Page:Eclogues of Virgil (1908).djvu/16

 Daphnis received, and forthwith thou didst yearn

To do the boy some harm, or die of spite.

We masters must outwit yon thieving knaves—

Ah! rascal! whom I saw catch Damon's goat

Loud tho' the sheep-dog barked! loud though I cried

To Tityrus to guard his flock, but thou didst hide

Among the sedges.

Nay, but I had won

That goat in rivalry of tuneful pipes—

You might not know it, but that goat was mine,

As Damon did confess, although indeed

He swore he could not give it up to me.

Thou vanquished him in song? Not so, I ween;

When didst thou ever own a wax-joined pipe?

Didst thou not use, poor dunce, to squeak through straws

Murdering a wretched tune, on the cross-roads?

Well, shall we try, by turns, what each can do?

This heifer young my stake shall be, and lest

Thou should'st refuse, I'll tell thee of her worth.

Twice in the day the milking pail she fills,

Suckling two calves besides! Say now, what stake

Canst thou on thy side show when we contend?

Ah! from our flock I dare not bring thee aught

Fearing the wrath of step-mother and sire;

Each day a careful reckoning they make

Of the whole flock, one of them counts the kids.

But if thou needst must fool, I'll lay a stake

Of greater value far, as thou wilt own,

Even the beechwood bowls, with carving rich