ECLOGUE V.--DAPHNIS

ECLOGUEV——DAPHNIS

MENALCAS——MOPSUS

Me——Whynot,OMopsus,sincewearemetsogoodapair,thoutobreatheintheslimreeds,Itouttertheverses,sitdownhereamongthemingledelmsandhazels?

Mo——Thouarttheolder:itisfitIshouldobeythee,Menalcas,whetherwherewesternbreezesshifttheflickeringshadowsorratherthecavernbeourresting-place.See,howoverthecavernthewoodlandwildvinescattersherthinclusters.

Me——OnourhillsAmyntasalonecontendswiththee.

Mo——WhatifheevencontendtoexcelPhoebusinsong.

Me——Begin,OMopsus,first,ifthouhastaughtofflamesforPhyllisorpraisesofAlconorfloutsatCodrus.Begin:Tityruswillkeepthegrazingkids.

Mo——Nay,thesongsIhavenewlywrittendownongreenbeechbarkandmarkedthemusicbetweenthelines,thesewillIessay:thouthereafterbidAmyntasenterthecontest.

Me——Evenasthepliantosieryieldstothegreyolive,asthelowscentedreedtothecrimsonrose-plots,sofarbyourjudgmentAmyntasyieldstothee.

Mo——Butceasethoufurther,Oboy:wehavereachedthecavern.

DeadDaphniscruellyslaintheNymphswept;you,Ohazelsandrivers,weretheNymphs-witnesses;whileclaspingherson-swretchedcorse,hismothercallsongodsandstarsthatpitynot.Noneinthosedays,Daphnis,drovethepasturedoxentocoolstreams;nofour-footedthingtastedtherivernortouchedthegrassysward.Daphnis,thewildbillsandthewoodlandsrepeathowevenPuniclionsbemoanedthydecease.DaphnisorderedtheharnessingofArmeniantigressestothecar;DaphnistheprocessionsofBacchus-revellersand

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thesoftleafagewoundroundtheirsuppleshafts.Asthevineadornshertree,ashergrapesthevine;asbullstheherds,ascorntherichfields;sothouartalltheornamentofthypeople;sincetheFatesreftthee,PalesandApollothemselveshaveleftthecountrydesolate.Inthefurrowswhereweoftenhavebestowedthelargebarley,fruitlessdarnelandbarrenwildoatsspring:insteadofsoftvioletandshiningnarcissusrisesthethistleandthethornwithhiskeenspines.Strewthegroundwithleaves,trainshadeoverthesprings,Oshepherdsaphnisbidssuchremembrancebedonetohim;andpileamound,andoverthemoundaddaverse:IamDaphnistheforester,knownfromhereeventotheheavens,keeperofafairflock,myselfmorefairthanthey.

Me——Suchisthysonguntous,Odivinepoet,assleeptothewearyonthegrass,asquenchingofthirstintheheatfromagushingrivuletofsweetwater.Noronthereedsalone,butwithvoicetoo,thouequallestthymaster:happyboy,thoushaltnowbenexttohim.Yetweinturnwillsingtheethesesongsofoursevenasbestwemay,andraisethyDaphnisintothesky:wewillenskythyDaphnis,forusalsoDaphnisloved.

Mo——Andmightaughtbehigherinoureyesthansuchagift?Boththeboyhimselfwasworthythesinging,andtheseversesofthineStimiconlongsincecommendedtous.

Me——Cladinlight,DaphnismarvelsatHeaven-suntroddenfloorandseesthecloudsandthestarsbeneathhisfeet.Thereforegaypleasurereignsintheforestandallthecountryside,amongPanandtheshepherdsandtheDryadmaidens.Neitherdoesthewolfplotambushestotheflocknoranyhunting-netsensnarementofthedeer:gentleDaphnislovespeace.Theunshornmountainsthemselvescastechoesofgladnesstotheskies;theveryrocks,theverycopsesnowresoundinsong:Agod,agodishe,OMenalcas.Ahbegraciousandprosperoustothineown:see,fouraltars,two,lo!Daphnis,tothee,twoforaltarsofofferingtoPhoebus:doublecupsfrothingwithfreshmilkyearly,andtwobowlsofthefatnessoftheolivewillIlaybeforethee;andaboveallmakingthe

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banquetgladwithmuchwine,beforethehearthinthecoldseason,inharvestbeneaththeshade,IwillpourfromflagonsthefreshnectarofAriusianwine.DamoetasandLyctianAegonshallsingtome:AlphesiboeusshallmimictheleapingSatyrs.Thisshalleverbethine,bothwhenwepaytheNymphsouraccustomedvowsandwhenwepurifyourfields.Whilethewildboarandthefishshallhauntmountain-ridgeandriver,whilebeesshallfeedonthymeandgrasshoppersondew,evershallthinehonour,thynameandpraiseendure.AstotheWine-godandtheCorn-goddess,sototheeshallthehusbandmenmakeyearlyvows;thoulikewiseshaltclaimtheirpayment.

Mo——How,howmayIrepaythegiftofsuchasong?forneitherthewhisperofthegatheringSouthnorthewavebreakingonthebeachsodelightsme,norstreamsthatracedownamidrockydells.

Me——Firstshallthisbrittlehemlock-pipebeourgifttothee:thepipethattaughtusCorydonburnedforfairAlexis,andwithalWhoistheflock-smaster?Meliboeus?

Mo——Buttakethouthecrookthat,oftenashebesoughtit,Antigenesgotnotofme,andthenhewasworthloving,beautifulwithrangedstudsofbrass,OMenalcas.

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