Drew many a laughing lout, who heard and saw
Thy squeaking scrannel reed of wretched straw!
LAC. No-Lycon gave me a melodious flute!
But could I steal a goatskin from a brute?
Thy master's limbs on no soft skin recline:
Sure, such a luxury was never thine. [note,

COM. Yes! 'twas the speckled one, of special My neighbour gave me, when he kill'd the goat! Thou knowst the time: for then thy envious eyes Glanced theft; and now, thy hands have stolen the prize!

LAC. By Pan 'tis false-by Pan who guards our
Or
may I never be call'd Lacon more! [shore-
Or into Crathis' streams that roll so deep,
In madness may I plunge from yonder steep!
COм. And by the Nymphs, the Fountain
Nymphs, I swear,

In yonder fane propitious to my prayer;
Comates never stole a flute of thine-

LAC. If I believe, may Daphnis' woes be mine! Nought's sacred!' Yet, since thus thy tongue defies,

Stake down a kid; I warrant, I've the prize! COM.Minerva's sow!' Of wrangling to get rid,

If thou wilt stake a lamb, I lay a kid.

[deep!

LAC. Hah! shrewd Comates! thy proposal's But who e'er shear'd a goatling for a sheep? In vain might such a flam a booby bilk― Who ever left a goat, a bitch to milk?

COм. He, who the prize, like thee, would vainly

grasp

To the cicada shrill, a humming wasp.

But if a kidling be no equal stake,

That full-grown goat, that browses yonder, take!

LAC. Yet why such haste? Beneath the friendly Of this wild olive tree that skirts the glade, [shade While there the cooling stream glides soft along, May breathe, in sweeter tones, thy boasted song, Here grassy beds-here tender herbage springsHere, perch'd on high, the noonday locust sings.

COм. I'm not in haste-but feel it a disgrace, That such a lout confronts me face to face! That he, whom yet a boy I taught, should dare With rivalry repay his master's care.

Thus train'd and fed, the favour to requite,
A wolf will eat thee, and a dog will bite!

LAC. But tell me, caitiff, when wert thou so kind? For not one ditty I recall to mind.

Yet, boaster! since thy tongue can run so fast, Come to the grove along, and sing thy last.

COM. No-swain: here flourish oaks-herę rushes thrive

Here sweetly buzz the bees round many a hive; Here two fresh fountains cool the heats of day, And prattling birds enliven every spray!

Here, while thy bowers a slighter umbrage own, The clustering pine tree scatters many a cone.

LAC. Here, on the fleeces of the lambkin, spread Softer than sleep, thy easy steps shall tread! But for thy goatskins laid on yonder bank, Not e'en their goatherd master smells so rank. Here, to the Nymphs, be mine the pleasing toil To crown one bowl of milk, and one of oil.

COм. No come with me for here the fern

shall meet,

With the horn'd poppy's tender flower, thy feet;
While my kid-carpet's softer far than thine,
Of milk I'll crown eight goblets, for the shrine

Of Pan; and heap'd delicious to the brim,
In eight straw hives shall combs of honey swim.
LAC. Then to thy oaken umbrage let's away-
But who shall judge the merits of our lay?
I wish Lycopas with his herds were near;
He, sure, would listen with impartial ear.

COм. No need: thy master's woodman, if thou Who cleaves the billets on yon forest hill, [will,

Will judge.

LAC.

COM.

LAC.

Agreed

Then call him

Hither, friend!

The umpire of our rural songs, attend:

But hear, good Morson, let no favour guide,
And lean not partial on Comates' side.

COM. Yes-by the Nymphs, be sure determine

true

Nor give that Lacon more than Lacon's due.
Of Sybaris, I tend Eumaras' goats-

He drives Sybarta's sheep from Thurian cotes.

LAC. By Jove, the fellow hath a flippant tongue; Who ask'st thee, pray, to whom these flocks belong?

COM. Hark'e I do not vainly boast, forsooth; Nor rail, but tell each tittle of the truth.

LAC. Come sing then (if thou canst),contentious Let but thy umpire reach alive the town. [clown, COм. The Nine, to whom two kids in sacrifice I gave, my ditties above Daphnis' prize.

LAC. Loved by Apollo,who my stores increased, A goodly ram I fatten for the feast. [maid COм. My goats with twins I milk: a tittering Pass'd by; and Ah! dost milk, thyself?' she said.

LAC. Pheugh! Twenty vats with cheese can
Lacon fill!

And taste, on flowers, soft pleasures at his will.
COм. Oft Clearista pelts with apples crisp
Her swain; and, in a whisper loves to lisp.

LAC. Oh how I tremble as I meet my fair! While o'er her bosom streams her wanton hair. COм. But who compares the sweetbriar's

meaner bush,

Or the light pass-flower, with the rose's blush? LAC. Who says, the oak's rough acorn ever grew Bright as the glossy chesnut's honied hue?

COм. I have a gentle ringdove for my fair, In yonder juniper: her nest is there!

LAC. For a soft raiment I'll present my dear A violet-colour'd fleece when next I shear. COм. Off from the wilding olive, goats here browse [boughs. Where spreads the tamarisk, o'er the slope, its LAC. Ho-Conarus-Cymatha-from the

shade

Of that dim oak; and crop this eastern glade. COм. For her, whose love inspires my tuneful tale,

I have a rich-wrought bowl, and cypress pail. LAC. For my sweet shepherdess a dog I keep— To guard from prowling wolves her frisky sheep. COм. Ye crowding locusts! from my vineyard [fence.

henceTouch not these nursling shoots-nor pass the LAC. Cicadas! see the goatherd's ill at ease; The reapers thus, with shrill-toned voice, ye tease. COм. I hate the brush-tail foxes, that escape From Micon's vineyard stealing many a grape.

LAC. And I the wheeling beetles, that scarce Philonda's luscious figs, to drone at eve. [leave COM. Dost recollect, when, gnashing at each stroke,

I lash'd, and made thee cling to yonder oak? LAC. No-but remember, when I saw thee

bound

fills

To that same tree, and anguish'd stamp the ground. COM.See-see-the wincing ape—what choler [squills. Go, fool-and from the gray tomb pluck the LAC. Hah! but a smarter sting can some one To Hales, fool; and dig my lady's seal. [feelCOM. Be Himera milk; and rosy Crathis blush All wine with fruit on every bending rush!

LAC. Be Sybaris honey; and our girl with urn Dipp'd into luscious sweets, at dawn, return!

COм. My goats eat cytisus; o'er lentisk tread, And strawberries compose their shrubby bed! LAC. My sheep stray sportive, where the thymeflower blows

And ivy flaunts, the rival of the rose!

COM. Lovely no more Alcippe's form appears— She kiss'd not for my dove, or press'd my ears. LAC. But I my sweetheart love! the wink she tips

Sighs for a kiss-and sweetly pouts her lips. COм. But stop thy wretched pipe, vexatious Nor idly rival a superior strain : [swain, Thus with the stately swan might lapwings vieOr with the nightingale the screaming pie.

MOR. Cease, shepherd, cease; Comates wins

the prize

Nor thou forget me at thy sacrifice!—

D