University of Virginia Library

CXVI
THE THIRD PASTORAL

Dametas, Menalcas, Palæmon
Menalcas
Tell me, Dametas! whose'n Sheep these are:
Do's Melibæus own them?

Dametas
No, my Care,
Ægon employs; if you wou'd understand
They're his late giv'n.

Menalcas
To an unhappy Hand;
For while he courts Næera, fearing she
Disdaining him, shou'd better think of me,
To bribe her Favour from his Master's Store;
Twice in an Hour he milks the Cattle o'er,
And thus he drains the Moisture from the Damms,
And of their Food defrauds the little Lambs.

Dametas
Yet softly thus to Elders; I know too,
Pert Youngster! Who did you now? what with you;
The rank He-Goats appear'd the Deed to blame,
Turning their Heads another way for Shame;
I noted well the sacred Place and Time,
But th' easy Nymphs by laughing pass'd the Crime.

Menalcas
'Twas when they saw this envious Hand of mine
Break Micon's Shoots, and cut his tender Vine.

Dametas
Or at th' old Beachen Trees, when you thought fit
To Daphnis here to set your manly Wit,
Whose broaken Bow and Shaft, your Malice show'd,
For when you saw them on the Boy bestowed,
You griev'd, and from that time a Grudge you ow'd,
And if your Spleen had not been satisfy'd,
E'er this Menalcas! You had surely dy'd.

Menalcas
What shall we Masters do, when Varlets we
Audacious find to such a high Degree?
Did I myself not see you: Thou, most vile!
(Lycisca, barking greatly all the while,)
Attempt a Goat of Damon's to betray,
And slily from the Flock to bear away?
And when I cry'd Ho! where now flies he to?
Tityrus! take care, observe your Cattle! you
Did close behind the Hedges sneaking lie.

Dametas
Pray can you tell me, strict Accuser! why,
When he in singing was by me out-done,
He shou'd not yield the Goat I fairly won?
The Goat you saw was mine (if you must know)
Damon himself confess'd it to be so,
But did deny he cou'd the Due bestow.

Menalcas
You him in singing! such a wond'rous Deed!
Was you e'er Master of a waxen Reed?
You Ignoramus! who on the high Ways
Did use to squander miserable Lays,
And with a tuneless Pipe and senseless Song
Suit the dull Fancy of the gaping Throng.

Dametas
Then will you that we present Trial make
Of both our Skills? This Heifer here I stake,
Lest you refuse, and think the Prize too mean;
Know in a Day, twice at the Pail she's seen,
Two Young besides she nurses, Stripling! say
What Wager now with me you chuse to lay?

Menalcas
As at this time my Circumstances are,
To wager from the Flock, I do not dare,
I have at home a Father, whom I fear,
And a Step-Mother that is too severe,
Twice in a Day, my Charge they numb'ring see,
Both the grown Cattle, and the young ones he,
But since the mad Man you're resolved to play,
What yourself shall worthier own, I'll lay
A Beachen Cup, with curious Carving grac'd,
By spreading Vines and Ivy 'round embrac'd,
Two Figures in the mid'st are neatly plac'd.
Conon and what's his Name? The Man that drew
The World and all its various People shew,
The Times when Harvest shou'd begin and end;
And when the Ploughman at his Task shou'd bend;
The Work Divine Alcim[e]don's: I keep
This up, as yet untouch'd by mortal Lip.

Dametas
And this Alcimedon, whom you have nam'd,
Two Cups for me has in like manner fram'd;
The Rims Acanthus twining do's embrace,
The middle Part Orpheus appears to grace,
And following Woods, the sweet Musician trace.
These too, like you, with Care I hidden keep,
Nor to their Edges yet have laid my Lip;
Nevertheless, you'll small occasion find
To praise the Cup, if you the Heifer mind.

Menalcas
No where shall you escape this live-long Day,
Where e'er you slip, I'll follow strait away;
Our Diff'rence now, let any fairly try;
Let any Man be judge who passes by.
See there Palæmon, from this time I shall
Teach your bold Tongue more humble Words to all.

Dametas
Come on Pretender! and your utmost try,
I'm ready, and the worst you can defy,
Nor ever do I any basely fly.
But, Friend Pal[æ]mon! ponder well withal
Our present Cause; the matter is not small.

