COMATAS.

A cypress milk-pail for my girl I have,

And bowl-which old Praxiteles did grave.

LACON.

A hound, wolf-strangling keeper of the sheep,
A faithful guardian, for my love I keep.

COMATAS.

Locusts, that overleap my fences, spare

My vines

their shoots yet weak and tender are.

LACON.

Cicada see this goatherd I provoke :
So to their toil ye wake the reaping folk.

COMATAS.

I hate the bush-tailed foxes-nightly troop,
That Mycon's vine-yard, grape-devouring, swoop.

LACON.

I hate the scarabs-air-borne host, that mow

Philonda's fig-trees, fig-devouring foe.

COMATAS.

Do you remember when I smote you, fellow,

How you did wriggle round the oak, and bellow?

LACON.

No! but I do remember when with scourge
Eumaras did your peccant humours purge.

COMATAS.

Some one, my Morson, into rage is dashing;
Go! from the tomb pluck gray squills-for a lashing.

LACON.

I too prick some one, Morson; do you take?
Hasten to Hales; and for sowbread rake.

COMATAS.

Flow Himera with milk, and Crathis flow

Purple with wine! and fruit on cresses grow!

LACON.

Fountain of Sybaris, to honey turn,

And fill with honeycombs the maiden's urn!

COMATAS.

On goat's-rue feed, my goats, and cytisus;

On lentisk tread, and lie on arbutus !

LACON.

Of the rose-eglantine there blooms a heap,
And eke the honey-flower-to feed my sheep.

COMATAS.

Alcippe for my ring-dove gave no kiss,

Holding my ears

-I love her not for this.

LACON.

I love my love because a sweet lip paid
With kisses for my pipe-the gift I made.

COMATAS.

Nor whoop the swan, nor jay the nightingale
May rival; still you challenge, still to fail.

MORSON.

Cease, shepherd! Morson gives the lamb to thee,

Comatas; fail not to remember me,

And let my portion of the flesh be nice,

When to the Nymphs you make your

sacrifice.

COMATAS.

By Pan I'll send it. Snort and gambol round,
My buck-goats all! hark! what a mighty sound
I peal of ringing laughter at the cost

Of Lacon, who to me his lamb has lost!

I too will skip. My horned goats, good cheer!
To-morrow in the fountain, cool and clear,
Of Sybaris I'll bathe you. Hark! I say,
White butting ram! be modest, till I pay

The Nymphs my offering. Ha! then blows I'll try-
Or may I like the curst Melanthius die.

IDYL VI.

THE HERDSMEN.

ARGUMENT.

Damætas and Daphnis beguile the time by singing alternately. Daphnis, acting the part of a spectator, describes Polyphemus sitting on a rock that overlooks the sea, and Galatea, the seanymph beloved by the Cyclops, sporting on the waves near the shore. Damætas represents Polyphemus, professing that he has acted with apparent harshness and indifference in order to attract the nymph, and compel her to live ashore with him. When they have done singing, they exchange presents.