suspicis ortus ? Ecce Dionaei processit Caesaris astrum , astrum , quo segetes gauderent frugibus , et quo duceret apricis in collibus uva colorem . insere , Daphni , piros : carpent tua poma nepotes .” Moeris Omnia fert aetas , animum quoque : saepe ego longos cantando puerum memini me condere soles : nunc oblita mihi tot carmina ; vox quoque Moerim iam fugit ipsa ; lupi Moerim videre priores . Sed tamen ista satis referet tibi saepe Menalcas . Lycidas Causando nostros in longum ducis amores : et nunc omne tibi stratum silet aequor , et omnes , aspice , ventosi ceciderunt murmuris aurae . hinc adeo media est nobis via ; namque sepulcrum incipit adparere Bianoris : hic ubi densas agricolae stringunt frondes , hic , Moeri , canamus ; hic haedos depone : tamen veniemus in urbem . aut si , nox pluviam ne colligat ante , veremur , cantantes licet usque (minus via laedit ) eamus ; cantantes ut eamus , ego hoc te fasce levabo . Moeris Desine plura , puer , et quod nunc instat agamus : carmina tum melius , cum venerit ipse , canemus .
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LYCIDAS MOERIS LYCIDAS Say whither, Moeris?—Make you for the town, or on what errand bent? MOERIS O Lycidas, we have lived to see, what never yet we feared, an interloper own our little farm, and say, “Be off, you former husbandmen! These fields are mine.” Now, cowed and out of heart, since Fortune turns the whole world upside down, we are taking him—ill luck go with the same!— these kids you see. LYCIDAS But surely I had heard that where the hills first draw from off the plain, and the high ridge with gentle slope descends, down to the brook-side and the broken crests of yonder veteran beeches, all the land was by the songs of your Menalcas saved. MOERIS Heard it you had, and so the rumour ran, but 'mid the clash of arms, my Lycidas, our songs avail no more than, as 'tis said, doves of Dodona when an eagle comes. Nay, had I not, from hollow ilex-bole warned by a raven on the left, cut short the rising feud, nor I, your Moeris here, no, nor Menalcas, were alive to-day. LYCIDAS Alack! could any of so foul a crime be guilty? Ah! how nearly, thyself, reft was the solace that we had in thee, Menalcas! Who then of the Nymphs had sung, or who with flowering herbs bestrewn the ground, and o'er the fountains drawn a leafy veil?— who sung the stave I filched from you that day to Amaryllis wending, our hearts' joy?— “While I am gone, 'tis but a little way, feed, Tityrus, my goats, and, having fed, drive to the drinking-pool, and, as you drive, beware the he-goat; with his horn he butts.“ MOERIS Ay, or to Varus that half-finished lay, “Varus, thy name, so still our Mantua live— Mantua to poor Cremona all too near— shall singing swans bear upward to the stars.” LYCIDAS So may your swarms Cyrnean yew-trees shun, your kine with cytisus their udders swell, begin, if aught you have. The Muses made me too a singer; I too have sung; the swains call me a poet, but I believe them not: for naught of mine, or worthy Varius yet or Cinna deem I, but account myself a cackling goose among melodious swans. MOERIS 'Twas in my thought to do so, Lycidas; even now was I revolving silently if this I could recall—no paltry song: “Come, Galatea, what pleasure is 't to play amid the waves? Here glows the Spring, here earth beside the streams pours forth a thousand flowers; here the white poplar bends above the cave, and the lithe vine weaves shadowy covert: come, leave the mad waves to beat upon the shore.” LYCIDAS What of the strain I heard you singing once on a clear night alone? the notes I still remember, could I but recall the words. MOERIS “Why, Daphnis, upward gazing, do you mark the ancient risings of the Signs? for look where Dionean Caesar's star comes forth in heaven, to gladden all the fields with corn, and to the grape upon the sunny slopes her colour bring! Now, the pears; so shall your children's children pluck their fruit.” Time carries all things, even our wits, away. Oft, as a boy, I sang the sun to rest, but all those songs are from my memory fled, and even his voice is failing Moeris now; the wolves eyed Moeris first: but at your wish Menalcas will repeat them oft enow. LYCIDAS Your pleas but linger out my heart's desire: now all the deep is into silence hushed, and all the murmuring breezes sunk to sleep. We are half-way thither, for Bianor's tomb begins to show: here, Moeris, where the hinds are lopping the thick leafage, let us sing. Set down the kids, yet shall we reach the town; or, if we fear the night may gather rain ere we arrive, then singing let us go, our way to lighten; and, that we may thus go singing, I will case you of this load. MOERIS Cease, boy, and get we to the work in hand: we shall sing better when himself is come. |