ECLOGUE VIII.--THE SORCERESS

ECLOGUEVIII——THESORCERESS

DAMON——ALPHESIBOEUS

THEMuseoftheshepherdsDamonandAlphesiboeus,atwhosestrifethewonderingheiferforgotthegrass,atwhosesongthelynxstoodbreathlessandthestreamschangedtheircurrentandwerestill,theMuseofDamonandAlphesiboeuswewilltell.

Thou,myfriend,whetherthouclimbestnowgreatTimavus-rocksordostskirtthecoastoftheIllyriansea,ahshalleverthedaycomewhenImaytellofthydeeds?ahshallitcomethatImayblasonoveralltheworldthystrainsthatalonechallengethebuskinofSophocles?FromtheeIbegan;fortheewillIend:takethesongsthatwereessayedatthycommands,andletthisivycurlamongtheconqueror-slaurelaroundthybrows.

Thechillshadowofnighthadhardlyretreatedfromthesky,whenthedewonthetendergrassissweetesttotheflockamon,leaningonhissmootholive-staff,thusbegan:

Rise,MorningStar,andheraldinthegraciousday,while,beguiledbyLove-styranny,IcomplainoverNisathebride,andthoughithasavailedmenothingthatthegodswerewitnesses,yetinthisutmosthourcallonthemasIdie.

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.Maenaluseverkeepshisvocalforestandtalkingpines:everhebearsthelovesofshepherds,andPanwhoofyorewouldnotletthereedslieidle.

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

MopsusgetsNisa:whatmayweloversnotlookfor?nowwillgryphonscouplewithhorses,andinfollowingtimeshyfallowdeercomewiththehoundstodrink.

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

Mopsus,cutfreshtorches:fortheeawifeisledhome.Scatter

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nuts,Obridegroom:fortheetheEveningStarleavesOetaforlorn.

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

Oweddedtothymate!whilethouscornestalltheworld,andwhilemypipeandwhilemyshe-goatsannoythee,andmyshaggyeyebrowsanduntrimmedbeard,norfanciestthouthatanygodcaresforhumanthings.

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

Inourorchard-closeIsawthee,alittlegirlwithhermother——Iguidedyouboth——gatheringappleswetwithdew:thenextyearafterelevenhadjustreceivedme:Icouldjustreachthebrittlebranchesfromtheground.AsIsaw,howIperished,howthefatalcrazesweptmeaway!

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

NowIknowwhatLoveisnironflintsofTmarosorRhodopeortheutmostGaramantsisheborn,nochildofourkinorblood.

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

FierceLovetaughtthemothertodabbleherbandswithherchildren-sblood:cruelthoutoo,Omother!Cruellerthemotherortheboyinsatiate?insatiatetheboy;cruelthoutoo,Omother!

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

Nowevenletthewolffleeunchasedbeforethesheep;letgnarledoaksbearapplesofgold:letthealderflowerintonarcissus,andrichamberoozefromtamariskbark:yes,letscreech-owlsviewithswans,letTityrusbeOrpheus,Orpheusintheforest,Arionamongthedolphinshoals——

Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.

Evenletmid-oceancoverall.Farewell,Owoodlands!frommywatchtoweraloftonthehillIwillplungeheadlongintothewaves:keepthouthismylastgiftasIdie.

Cease,Oflute,ceasenowtheversesofMaenalus.

ThusDamon:you,maidensofPieria,tellofAlphesiboeus-reply:wecannotalldoeverything.

Fetchwaterforth,andtwinethealtarsherewiththesoftfillet,andburnresinoustwigsandmalefrankincense,thatI

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maytrybymagicritestoturnmylover-ssensefromsanity:nothingiswantingnowbutthesongs.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

Songshavemighteventodrawdownthemoonfromheaven:withsongsCircetransformedthecrewofUlysses:bysingingthecoldsnakeisburstasunderinthemeadows.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

ThreefoldfirstItwineabouttheethesediversetriple-huedthreads,andthriceroundthesealtarsIdrawthineimage:anoddnumberisgod-sdelight.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

Tiethethreefoldcoloursinthreeknots,Amaryllis,tiethemthen:andsay,-ItieVenus-bands-

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

Asthisclaystiffensandasthiswaxsoftensinoneandtheselfsamefire,soletDaphnisdoforloveofme.Sprinklebarley-meal,andkindlethebrittlebay-twigswithbitumen.CruelDaphnisburnsme:IburnthisbayatDaphnis.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

SomayDaphnislove,aswhentheheifer,wearywithseekingthesteerthroughwoodlandandhighgrove,sinksonthegreensedgebyawaterbrook,inmisery,andrecksnottoretirebeforethefallingnight:somayloveholdhim,normayIcaretoheal.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

Thisdressheworeofoldthetraitorleftme,dearpledgesofhimself:whichnowIeveninthedoorway,Oearth,committothee:forthesepledgesDaphnisisthedebt.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

Theseherbs,andthesepoisonsgatheredinPontus,Moerishimselfgaveme;inPontustheygrowthickest.BytheirmightIhaveoftenseenMoerisbecomeawolfandplungeintotheforest,oftenseenhimcallupsoulsfromtheirdeepgraves,andtransplanttheharveststowheretheywerenotsown.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

Fetchashes,Amaryllis,outofdoors,andflingthemacrossthyheadintotherunningbrook:andlooknotback.With

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theseIwillassailDaphnis:nothingcaresheforgods,nothingforsongs.

Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.

See!theembersonthealtarhavecaughtwithaflickeringflame,themselves,oftheirownaccord,whileIdelaytofetchthem.Beitforgood!somethingthereisforsure;andHylaxbarksinthedoorway.Maywebelieve?ordoloversfashiondreamsoftheirown?

Forbear:fromthecity,forbearnow,mysongs,Daphniscomes.