Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/460

430 430 THEOCRITUS

IDYL I. THE DEATH OF DAPKNIS. Thyrsis. a Goatherd.

Thy r sis. Sweet are the whispers of yon pine that makes Low music o'er the spring, and, Goatherd, sweet Thy piping ; second thou to Pan alone. Is his the horned ram ? then thine the goat. Is his the goat ? to thee shall fall the kid ; 5

And toothsome is the flesh of unmilked kids.

Goatherd. Shepherd, thy lay is as the noise of streams Falling and falling aye from yon tall crag. If for their meed the muses claim the ewe, Be thine the stall-fed lamb ; or if they choose 10

The lamb, take thou the scarce less-valued ewe.

Thyrsis. Pray, by the nymphs, pray, Goatherd, seat thee here Against this hill-slope in the tamarisk shade, And pipe me somewhat, while I guard my goats.

Goatherd. I durst not, shepherd, Ο I durst not pipe At noontide ; fearing Pan, who at that hour le

Eests from the toils of hunting. Harsh is he ; AVrath at his nostrils aye sits sentinel. But, Thyrsis, thou canst sing of Daphnis' woes ; High is thy name for woodland minstrelsy : 20

Then rest Λνβ in the shadow of the elm Fronting Priapus and the Fountain-nymphs.^ There, where the oaks are and the shepherd's seat. Sing as tliou sang'st erewhile, when matched with him

1 That is the rude wooden statues of these garden and field divinities.