ECLOGUE IX.--MOERIS

ECLOGUEIX——MOERIS

LYCIDAS——MOERIS

L——Whitherfootestthou,Moeris?leadsthywaytownward?

M——OLycidas,welivetohavecometothis,whatweneverfeared,thatanintruderinourlittlefieldsshouldsay,Thesearemine;hencewithyou,oldfreeholders!Nowcrushedandsorrowing,sinceallgoeswithFortune-swheel,thesekids(smalljoymayhehavethereof!)wearesendingtohim.

L——SurelyIhadheardthat,wherethehillsbegintoretireandlowertheirridgeinasoftslope,eventothewatersideandtheoldbeechesthatnowmoulderatop,yourMenalcashadsavedallthelandbyhissongs.

M——Youhad;andsorumourran.Butsongsofours,Lycidas,havenomorepoweramongwarringarmsthanChaoniandoves,astheysay,whentheeaglecomes.HadnotaravenfromthehollowilexonmyleftforewarnedmetocutshortmyyoungsuitasbestIcould,neitherthyMoerisnorMenalcashimselfwerealiveandhere.

L——Alas!cansuchwickednesscomeoveranyone?alasfortheeandourcomfortinthee,Menalcas,sonearlylosttous!Whowouldsingthenymphs?whostrewthegroundwithblossomingplants,ortraingreenshadeoverthesprings?orthosesongsIcaughtoflatefromtheeonthywaytoourdarlingAmaryllis:Tityrus,whileIreturn,(shortistheway,)feedtheshe-goats;anddrivethemfull-fedtodrink,Tityrus;andamidthework,takeheedofcrossingthehe-goat;hestrikeswithhishorn.

M——Naytheserather,whichyetunfinishedhesangtoVarus:Varus,thyname,ifbutourMantuasurvive,Mantua,ahtoonearaneighbourtounhappyCremona,singingswansshallbearalofttothestars.

L——SomaythyswarmsshunyewsofCorsica,somay

{p.289}

cytisuspastureswelltheuddersofthykine,beginwithwhatthouhast.MealsothemaidensofPieriahavemadeapoet.Ialsohavesongs:evenmetheshepherdscallasinger;butIbelievethemnot.For,Ithink,IutterasyetnothingworthyofVariusorofCinna,acacklinggooseamongtheseswansofsong.

M——SoIdo,Lycidas,andamthinkingoversilentlywithmyselfifImayavailtoremember;anditisnomeansong:

Comehither,OGalatea:whatsportisamongthewaves?Herespringglows,hereroundthestreamsthegroundbreaksintomanyaflower;herethesilver-whitepoplarleansoverthecavernandtrailingvinesweaveacovertofshade.Comehither;leavethemadbillowstobeatontheshore.

L——HowofwhatIonceheardtheesingingaloneundertheclearnight?Irememberthenotes,hadIthewordssure:

Daphnis,whygazeupwardontheancientrisingsofthesigns?lothestarofCaesar,Dione-schild,hasadvanced,thestarwhereunderfieldsshouldrejoiceincornandthegrapegathercolouronsunnyhills.Engraftthypear-trees,Daphnis;thychildren-schildrenshallplucktheirfruit.

M——Timewastesallthings,themindtooftenIrememberhowinboyhoodIoutworelongsunlitdaysinsinging:nowIhaveforgottensomanyasong:Moerisislosinghisvoicetoo;wolveshavecaughtfirstsightofMoeris;butyetMenalcaswillrepeatthemtotheeoftenough.

L——Thytalkingprolongsourdesire:andnow,see,allthemereissmoothandstill,andallthewindymurmurofthebreeze,look,issunkaway.justfromthispointishalfourroad,forBianor-stombbeginstoshow:here,whererusticsstripthethick-leavedsprays,here,Moeris,letussing;heresetdownthykids;forallthat,weshallreachthetown.Orifwefearlestnighterethengathertorain,wemaygosingingalltheway;sotheroadweariestheless:thatwemaygosinging,Iwilllightentheeofthisbundle.

M——Ceasethoufurther,Oboy,andletusdoourpresentbusiness:whenheiscomehimself,wewillsinghissongsbetterthen.

{p.290}