The Bvcoliks of Pvblivs Virgilivs Maro Prince of all Latine Poets; otherwise called his Pastoralls, or shepeherds meetings. Together with his Georgiks or Ruralls, otherwise called his husbandrie, conteyning foure books. All newly translated into English verse by A. F. [i.e. Abraham Fleming] |
 |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
The seuenth Eclog: intituled Melibeus.
|
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
 | The Bvcoliks of Pvblivs Virgilivs Maro |  |
The seuenth Eclog: intituled Melibeus.
The Argument.
This eclog seemeth wholy taken out of Theocritus, conteining neuerthelesse
some things, which by an allegorie might be drawne
to the poets purpose. For as Seruius saith, some by Daphnis doo
vnderstand Augustus, and not amisse: for he was also supposed
to be Apollo or Apollos sonne. By Corydon is meant Virgill, who
gat the prayse and prise of his aduersarie Thyrsis. So that in the
beginning of this eclog, Melibeus a shepheard (or rather a
neatheard, as his name importeth) dooth say that in seeking
his cattell, hee fortuned vpon Daphnis, who tarried for him to
go and heare a match of piping and plaieng tried betweene Corydon
and Thyrsis, promising Melibey that his beasts shall come
safelie thither. Some thinke that by Thyrsis is meant some aduersarie
of Virgils, encountring with him about excellencie: but
others iudge it to be simply taken, and according to the letter:
for first of all the poet himselfe speaketh in the person of Melibey.
Neuerthelesse, if there were no allegorie herein, howe
should wee vnderstand Daphnis his walking by the riuer Mincius,
neere the citie Mantua, hee being one of Sicilie. Howbeit
take it thus, that by Melibey is meant some citizen or
townsman of Mantua, and brought in heere this eclog seeking
a stray gote; which citizen had not as yet receiued his lands, to
whom notwithstanding Daphnis, that is to say Augustus had promised
the full restitution and repossession of the same.
20
Melibeus.
Daphnis by [good] hap sat [him] downe vnder a whizzing holme,
And Corydon with Thyrsis droue their flocks all to one [place,]
Thyrsis his sheepe, & Corydon his gotes [well] stuft with milke,
Both flourishing in age [I meane both in their youthfull yeares]
Arcadians both, and equall [youths] to pipe [to play] and sing,
And redie [both] to answer [such as challeng'd them therein,]
Whiles I do fense my tender trees of myrtle from the cold,
The gote himselfe of all the flocke the husband and the man,
Came hither straieng downe, and I looke Daphnis full vpon
[To helpe me] and when he againe did see me, quicke he spake;
Come hither Melibey thy gote is safe, so are thy kids:
And if thou canst stay any whit [then] rest thee in the shade,
The bullocks they will hither come ouer the meads to drinke,
Here Mincius greene hath hid the banks with weake and tender reeds.
What should I do? I neither had [the wench] Alcippe by,
Nor Phyllis, who might haue shut vp at home [in house] my lambs
Put from their milk [weand from their dams] & Corydon had [in hand]
A great contention [and a match to trie] with Thyrsis [then:]
Yet did I lesse regard mine ear-nest businesse than their play,
Therefore they both began to striue with songs avy [by course:]
The muses would haue them record [their musicke] both by turns.
These Corydon in order, and those Thyrsis did rehearse.
Co.
O nymphs [named] Libethrides, our loue, grant vnto me
Such songs as to my Codrus [you vouchsaft to giue and graunt,]
He makes the very next [and like] to Phebus verses [fine]
Or if we cannot all make such] then shall our whistle shrill
[Our pipe whereon we play] be hangd here on this holy pine.
Th.
O shepheards you of Arcadie, with iuie decke your port,
That Codrus guts may bursten be, for very spite and enuy,
Or if he shall [this poet praise too much] beyond our liking,
Then compasse you my browes about with [flours of] ladies gloues,
Least euill toong should do me hurt, which shall a poet be.
21
O thou [Diana] Delia [calld] Micon the little youth
Doth giue to thee the head of this [same stiffe and] bristlie bore,
And branched horns of long liu'd stag if this may be mine owne.
Thou shalt stand whole of marble smooth, being braste about the legs
With buskins [braue] of purple hew [or colour plesant red.]
Th.
O Priap thou, it is enough for thee to looke [and haue
Of vs] a boll of milke, and yeare by yeare these [baked] cakes,
[Bicause] thou art the keeper of a poore [and simple] garden:
We haue thee now of marble made, according to the time,
But if so bee that bringing foorth of yoong ones doo increase
And fill our flocke [with store] then be thou [Priap] all of gold.
Cor.
O Galath [milke white] nimph & daugh-ter vnto Nereus too
More sweet and sauourie to me than hony of Hibla hill
More white than swans, more faire [and fine] than iuy [berries] white,
So soone as being fed the bulls shall home returne to stalls.
Then come thou too, if any care of Coridon possesse thee.
Th.
Nay rather let me seeme to thee more bitter than the herbs
That spring vp in Sardinia soile, more rough [and woorse to handle]
Than is [the shrub calld] butchers broome, more vile [& lesse esteemd]
Than weeds cast vp [to shore by sea] if that this [present] day,
Be not alredy longer than a whole yeare vnto me:
O bullockes fed enough, go home, if you haue any shame.
Cor.
O mossie springs and thou O grasse most soft to sleepe vpon,
And thou greene wilding tree which with a shadow thin doth hide you,
Keepe off from cattell summer heate, now scortching summer coms,
And buds swell now in branches ranke [of vine to bring foorth grapes.]
Th.
Heere is a herth & gummy wood, heer's fire good store alwaies,
The posts are blacke with daily soote: heere we as much doo care
For northerne winde, as doth the woolfe [take care] for count of sheepe,
O streaming flouds and riuers care for [washing of] their banks.
Cor.
The iunipers stand [full of frute] the chestnuts heary rough,
And vnder trees their scatred frute all sorts lie euery where,
Now all things laugh: but if Alex-is faire should from these hills
Depart and go, then shouldst thou see the riuers dried vp.
Th.
The field is dry [& parcht with heat,] the grasse a thirst is dieng,
Through fault of aire [corrupt] and Bachus he doth pine and grudge
The hills his branches bearing grapes: greene euery wood shall grow,
At comming of our Phillis, and sweet wholsome aire good store
Shall then come downe with merry shoures [of comfortable raine.]
Cor.
The Poplar is best pleasing tree to Alcide [Hercules]
The Uine to Bacchus, vnto faire Venus the myrtle tree,
22
Whiles Phillis loues them, neither shall the mirtle nor the bay
Of Phebus passe the hazell tree [in estimation.]
Th.
In woods the ash is fairest tree, in gar-dens [sweete] the pine,
In riuers [cleere] the poplar tree, in mounteines high the firr,
But Lycida faire [youth] if thou wouldst oftentimes me see,
The ash in woods, the pine in gar-dens shall giue place to thee.
Me.
I well remember these same songs [soong Corydon & Thyrse]
And Thirses being ouermatcht did striue but all in vaine:
Since that time Corydon thou art calld noble Corydon.
| The Bvcoliks of Pvblivs Virgilivs Maro | |