Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/463

433 IDYL I. THE DEATH OF DAPHNIS 433

Herdsman in name, but goatherd rightlier called. With eyes that yearn the goatherd marks his kids Run riot, for he fain would frisk as they : 90

(^Bcgin, sioeet Afaids, begin the woodland sonrj.^ " AVitli eyes that yearn dost thou too mark the laugh Of maidens, for thou may'st not share their glee." Still naught the herdsman said : he drained alone His bitter potion, till the fatal end. 95

(^Begin, stceet JIaids, begin the woodland songS) Came Aphrodite, smiles on her sweet face. False smiles, for heavy was her heart, and spake : " So, Daphnis, thou must try a fall with Love I But stalwart Love hath won the fall of thee." 100

(^Begin^ sweet Maids, begin the icoodland song.^ ^ Then " Ruthless Aphrodite," Daphne said, " Accursed Aphrodite, foe to man, Say'st thou my hour is come, my sun hath set ? Dead as alive, shall Daphnis work Love woe." 105

(^Begin, siceet 3Iaids, begin the icoodland song.') " Fly to Mount Ida, where the swain (men say) And Aphrodite — to Anchises fly : There are oak-forests : here but galingale. And bees that make a music round the hives. uo

QBegin, sweet Plaids, begin the woodland song.) " Adonis owed his bloom to tending flocks And smiting hares, and bringing wild beasts down.

(^Begin, sweet 3Jaids, begin the looodland song.) '• Face once more Diomed : 2 tell him ' I have slain ns The herdsman Daphnis ; now I challenge thee.'

{Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song.)

1 Anchises. the Trojan, ^on the love of Aphrodite (Venus), who bore to him Aeneas, who was the founder of the Roman people.

■^ In the Iliad, Diomed wounds Aphrodite on the field of battle, and she flees in distress. The Lnjuiiction here is ironical.