ECLOGUEII——ALEXIS
THEshepherdCorydonburnedforfairAlexis,hismaster-sdarling,andfoundnohope:onlyamongthethickshady-toppedbeecheshewouldcontinuallycome,andtherealoneutterinidlepassiontheseartlesswordstothehillsandwoods.
OcruelAlexis,carestthounaughtformysongs?hastnopityonus?thouwiltbemydeathatthelast.Noweventhecattlewootheshadeandcoolness,noweventhegreenlizardshideinthethornbrakes;andThestylisisbruisinggarlicandwildthyme,strong-smellingherbsforthemowersweariedwiththefierceheat:butforallmycompany,asItracethyfootsteps,thecopsesringwithcricketsjarringundertheblazingsun.WasitnotbettertobearAmarylliswithallhersourdispleasuresandhaughtyscorns?orMenalcas,thoughheweredark,thoughthouwertwhite?Ofairboy,trustnotovermuchtocolour;creamyprivet-blossomsfall,darkhyacinthsaregathered.Iamscornedofthee,nordostthouaskwhatIam,Alexis,howrichinflocks,howaboundinginsnowymilk.AthousandlambsofminewanderonSicilianhills:freshmilkfailsmenotatmidsummernorinthefrost.Isingashewaswontwhenbecalledhisoxenhome,AmphionofDirceinActaeanAracynthus.NeitheramIsofoultoview:oflateIsawmyselfontheshore,whentheseastoodinwindlesscalm;IwillnotfearDaphnisinthyjudgment,ifthemirrorcannotlie.Ahthatthouwouldstbutcaretobewithmeintheroughcountry,todwellinlowcots,toshootthedeer,ordriveaflockofkidstothegreenmallowbed.WithmeinthewoodstogetherthoushaltcopyPaninsinging;Panfirsttaughttojoinwithwaxtherowofreeds:Panisguardianifthesheepandoftheshepherds.Norletitrepenttheetorunthytenderlipalongthereeds:toknowthissameartwhatdidAmyntasleaveundone?Ihaveapipejoinedof
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sevenunequalhemlock-stalks,agiftthatDamoetasoncegaveme,andsaidashedied:Nowhathittheeforsecondmaster.Damoetassaidit:stupidAmyntaswasjealous.Furthermoretwofawns,andinaperilousravineIfoundthem,withskinevenyetwhite-dappled,drainaewe-sudderstwiceaday;andIkeepthemforthee.ThislongtimeThestylisbegsthemtotakeawayfromme,andsheshall,sinceourgiftsaregracelessinthineeyes.Comehither,Ofairboy;fortheelo!theNymphsbringbasketsfulloflilies;fortheethewhiteNaiadpluckspalevioletsandpoppyheads,andaddsthenarcissusandthefragrantanise-flower,andentwiningthemwithcasiaandothersweet-scentedherbs,spanglessofthyacinth-posieswithyellowmarigold.Myselfwillgatherquinceswithdelicatesilverybloom,andthechestnutsthatmyAmaryllisloved,andwaxenplumswithal:thisfruitlikewiseshallhavehishonour:andyouwillIpluck,Olaurels,andthee,borderingmyrtle,sincesosetyoumingleyourfragrantsweets.Thouartacountryboor,OCorydon!nordoesAlexisheedthygifts:norifthecontestbeofgiftsmayIollasyieldtothee.Alas,alas,whathaveIbroughtonmylucklesshead?Ihaveloosedthetempestonmyblossoms,woe-sme,andthewildboarsonmycrystalsprings.Fromwhomfliestthou,ahinfatuate?Godslikewisehavedweltinthewoodland,andParisofDardania.Pallasmaykeepbyherselfthefortressesthatshebuilt:usbeforeallelseletthewoodlandsatisfy.Thegrimlionesspursuesthewolf,thewolfinturntheshe-goat;thewantonshe-goatpursuesthefloweringcytisus;asCorydondoesthee,OAlexis,eachdrawnbyhisowndelight.See,thebullocksreturnwiththeploughstiltedfromtheyoke,andthesinkingsundoublesthelengtheningshadows:yetmeloveburns;forwhatboundmaybesettolove?AhCorydon,Corydon,whatmadnesshascaughtthee?thyvinehangshalfunprunedonherleaf-ladenelm.Naybutratheratleastsomethingofallthatdailyworkneeds,setthoutoweaveofosiersorsoftrushes:ifhedisdainsthee,thouwiltfindanotherAlexis.