Theocritus, Idylls (English) (XML Header) [genre: poetry] [word count] [lemma count] [Theoc. Id.]. | ||
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A shepherd and a goatherd meet in the pastures one noontide, and compliment each other upon their piping. The shepherd, Thyrsis by name, is persuaded by the other – for a cup which he describes but does not at first show – to sing him The Affliction of Daphnis, a ballad which tells how the ideal shepherd, friend not only of Nymphs and Muse, but of all the wild creatures, having vowed to his first love that she should be his last, pined and died for the love of another. The ballad is divided into three parts marked by changes in the refrain. The first part, after a complaint to the Nymphs of their neglect, tells how the herds and the herdsmen gathered about the dying man, and Hermes his father, and Priapus the country-god of fertility whom he had flouted, came and spoke and got no answer. In the second part, the slighted Love-Goddess comes, and gently upbraids him, whereat he breaks silence with a threat of vengeance after death. The lines of his speech which follow tell in veiled ironic terms what he vengeance of this friend of wild things will be; for Anchises was afterwards blinded by bees, Adonis slain by a boar, and Cypris herself wounded by Diomed. The speech is continued with a farewell to the wild creatures, and to the wells and rivers of Syracuse. In the third part the bequeaths his pipe to Pan, ends his dying speech with an address to all Nature, and is overwhelmed at last in the river of Death. The scene of the mime is Cos, but Thyrsis comes from Sicily, and Sicily is the scene of his song.
THYRSIS
GOATHERD
THYRSIS
GOATHERD
1.45 And but a little removed from master Weather-beat there’s a vineyard well laden with clusters red to the ripening, and a little lad seated watching upon a hedge. And on either side of him two foxes; this ranges to and fro along the rows and pilfers all such grapes as be ready for eating, while that setteth all his cunning at the lad’s wallet, and vows he will not let him be till he have set him breaking his fast note with but poor victuals to his drink. note And all the time the urchin’s got star-flower-stalks a-platting to a reed for to make him a pretty gin for locusts, and cares never so much, not he, for his wallet or his vines as he takes pleasure in his platting. And for an end, mark you, spread all about he cup goes the lissom bear’s-foot, a sight worth the seeing with its writhen leaves; ‘tis a marvellous work, ‘twill amaze your heart. 1.57 Now for that cup a ferryman of Calymnus note had a goat and a gallant great cheese-loaf of me, and never yet hath it touched my lip; it still lies unhandselled by. Yet right welcome to it art thou, if like a good fellow thou’lt sing me that pleasing and delightful song. Nay, not so; I am in right earnest. To’t, good friend; sure thou wilt not be hoarding that song against thuo be’st come where all’s forgot?
THYRSIS (sings)
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.
1.65 ‘Tis Thyrsis sings, of Etna, and a rare sweet voice hath he.Where were ye, Nymphs, when Daphnis pined? ye Nymphs, O where were ye?
Was it Peneius’ note pretty vale, or Pindus’ note glens? ‘twas never
Anápus’ note flood nor Etna’s pike nor Acis’ note holy river.
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.
1.71 When Daphnis died the foxes wailed and the wolves they wailed full sore,The lion from the greenward wept when Daphnis was no more.
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.
1.74 O many the lusty steers at his feet, and may the heifers slim,Many the claves and many the kine that made their moan for him.
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.
1.77 Came Hermes first, from the hills away, and said “O Daphnis tell,“Who is’t that fretteth thee, my son? whom lovest thou so well?”
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.
1.80 The neatherds came, the shepherds came, and the goatherds him beside,All fain to hear what ail’d him; Priápus came and cried
“Why peak and pine, unhappy wight, when thou mightest bed a bride?
“For there’s nor wood nor water but hath seen her footsteps flee –
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses –
1.85 “In search o’ thee. O a fool-in-love and a feeble is here, perdye!“Neatherd, forsooth? ‘tis goatherd now, or ‘faith, ‘tis like to be;
“When goatherd in the rutting-time the skipping kids doth scan,
“His eye grows soft, his eye grows sad, because he’s born a man; –
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses –
1.90 “So you, when ye see the lasses laughing in gay riot,“Your eye grows soft, your eye grows sad, because you share it not.”
But never a word said the poor neathérd, for a bitter love bare he;
And he bare it well, as I shall tell, to the end that was to be.
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.95 But and the Cyprian came him to, and smiled on him full sweetly –For thou she fain would foster wrath, she could not choose but smile –
And cried “Ah, braggart Daphnis, that wouldst throw Love so featly!
“Thou’rt thrown, methinks, thyself of Love’s so grievous guile.”
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.100 Then out he spake; “O Cypris cruel, Cypris vengeful yet,“Cypris hated of all flesh! think’st all my sun be set?
“I tell thee even ‘mong the dead Daphnis shall work thee ill: –
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.104 “Men talk of Cypris and the hind; begone to Ida hill,“Begone to hind Anchises; sure bedstraw there doth thrive
“And fine oak-trees and pretty bees all humming at the hive.
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.109 “Adonis too is ripe to woo, for a ‘tends his sheep o’ the lea“And shoots the hare and a-hunting goes of all the beasts there be.
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.112 And then I’ld have thee take thy stand by Diomed, and say“’I slew the neatherd Daphis; fight me thou to-day.’
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.115 “But ‘tis wolf farewell and fox farewell and bear o’ the mountain den,“Your neatherd fere, your Daphnis dear, ye’ll never see agen,
“By glen no more, by glade no more. And ‘tis o farewell to thee
“Sweet Arethuse, note and all pretty watérs down Thymbris vale that flee.
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.120 “For this, O this is that Daphnis, your kine to field did bring,“This Daphnis he, led stirk and steer to you a-watering.
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
1.123 “And Pan, O Pan, whether at this hour by Lycee’s mountain-pile“Or Maenal steep thy watch thou keep, come away to the Sicil isle,
“Come away from the knoll of Helicè note and the howe lift high i ’ the lea,
“The howe of Lycáon’s child, note the howe that Gods in heav’s envye;
Country-song, leave country-song, ye Muses.
1.128 “Come, Master, and take this pretty pipe, this pipe of honey breath,“Of wax well knit round lips to fit; for Love hales mé to my death.
Country-song, leave country-song, ye Muses.
1.132 “Bear violets now ye briers, ye thistles violets too;“Daffodilly may hang on the juniper, and all things go askew;
“Pines may grow figs now Daphnis dies, and hind tear hound if she will,
“And the sweet nightingále be outsung i ’ the dale by the scritch-owl from the hill.”
Country-song, leave country-song, ye Muses.
1.138 Such words spake he, and he stayed him still; and O, the Love-Ladye,She would fain have raised him where he lay, but that could never be.
For the thread was spun and the days were done and Daphnis gone to the River, note
And the Nymphs’ good friend and the Muses’ fere was whelmed i ’ the whirl note for ever. 1.143 There; give me the goat and the tankard man; and the Muses shall have a libation of her milk. Fare you well, ye Muses, and again fare you well, and I’ll e’en sing you a sweeter song another day.
GOATHERD
Theocritus, Idylls (English) (XML Header) [genre: poetry] [word count] [lemma count] [Theoc. Id.]. | ||
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