27.6 Wipe thy lips, quotha? then give them hither again and have thee another.
ACROTIME
27.7 ‘Twere rather becoming you to kiss your heifers than a maiden woman like me
DAPHNIS
27.8 Soft you, be not so sure; your youth passes you by like a dream.
ACROTIME
27.10 But the grape’s in the raisin, and dry rose-leaves may live.
DAPHNIS (kissing her cheek)
27.9 Shall this be suffered to grow old, that is my milk and honey? Pray you come hither under those wild-olives; I would fain tell you a tale.
ACROTIME
27.12 Nay, I thank you; you beguiled me before with your pretty tales.
DAPHNIS
27.13Then pray you come hither under those elms and let me play you my pipe.
ACROTIME
27.14 Nay; that way you may pleasure yourself; scant joy comes of a sorry ting.
DAPHNIS
27.15 Alackaday! you likewise, honey, must e’en fear the wrath of Dame Phaphian.
ACROTIME
27.16 Dame Paphian may go hang for me; my prayers are to Artemis.
DAPHNIS
27.17 Hist! or she’ll have at thee, and then thou’lt be in the trap.
ACROTIME
27.18 Let her have at me; Artemis will help me out.
DAPHNIS
27.20 No other maiden escapes Love, nor doest thou escape him.
ACROTIME
27.19 ‘Fore Pan, that do I; as for you, I only pray you may ever bear his yoke. (he puts his arm about her and makes to kiss her again) Unhand me, man; I’ll bite thy lip yet.
DAPHNIS
27.22 But I fear if I let thee go a worser man will have thee.
ACROTIME
27.23 Many the wooers have been after me, but never a one have I had to my mind.
DAPHNIS
27.24 Well, here am I come to add one more to those may.
ACROTIME
27.25 O friend, what is to do? marriage is all woe.
DAPHNIS
27.26 Nay; a marriage is a thing neither of pain nor grief but rather of dancing.
ACROTIME
27.27 Aye, but I’m told the wives do fear their bed-fellows.
DAPHNIS
27.28 Nay; rather have they ever the upper hand; what should wives fear?
ACROTIME
27.29 ‘Tis the throes I fear; the stroke of Eileithyia is hard to bear.
DAPHNIS
27.30 But thou hast Artemis to thy queen, and she lightens the labour.
ACROTIME
27.31 Ah! but I fear lest the childbirth lose me my pretty face.
DAPHNIS
27.32 But if thou bear sweet children, thou’lt see a new light in thy sons.
ACROTIME
27.33 And if I say thee yea, what gift bring’st thou with thee worthy the marriage?
DAPHNIS
27.34 Thou shalt have all my herd and all the planting and pasture I possess.
ACROTIME
27.35 Swear thou’lt never thereafter leave me all forlorn
DAPHNIS
27.36 Before great Pan I swear it, even if thou choose to send me packing.
ACROTIME
27.37 Buildest me a bower and a house and a farmstead?
DAPHNIS
27.38 Yea, I build thee a house, and the flocks I feed are fine flocks.
ACROTIME
27.39 But then my gray-headed father, O what can I say to him?
DAPHNIS
27.40 He’ll think well o’ thy wedlock when he hears my name.
ACROTIME
27.41 Then tell me that name o’ thine; there’s often joy in a name.
DAPHNIS
27.42 ‘Tis Daphnis, mine, and my father’s Lycidas and my mother’s Nomaeë.
ACROTIME
27.43 Thou com’st of good stock; and yet methinks I am as good as thou.
DAPHNIS
27.44 Aye, I know it; thou art Acrotimè and they father Menalcas.
ACROTIME
27.45 Come, show me thy planting, show me where thy farmstead is.
DAPHNIS
27.46 Lo! this way it is; look how tall and slender my cypress-trees spring!
ACROTIME
27.47 Graze on, my goats; I go to see the neatherd’s labours.
DAPHNIS
27.48 Feed you well, my bulls; I would fain show the maid my planting.
ACROTIME
27.49 What art thou at, satyr-boy? why hast put thy hand inside on my breasts?
DAPHNIS
27.50 I am fain to give thy ripe pippins their first lesson.
ACROTIME
27.51 ‘Fore pan, I shall swoon; take back thy hand.
DAPHNIS
27.52 Never thou mind, sweet; what hadst thou to fear, little coward.
ACROTIME
27.53 Thou thrustest me into the water-conduit and soilest my pretty clothes.
DAPHNIS
27.54 Nay; look ye there! I cast my soft sheepskin under thy cloak.
ACROTIME
27.55 Out, alack! thou hast torn off my girdle, too. Why didst loose that?
DAPHNIS
