ECLOGUE I.--TITYRUS

ECLOGUEI——TITYRUS

MELIBOEUS——TITYRUS

M——Tityrus,thouwherethouliestunderthecovertofspreadingbeech,broodestonthyslimpipeovertheMuseofthewoodland:weleaveournativebordersandpleasantfields;weflyournativeland,whilethou,Tityrus,ateaseintheshadeteachestthewoodstoechofairAmaryllis.

T——OMeliboeus,agodbroughtusthispeace:foragodeverwillhebetome:hisaltaratenderlambfromoursheepfoldsshalloftenstain.Hegrantedthatmyoxenmightstrayasthoudescriest,andmyselfplaywhatIwouldontherusticreed.

M——Ienvynot,I,ratherIwonder,soisallthecountrysidebeingroutedout.See,Imyselfwearilydriveforthmyshe-goats;andthisone,Tityrus,Ijustdragalong:forhereamongthehazelthicketsshehasbornetwins,thehopeoftheflock,andleftthem,alas!onthenakedflints.Often,hadamindnotinfatuatebeenmine,Irememberhowlightning-scathedoakspresagedthiswoeofours.Butyetvouchsafetous,Tityrus,whoisthisgodofthine.

T——ThecitytheycallRome,OMeliboeus,Ifanciedinmyfoolishnesslikeourshere,whitherweshepherdsareoftenwonttodrivethetenderweanlingsofthesheep.ThusIknewthelikenessofpuppiestodogs,ofkidstotheirmothers:thuswouldIcomparegreatthingswithsmall.Butshebearsherheadashighamongallothercitiesasanycypresswilldoamongtrailinghedgerowshoots.

M——AndwhymightnothinglessservetheethanseeingRome?

T——Forfreedom:sheatlastinspiteofallturnedherfaceuponaslothfulservant,whennowthebeardwassprinkledwithwhitethatfellundertherazor:inspiteofallsheturned

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herfaceandcameafterlongdelay,sinceAmaryllisholdsusandGalateahasletusgo.ForIwillconfessit,whileGalateakeptme,therewasnohopeoffreedom,nothriftofsavings:thoughmanyavictimwentoutfrommypens,andrichcheesefrommypressesforthethanklesstown,neveroncedidmyhandcomemoney-ladenhome.

M——Iwondered,Amaryllis,whythoucalledstsadlyonthegods,forwhomthineappleswerelefthangingonthetree:Tityruswasaway.Theverypines,OTityrus,theveryspringsandorchardsherecriedforthee.

T——WhatwasItodo?NeithermightIfreemyselffromservice,norelsewhereknowgodssopotenttohelp.HereIsawtheprince,OMeliboeus,towhomyearlyfortwicesixdaysthesteamrisesfromouraltars:herehegavepresentreplytomyprayerastureyouroxenasofold,mychildren,rearyourbulls.

M——Happyinthineoldage!sothyfieldswillremainthine,andampleenoughforthee,althoughallthepasturesbecoveredwithbarestoneormuddyrushofthefen.Nostrangefodderwilltrythebreedingewes,ortouchofevilhurtthemfromanyneighbour-sflock.Happyinthineoldage!here,amidfamiliarstreamsandholyspringsthouwiltwoothecoolnessoftheshade:herethehedgethateverkeepsthyneighbour-sboundary,wherebeesofHyblafeedtheirfillonthewillow-blossom,shalloftenwithlightmurmuringlulltheeintosleep:hereundertheloftyrockshallrisetheleaf-gatherer-ssong:norallthewhileshallthehoarsewood-pigeons,thydelight,ortheturtleontheelm-sarytopceasetomoan.

T——Thereforesoonershalllightstagsfeedintheskyandthesea-channelsleavethefishesnakedonthebeach;sooner,over-wanderingboththeirboundaries,shalltheexiledParthiandrinkofArar,orGermanyofTigris,thanhiscountenanceshallfadefromourheart.

M——Butwe!someshallpasshencetothirstyAfrica,somereachScythiaandOaxes-clay-ladentorrent,andtheBritonswhollysunderedfromalltheworld.Lo,shallIever,longin

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timetocome,againinmynativebordersmarvelasIseemyrealmstinktoapoorcabinwithturf-heapedroofbehindahandfulofcorn?Shallalawlesssoldierpossessthesetrimfallows?abarbarianthesecornfields?lo,towhatwretchedpasshascivildiscordbroughtus!lo,forwhoseprofitwehavesownourfields!Engraftthypeartreesnow,Meliboeus,setthyvinesarow!Go,myshe-goats,go,oncehappyflock:neverhereaftershallI,stretchedinagreencave,seeyouafarhangingfromthetuftedrock:nosongsshallIsing;notinmyherdingshallyou,myshe-goats,cropthefloweringcytisusandbitterwillows.

T——Yethereforto-nightthoumightstrestwithmeongreenboughs:wehavemellowapplesandsoftchestnuts,andcurdledmilkinabundance;andalreadyafarthefarmroofssmoke,andtheshadowsfalllargerfromthehighhills.

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