Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/468

438 438 THEOCRITUS

The tree-frog's note was heard ; the crested lark Sang with the gold-finch; turtles made their moan, so And o'er the fountain hung the gilded bee. All of rich summer smacked, of autumn all : Pears at our feet, and apples at our side Rolled in luxuriance ; branches on the ground Sprawled, over weighed with damsons ; while we

brushed 85

From the cask's head the crust of four long years. Say, ye who dwell upon Parnassian peaks, Nymphs of Castalia,^ did old Chiron e'er Set before Heracles a cup so brave In Pholus' cavern ^ — did as nectarous draughts 90 Cause that Anapian shepherd, in whose hand Rocks were as pebbles, Polypheme the strong,^ Featly to foot it o'er the cottage lawns, — As, ladies, ye bid flow that day for us All by Demeter's shrine at harvest-home? 95

Beside whose corn stacks may I oft again Plant my broad fan : while she stands by and smiles. Poppies and corn-sheaves on each laden arm.

Translated by Charles Stuart Calverley.

IDYL XV. THE FESTIVAL OF ADONIS.

" Somewhere about two hundred and eighty years be- fore the Christian era, a couple of Syracusan women staying at Alexandria, agreed, on the occasion of a great religious solemnity, — the feast of Adonis, — to go together to the

1 I. e. the Muses, ^ho alone could tell of mythical events.

^ Chiron was the " schoolmaster " of the mythical period, the only centaur that was not wild and untamed. He opened for Heracles a cask of wine kept in the cave of Pholus, and presented to him by Dionysus, the god of Λvine, himself. Attracted by the scent of the wine, the centaurs rushed upon the cave and Avere killed by Heracles.

^ The Cyclops Polyphemus. See page oG.