 | Poems upon several occasions |  |
Virgil's Fifth Eclogue. DAPHNIS.
The ARGUMENT.
Mopsus and Menalcas, two very expert Shepherds at a Song, begin one by Consent to the Memory of Daphnis; who is suppos'd by the best Criticks to represent Julius Cæsar Mopsus laments his Death, Menalcas proclaims his Divinity. The whole Eclogue consisting of an Elegy, and an Apotheosis.
Mopsus , since chance does us together bring,
And you so well can pipe, and I can sing,
Why sit we not beneath this secret Shade,
By Elms and Hazels mingling Branches made?
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Your Age commands Respect, and I obey,
Whether you in this lonely Copse will stay,
Where western Winds the bending Branches shake,
And in their Play the Shades uncertain make:
Or whether to that silent Cave you go,
The better choice! see how the wild Vines grow
Luxuriant round, and see how wide they spread,
And in the Cave their purple Clusters shed!
MENALCAS.
Amyntas only dares contend with you.
MOPSUS.
Why not as well contend with Phœbus too?
MENALCAS.
Begin, begin; whether the mournful Flame
Of dying Phyllis, whether Alcon's Fame,
Or Codrus' Brawls thy willing Muse provoke;
Begin, young Tityrus will tend the Flock.
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Yes, I'll begin, and the sad Song repeat,
That on the Beech's Bark I lately writ,
And set to sweetest Notes; yes, I'll begin,
And after that, bid you Amyntas sing.
MENALCAS.
As much as the most humble Shrub that grows,
Yields to the beauteous Blushes of the Rose,
Or bending Osiers to the Olive Tree;
So much, I judge, Amyntas yields to thee.
MOPSUS.
Shepherd, to this Discourse here put an End,
This is the Cave, sit and my Verse attend.
MOPSUS.
When the sad Fate of Daphnis reach'd their Ears,
The pitying Nymphs dissolv'd in pious Tears.
Witness, you Hazels, for you heard their Cries;
Witness, you Floods, swoln with their weeping Eyes.
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The sad remains of her cold Son embrac'd,
And of th'unequal Tyranny they us'd,
Then cruel Gods and cruel Stars accus'd.
Then did no Swain mind how his Flock did thrive,
Nor thirsty Herds to the cold River drive;
The generous Horse turn'd from fresh Streams his Head,
And on the sweetest Grass refus'd to feed.
Daphnis, thy Death, even fiercest Lions mourn'd,
And Hills and Woods their Cries and Groans return'd.
Daphnis Armenian Tygers Fierceness broke,
And brought 'em willing to the sacred Yoke:
Daphnis to Bacchus' Worship did ordain
The Revels of his consecrated Train;
The Reeling Priests with Vines and Ivy crown'd,
And their long Spears with cluster'd Branches bound
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As Bulls the Herd, as Fields the ripen'd Corn;
Such Grace, such Ornament wert thou to all
That glory'd to be thine: Since thy sad Fall,
No more Apollo his glad Presence yields,
And Pales self forsakes her hated Fields.
Oft where the finest Barley we did sow,
Barren Wild-Oates and hurtful Darnel grow;
And where soft Violets did the Vales adorn,
The Thistle rises and the prickly Thorn.
Come Shepherds, strow with Flow'rs the hallow'd Ground,
The sacred Fountains with thick Boughs surround;
Daphnis these Rites requires: to Daphnis' Praise
Shepherds a Tomb with this Inscription raise,
Here fam'd from Earth to Heaven I Daphnis lie;
Fair was the Flock I fed, but much more fair was I.
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Such, divine Poet, to my ravish'd Ears
Are the sweet Numbers of thy mournful Verse,
As to tir'd Swains soft Slumbers on the Grass;
As freshest Springs that through green Meadows pass,
To one that's parch'd with Thirst and Summer's Heat.
In thee thy Master does his Equal meet:
Whether your Voice you try, or tune your Reed,
Blest Swain, 'tis you alone can him succeed!
Yet, as I can, I in return will sing:
I too thy Daphnis to the Stars will bring,
I too thy Daphnis to the Stars, with you,
Will raise; for Daphnis lov'd Menalcas too.
MOPSUS.
Is there a thing that I could more desire?
For neither can there be a Subject higher,
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Can it be better sung than 'tis by you.
MENALCAS.
Daphnis now wondring at the glorious show,
Through Heav'ns bright Pavement does triumphant go,
And sees the moving Clouds, and the fixt Stars below:
Therefore new Joys make glad the Woods, the Plains,
Pan and the Dryades, and the chearful Swains
The Wolf no Ambush for the Flock does lay,
No cheating Nets the harmless Deer betray,
Daphnis a general Peace commands, and Nature does obey.
Hark! the glad Mountains raise to Heav'n their Voice!
Hark! the hard Rocks in mystick Tunes rejoyce!
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A God! A God! Menalcas, he is crown'd!
O be propitious! O be good to thine!
See! here four hallow'd Altars we design,
To Daphnis two, to Phœbus two we raise,
To pay the yearly Tribute of our Praise:
Sacred to thee they each returning Year
Two Bowls of Milk and two of Oyl shall bear:
Feasts I'll ordain, and to thy deathless Praise
Thy Votaries exalted Thoughts to raise,
Rich Chian Wines shall in full Goblets flow,
And give a Taste of Nectar here below.
‘Dametas shall with Lictian Ægon join,
To celebrate with Songs the Rites divine.
Alphisibæus with a reeling Gate,
Shall the wild Satyrs dancing imitate.
When to the Nymphs we Vows and Offerings pay,
When we with solemn Rites our Fields survey,
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Shall in the Fields and Hills delight no more;
No more in Streams the Fish, in Flow'rs the Bee,
E'er, Daphnis, we forget our Songs to thee:
Off'rings to thee the Shepherds every Year
Shall, as to Bacchus and to Ceres, bear.
To Thee as to those Gods shall Vows be made,
And Vengeance wait on those, by whom they are not paid.
MOPSUS.
What Present worth thy Verse can Mopsus find?
Not the soft Whispers of the Southern Wind
So much delight my Ear, or charm my Mind;
Not sounding Shores beat by the murm'ring Tide,
Nor Rivers that through stony Vallies glide.
MENALCAS.
First you this Pipe shall take: and 'tis the same
That play'd poor Corydon's unhappy Flame: Ecl. 2.
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MOPSUS.
You then shall for my sake this Sheephook keep,
Adorn'd with Brass, which I have oft deny'd
To young Antigenes in his Beauty's Pride.
And who cou'd think he then in vain could sue?
Yet him I would deny, and freely give it you.
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