Sixe idillia that is, sixe small, or petty poems, or aeglogves, chosen out of the right famous Sicilian Poet Theocritus, and translated into English verse |
 |
| THE VIII. JDILLION.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 | Sixe idillia |  |
THE VIII. JDILLION.
BVCOLIASTÆ.
Argument.
Menalcas a Shephearde, and Daphnis a Netehearde, two Sicilian lads, contending who should sing best, pawne their whistles, and choose a Gotehearde, to be their Iudge. Who giueth sentence on Daphnis his side. The thing is imagined to be don in the Ile of Sicily by the Sea shore of whose singing, this Idillion is called Bvcoliastae, that is, Singers of a Neteheards song.
With
louely Netehearde Daphnis on the hills, they saie,
Shepehearde Menalcas mett, vpon a summers daie.
Both yuthfull striplings, both had yeallow heades of heare,
In whistling both, and both in singing skilfull weare.
Menalcas first, behoulding Daphnis, thus bespake.
Menalcas.
Shepehearde Menalcas mett, vpon a summers daie.
Both yuthfull striplings, both had yeallow heades of heare,
In whistling both, and both in singing skilfull weare.
Menalcas first, behoulding Daphnis, thus bespake.
Wilt thou in singing, Netehearde Daphnis, vndertake
To striue with me? for I affirme, that at my will
I can thee passe.
thus Daphnis aunswerde on the hill.
Daphnis.
Whistler Menalcas, thou shalt neuer me excell
In singing, though to death with singing thou shouldst swell.
Menalcas.
Then wilt thou see, and something for the victor wage?
Daphnis.
I will both see, and something for the victor gage.
Menalcas.
What therefore shal we pawne, that for vs maie befit?
Ile pawne a calfe, a wennell lambe laie thou to it.
Menalcas.
Ile pawne no lambe, for both my Syre and Mother fell
Are verie hard, and all my sheepe at evne they tell.
Daphnis.
What then? what shall he gaine that winns the victore?
Menalcas.
A gallant Whistell which J made with notes thrise three,
Joinde with white waxe, both evne belowe and evne aboue,
This will I laie, my Fathers thinges I will not moue.
Daphnis.
And J a Whistle haue with notes thrise three arowe,
Joinde with white waxe, both evne aboue, and evne belowe.
J latelie framde it, for this finger yet doth ake
With pricking, which a splinter of a reede did make.
But who shall be our Iudge, and giue vs audience?
Menalcas.
What if we call this Goteheard heere, not far from hence,
Whose dog doth barke harde by the kids?
the lustie boies
Did call him, and the Gotehearde came to heare their toies.
The lustie boies did sing, the Gotehearde iudgement gaue.
Menalcas first by lot vnto his whistle braue
Did sing a Neteheards song, and Neteheard Daphnis than
Did sing by course, but first Menalcas thus began.
Menalcas.
Did call him, and the Gotehearde came to heare their toies.
The lustie boies did sing, the Gotehearde iudgement gaue.
Menalcas first by lot vnto his whistle braue
Did sing a Neteheards song, and Neteheard Daphnis than
Did sing by course, but first Menalcas thus began.
Yee Groues, and Brooke deuine, if on his reede
Menalcas euer sung a pleasant laie,
Fat me these Lambes; if Daphnis here wil feede
His calfes, let him haue pasture toe I praie.
Daphnis.
Yee pleasant Springs, and Plants, would Daphnis had
As sweete a voice as haue the Nightingales;
Feede me this heard, and if the sheepeheards lad
Menalcas cums, let him haue al the dales.
Menalcas.
Tis euer spring, their meades are euer gaie,
There strowt the bags, their sheepe are fatly fed
Where Daphne cums; go she awaie,
Then both the sheepheard there, and grasse is ded.
There both the Ewes, and Gotes bring forth their twins,
Their Bees doe fil their hiues, their Okes are hie
Where Milo treades; when he awaie begins
To goe, both Neteheard, and the Nete waxe drie.
Menalcas.
O husband of the Gotes! O wood so hie!
O kids, come to this brooke, for he is there;
Thou with the broken hornes, tel Milo shie,
That Proteûs kept Sea-calfes, though God he were.
Daphnis.
Nor Pelops kingdome may J craue, nor gould,
Nor to outrunne the windes vpon a lea;
But in this caue Ile sing, with thee in hould,
Both looking on my sheepe, and on the sea.
Menalcas.
A tempest marreth trees, and drought a spring,
Snares vnto foules, to beastes, netts are a smarte,
Loue spoiles a man. O Ioue, alone his sting
J haue not felt, for thou a louer art.
Thus sung these boies by course, with voices strong,
Menalcas then began a latter song.
Menalcas.
Menalcas then began a latter song.
Wolfe, spare my kids, and spare my fruitful sheepe,
And hurt me not, though but a lad these flockes J gide;
Lampur my dog, art thou indeede so sound asleepe?
Thou shouldst not sleepe, while thou art by thy Masters side.
My sheepe, fear not to eate the tender grasse at will,
Nor when it springeth vp againe, see that you faile;
Goe to, and feede apace, and al your bellies fill,
That part your Lambes may haue, and part my milking paile.
Then Daphnis in his turne sweetly began to sing.
Daphnis.
And me not long agoe faire Daphne wistle eide
As J droue by, and said J was a paragone;
Nor then indeede to her I churlishlie replide,
But looking on the ground, my way stil held J one.
Sweete is a cow calfes voice, and sweete her breath doth smell,
A bulcalfe, and a cow doe loweful pleasantlie;
Tis sweete in summer by a spring abrode to dwell,
And calfes the kine, and kine, the Neteheard much set out.
Thus sung these Yuthes; the Gotehearde thus did ende the dout.
Goteheard.
O Daphnis, what a dulcet mouth, and voice thou hast?
Tis sweeter thee to heare, than honie-combes to tast.
Take thee these pipes, for thou in singing dost excell.
Jf me a Gotehearde thou wilt teach to sing so well,
This broken horned Goate, on thee bestowe I will,
Which to the verie brimm, the paile doth euer fill.
So then was Daphnis glad, and lept, and clapt his handes,
And danst, as doth a fawne, when by the damm he standes.
Menalcas greeud, the thing his mind did much dismaie,
And sad as Bride he was, vpon the marrige daie.
Since then, among the Shepeheards, Daphnis chiefe was had,
And tooke a Nimphe to wife, when he was but a lad.
And danst, as doth a fawne, when by the damm he standes.
Menalcas greeud, the thing his mind did much dismaie,
And sad as Bride he was, vpon the marrige daie.
Since then, among the Shepeheards, Daphnis chiefe was had,
And tooke a Nimphe to wife, when he was but a lad.
Daphnis his Embleme.
Me tamen urit amor.
Menalcas his Embleme.
At hæc Daphne forsan probet.
Goteheardes Embleme.
Est minor nemo nisi comparatus.
| Sixe idillia | |