There came the mother of the festive pair, Sweet-voiced Philista and Melixo fair, And told me: "Delphis loves elsewhere, I know, But whom I know not; yet enamoured so, Thy steeds to ocean now, bright Queen, direct; Farewell, clear Moon! and skyey cressets bright, IDYL III. AMYRILLIS. ARGUMENT. A goatherd, enamoured of Amaryllis, having given his flock in charge to Tityrus, goes to her cave, and, after complaining of her changed disposition towards him, attempts to revive her former attention to his suit with gifts, and entreaties, and finally with threats of self-destruction. At last, in the hope of attracting her notice, he sings a song recalling the memory of some happy mortals, whom Venus had favoured. Finding her inflexible, he ceases despondingly. The scene is changed from the place where his flock is at pasture, to the cavernhome of Amaryllis. IDYL III. AMARYLLIS. I Go to serenade my charming fair, Lest with his horn he butt you; careful tend, Sweet Amaryllis! why dost thou no more, Dost hate me? or do I myself discover Flat-nosed, or with a length of chin, when near? Thy scorn will make me hang myself, I swear. Behold, ten apples, nymph! I bring for thee, Plucked from the place where thou didst order me To pluck them; others will I bring to-morrow. O! that I were a little humming bee, Το pass thro' fern and ivy in to thee, Where in thy cave thou dost thyself conceal! He surely sucked a savage lioness, Reared in the wild, who works me such distress, Eating into the marrow of the bone. O sweet in aspect! altogether stone! Nymph! with thine eye-brows of a raven hue, |