 | The Shepherd's Garden |  |
99
THE STRIFE.
In happy ease, down in a pleasant vale,
Where nibbling sheep bestrewed the neighbouring plain,
Beside a gurgling brook, whose undersong
Lulled all the woodland to a still repose,
Two shepherds sat, and played upon their pipes,
And sang by turns in friendly strife; and one
Would give an oaken cup with nymph and faun
And rustic revel carven, one a kid
New washed and white as snow on Ida's top,
To him who should be victor. On a staff
The old Menalcas leaned and smiled, his beard
Flowing in ample grey about his breast:
He umpire chosen. Thus the shepherds sang.
Thyrsis.
Where nibbling sheep bestrewed the neighbouring plain,
Beside a gurgling brook, whose undersong
Lulled all the woodland to a still repose,
Two shepherds sat, and played upon their pipes,
And sang by turns in friendly strife; and one
Would give an oaken cup with nymph and faun
And rustic revel carven, one a kid
New washed and white as snow on Ida's top,
To him who should be victor. On a staff
The old Menalcas leaned and smiled, his beard
Flowing in ample grey about his breast:
He umpire chosen. Thus the shepherds sang.
My mistress is so fair, I swear her face
Might make a mirror for the eyes of morn.
Might make a mirror for the eyes of morn.
Amyntas.
My mistress queens it with so royal grace,
That royalty itself is left forlorn.
That royalty itself is left forlorn.
Thyrsis.
Such odours linger round Lucilla's cot,
Would rob the breath of any rose that blooms.
Would rob the breath of any rose that blooms.
100
Olympia's lilies every fair would blot,
And blow a garden in the dust of tombs.
And blow a garden in the dust of tombs.
Thyrsis.
Lucilla smiles, and all the world is gay,
And every bird doth praise her on the tree.
And every bird doth praise her on the tree.
Amyntas.
Olympia's wiles chase every care away,
And where she dwells is happiness to be.
And where she dwells is happiness to be.
Thyrsis.
Lucilla's beauty shines so eminent,
The moon grows dim within the midnight sky.
The moon grows dim within the midnight sky.
Amyntas.
Olympia's glance so lights the firmament
The sun is fain to hide, eclipsed thereby.
The sun is fain to hide, eclipsed thereby.
Thyrsis.
Rejoice, my flock, and frisk it o'er the lea:
There is no joy like this the summer yields.
There is no joy like this the summer yields.
Amyntas.
Leap, little lambs, and show ye merry be,
Whilst Flora sows her casket on the fields.
Whilst Flora sows her casket on the fields.
101
Run, rivers; fountains fall, and streams be glad:
Now is the season of our prime delight.
Now is the season of our prime delight.
Amyntas.
Blow wind and clash the leaves: no heart is sad
Which these green hills do shut from worldly spite.
Which these green hills do shut from worldly spite.
Thyrsis.
This is the crown of life, to sit and sing
Amongst the meadows when the day is fair.
Amongst the meadows when the day is fair.
Amyntas.
Shout, jolly shepherd: hark, the blackbird sing
His song to make us blithe and free from care!
His song to make us blithe and free from care!
And then they ceased. But old Menalcas said
Such proof is this, I know not which is best:
So you shall give the cup, and you the kid;
And both content shall lead their flocks to fold:
For now fair Venus sets her star afront,
And weary Apollo scarcely sits his wain
For very heaviness; and only stays
To say good-night and go: so let us go;
And when cool hours have dewed our lids with sleep,
Awake the morrow with as sweet a song.
Such proof is this, I know not which is best:
So you shall give the cup, and you the kid;
And both content shall lead their flocks to fold:
For now fair Venus sets her star afront,
And weary Apollo scarcely sits his wain
For very heaviness; and only stays
To say good-night and go: so let us go;
And when cool hours have dewed our lids with sleep,
Awake the morrow with as sweet a song.
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