ECLOGUEVIII——THESORCERESS
DAMON——ALPHESIBOEUS
THEMuseoftheshepherdsDamonandAlphesiboeus,atwhosestrifethewonderingheiferforgotthegrass,atwhosesongthelynxstoodbreathlessandthestreamschangedtheircurrentandwerestill,theMuseofDamonandAlphesiboeuswewilltell.
Thou,myfriend,whetherthouclimbestnowgreatTimavus-rocksordostskirtthecoastoftheIllyriansea,ahshalleverthedaycomewhenImaytellofthydeeds?ahshallitcomethatImayblasonoveralltheworldthystrainsthatalonechallengethebuskinofSophocles?FromtheeIbegan;fortheewillIend:takethesongsthatwereessayedatthycommands,andletthisivycurlamongtheconqueror-slaurelaroundthybrows.
Thechillshadowofnighthadhardlyretreatedfromthesky,whenthedewonthetendergrassissweetesttotheflock:Damon,leaningonhissmootholive-staff,thusbegan:
Rise,MorningStar,andheraldinthegraciousday,while,beguiledbyLove-styranny,IcomplainoverNisathebride,andthoughithasavailedmenothingthatthegodswerewitnesses,yetinthisutmosthourcallonthemasIdie.
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.Maenaluseverkeepshisvocalforestandtalkingpines:everhebearsthelovesofshepherds,andPanwhoofyorewouldnotletthereedslieidle.
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
MopsusgetsNisa:whatmayweloversnotlookfor?nowwillgryphonscouplewithhorses,andinfollowingtimeshyfallowdeercomewiththehoundstodrink.
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
Mopsus,cutfreshtorches:fortheeawifeisledhome.Scatter
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nuts,Obridegroom:fortheetheEveningStarleavesOetaforlorn.
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
Oweddedtothymate!whilethouscornestalltheworld,andwhilemypipeandwhilemyshe-goatsannoythee,andmyshaggyeyebrowsanduntrimmedbeard,norfanciestthouthatanygodcaresforhumanthings.
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
Inourorchard-closeIsawthee,alittlegirlwithhermother——Iguidedyouboth——gatheringappleswetwithdew:thenextyearafterelevenhadjustreceivedme:Icouldjustreachthebrittlebranchesfromtheground.AsIsaw,howIperished,howthefatalcrazesweptmeaway!
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
NowIknowwhatLoveis:onironflintsofTmarosorRhodopeortheutmostGaramantsisheborn,nochildofourkinorblood.
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
FierceLovetaughtthemothertodabbleherbandswithherchildren-sblood:cruelthoutoo,Omother!Cruellerthemotherortheboyinsatiate?insatiatetheboy;cruelthoutoo,Omother!
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
Nowevenletthewolffleeunchasedbeforethesheep;letgnarledoaksbearapplesofgold:letthealderflowerintonarcissus,andrichamberoozefromtamariskbark:yes,letscreech-owlsviewithswans,letTityrusbeOrpheus,Orpheusintheforest,Arionamongthedolphinshoals——
Beginwithme,myflute,theversesofMaenalus.
Evenletmid-oceancoverall.Farewell,Owoodlands!frommywatchtoweraloftonthehillIwillplungeheadlongintothewaves:keepthouthismylastgiftasIdie.
Cease,Oflute,ceasenowtheversesofMaenalus.
ThusDamon:you,maidensofPieria,tellofAlphesiboeus-reply:wecannotalldoeverything.
Fetchwaterforth,andtwinethealtarsherewiththesoftfillet,andburnresinoustwigsandmalefrankincense,thatI
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maytrybymagicritestoturnmylover-ssensefromsanity:nothingiswantingnowbutthesongs.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
Songshavemighteventodrawdownthemoonfromheaven:withsongsCircetransformedthecrewofUlysses:bysingingthecoldsnakeisburstasunderinthemeadows.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
ThreefoldfirstItwineabouttheethesediversetriple-huedthreads,andthriceroundthesealtarsIdrawthineimage:anoddnumberisgod-sdelight.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
Tiethethreefoldcoloursinthreeknots,Amaryllis,tiethemthen:andsay,-ItieVenus-bands-
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
Asthisclaystiffensandasthiswaxsoftensinoneandtheselfsamefire,soletDaphnisdoforloveofme.Sprinklebarley-meal,andkindlethebrittlebay-twigswithbitumen.CruelDaphnisburnsme:IburnthisbayatDaphnis.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
SomayDaphnislove,aswhentheheifer,wearywithseekingthesteerthroughwoodlandandhighgrove,sinksonthegreensedgebyawaterbrook,inmisery,andrecksnottoretirebeforethefallingnight:somayloveholdhim,normayIcaretoheal.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
Thisdressheworeofoldthetraitorleftme,dearpledgesofhimself:whichnowIeveninthedoorway,Oearth,committothee:forthesepledgesDaphnisisthedebt.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
Theseherbs,andthesepoisonsgatheredinPontus,Moerishimselfgaveme;inPontustheygrowthickest.BytheirmightIhaveoftenseenMoerisbecomeawolfandplungeintotheforest,oftenseenhimcallupsoulsfromtheirdeepgraves,andtransplanttheharveststowheretheywerenotsown.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
Fetchashes,Amaryllis,outofdoors,andflingthemacrossthyheadintotherunningbrook:andlooknotback.With
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theseIwillassailDaphnis:nothingcaresheforgods,nothingforsongs.
Drawfromthecity,mysongs,drawDaphnishome.
See!theembersonthealtarhavecaughtwithaflickeringflame,themselves,oftheirownaccord,whileIdelaytofetchthem.Beitforgood!somethingthereisforsure;andHylaxbarksinthedoorway.Maywebelieve?ordoloversfashiondreamsoftheirown?
Forbear:fromthecity,forbearnow,mysongs,Daphniscomes.