Palæmon
Then let your Skill be mutually express'd,
While here upon the tender Grass we rest,
The Trees now bloom, and each delightful Field
Do's now its choicest Sights and Odours yield,
Leaves crown the Woods, and in its Beauty's Prime,
The Year now reigns; most lovely is the Time.
Begin Dametas! and Menalcas! you
Shall in alternate Strains his Steps pursue,
Alternate Verses please the Muses too.

Dametas
Be your first Off'ring, Oh ye Muses! Jove's,
Jove fills the World, and ev'rything improves;
He gives us Plenty, and my Verses loves.

Menalcas
And me his Favour bright Apollo shows,
His Gift the Laurel ever with me grows,
He the sweet ruddy Hyacinth bestows.

Dametas
A wanton Lass, brisk Galatea, me
With Fruit allures; then passes swiftly she
And hides; yet wishes that I first shou'd see.

Menalcas
But scarce from me will kind Amyntas go,
Who freely comes and haunts my Dwelling so,
That not our Dogs, now Delia better know.

Dametas
My Venus soon shall have a Gift; for I
Lately a Pidgeon's Nest observ'd on high,
I mark'd the Place, and have it in my Eye.

Menalcas
Ten Wildings I have sent my lovely Friend,
'Twas what I cou'd; yet further I intend,
Ten more to morrow carefully to send.

Dametas
How oft has Galatea bless'd my Ear?
What has she say'd? ye gentle Breezes! bear
Some Part to Heav'n, that all the Gods may hear!

Menalcas
Small is thy valu'd Kindness in this Case
Amyntas! while the savage Boar you chace,
I hold the Nets, nor view thy comely Face.

Dametas
Hither (for this is my Birth's joyful Day)
Send Phillis, Jolas! and when I slay
A Heifer for my Fruits, come thou thyself away.

Menalcas
Of all my Loves, fair Phillis is the Head,
She Tears at my Departure kindly shed,
And oh! a long Farewell fair Jolas! she said.

Dametas
To Folds the Wolf, winds to tender Tree,
Show'rs to ripe Fruits most dreadful ever be,
And Amaryllis when inrag'd to me.

Menalcas
The Moisture's lov'd by Grain that's newly sown
Wean'd Kids to Shrubs, young are to Sallows prone,
Amyntas is my Choice, and he alone.

Dametas
Pollio the Ditties of my rural Reed,
My Verse tho' humble condescends to heed,
A Heifer Muses! for your Reader feed.

Menalcas
And Verses freely flow from Pollio's Hand,
Pollio himself the Muses do's command:
Feed a fierce Bull that butts and spurns the Sand.

Dametas
Whom Pollio loves, may he all Pleasures know,
Each where to him, let plenteous Honey flow,
And prickly Thorns, Arabian Sweets bestow.

Menalcas
Who Ticko's empty Verse imagin's fine;
Oh lib'ral Maurus! may be pleas'd with thine,
The same may milk He-Goats and Foxes joyn.

Dametas
Ho, ye rash Boys! who here so heedless pry;
For Strawberries and Flow'rs hence quickly fly,
Lo! a fell Snake hid in the Grass do's lie.

Menalcas
My Sheep! forbear approaching, I advise,
Who comes too near the Bark, not safely try's;
For see the Ram his Fleece this instant dry's.

Dametas
My Goats, oh Tityrus! from the River bring,
When Time shall make it a convenient Thing,
I'll wash them all in yonder Chrystal Spring.

Menalcas
Boys! drive the Sheep to some protecting Shade,
Lest, for their Milk, vain Trial shou'd be made;
(Dry'd up thro' Heat) and we as late betray'd.

Dametas
How lean a Bull in a fat Field I view?
This Love, alas! do's mortal Things undo,
Ruins the Herd, the wretched Herdsman too.

Menalcas
These tender Lambs! their Misery ne'er sprung
From Love, their Skins scarce on the Bones are hung,
What evil Eye has thus bewitch'd my Young.

Dametas
Say in what Land the Heav'ns open lye
Three Ells alone? (to the observing Eye,)
And for thy Skill with great Apollo vye.

Menalcas
Say in what Land? if thou hast found declare,
Where growing Flow'rs the Names of Monarchs wear,
And from all Rivals lovely Phillis bear.

Palæmon
Me for a Judge, but illy you provide
A Cause of so great Moment to decide,
The Heifer both deserve, and all who fear
A Love that's kind, or prove a too severe;
Now let the River's running be restrain'd
Enough, my Boys! this time the Meads have gain'd.