i.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in

2011 with funding from

University of Toronto

http://www.archive.org/details/greekbucolicpoOOtheo

THE

NEW GREEK COMEDY

LEGRAND
by JAMES LOEB,

By Ph.
Translated

E.

A.B.

With an Introduction by

,JOHN

WILLIAMS WHITE,
In one Volume.

Ph.D., LL.D.

15s. net.

ARISTOPHANES
AND THE POLITICAL PARTIES AT ATHENS
By

MAURICE CR0I8ET
JxlMES LOEB,

Translated by
In one Volume.

Demy

8vo.

A.B.

7s. 6(1. net.

EURIPIDES
AND THE SPIRIT OF HIS DRAMAS
PAUL DECHARME
by JAMES LOEB, A.B.

By PROFESSOR
Translated

In one Volume.

12s. 6cl. net.

LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN.

THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY

EDITED BY
E.

CAPPS, Ph.D., LL.D.

T. E.

PAGE,

Litt.D.

W. H, D. ROUSE, Lrrr.D.

THE GREEK BUCOLIC POETS

THE GREEK
BUCOLIC POETS
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY

EDMONDS

J. M.
FELLOW OF JESUS COLLEGE, CAMBBIDOK

LONDON

NEW YORK

WILLIAM HEINEMANN
:

G.

P.

PUTNAM'S SONS

MCMXVI

'

-^^

OF Mfc;,

NOV

-8

1940

U732
First printed 1912

Reprinted

May

1916

-X

"

PREFACE
The translator wishes to record his indebtedness
to many predecessors^ from the author of the Sixe
Idillia to

the late

also due,

among

for allowing

him

Andrew Lang.

other friends, to Mr. A.

S. F.

Gow

access to the unpublished results of

his investigations into the

^^

and the Pattern-Poems.

24,

His thanks are

Halifax Road, Cambridge.

8 October, 1912.

Bucolic

Masquerade

CONTENTS
PAGE
V

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION

ix

BIBLIOGRAPHY

XXVii

INTRODUCTORY POEMS

THEOCRITUS I-XXX

Inscriptions

363

.......

383

BiON

MOSCHUS

419

Megara

463

The Dead Adonis

477

THE PATTERN-POEMS

485

INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

513

v:ii

PA
444;i
.A

7.

Au/JO

5ri

(TOL

Koi

KiBdpa

Aeiirerai

ws Kara

Ka\ ad Kar^ aypovs rots yofievai crvpiy^ av ris

tt6\lv

xP'hf^^h^'

ett}.

Plato, Republic 399 d.

viii

INTRODUCTION
I.

The

The Life

of Theocritus

external evidence for the

life

of Theocritus

Beyond a brief statement in

scanty enough.
IS
Suidas^ a casual phrase in Choeroboscus^ the epigram
"AXAos 6 Xtos, and a

we have

Ovid^

comment upon

a passage of

only a few short and not always con-

commentaries which are contained

His poems tell us plainly that
he was a native of Syracuse^ and was familiar also
with the districts of Croton and Thurii in Italy, with
the island of Cos, with Miletus, and with Alexandria,
and that he wrote certain of his works about the
The inscriptwelfth year of Ptolemy Philadelphus.
tions he composed for the statues of Gods and poets
connect him, or at least his fame, also with Teos,
The rest and that
Faros, Ephesus, and Camirus.
means much of the following account is conjecture.
His parents were Praxagoras and Philinna, both
possibly of Coan birth or extraction.
His early manhood was spent in the Aegean. He seems to have
studied medicine^^ probably at Samos, under the
sistent notes in the

in the manuscripts.

to XI read irpocrdLaXeyeTai 6 0. larpc^

rh yepos, ^ (mss hs, 6) (Tvju<Polttjt^s yey ouev
^EpaciarpciTov larphs S:i' Kal avrhs (mss larpou ovros koX
avrov)
otherwise both aw- and koX avr. are unintelligible.
^

In the

NikIo,

Argument

Mi\T](Tlcf}

ix

INTRODUCTION
famous physician Erasistratus, along with the Milesian
Nicias to whom he dedicates the Cyclops and the
Theocritus is also said to have been a pupil
Hylas.
of the Samian poet Asclepiades, whose epigrams we
know in the Anthology. He certainly spent some
years at Cos, sitting at the feet of the great poet and
Philitas,

critic

who numbered among

pupils

his

Zenodotus the grammarian, Hermesianax the elegist,

and the young man who was afterwards Ptolemy II.
This happy period of our author's life is almost certainly recalled in a

Harvest-home.
283.

Ten

poem

written at a later time, the

Philitas probably died about the year

years later

we

find Theocritus at Syracuse,

seeking the favour of the young

officer

who

in

274

had been elected general-in-chief after the troubles

be known as
Hiero II. The poem we know as Charites or The
Graces probably appeared as epistle-dedicatory to a
collection of poems, Charites being really the title of

of Pyrrhus' regime and was soon to

Such fancy titles were the fashion

Alexander of Aetolia, for instance, pubof the day.
lished a collection called The Muses
the ^^ nightingales*' of Callimachus' famous little poem on Heracthe whole book.^

leitus are

best explained as

poems

the

name

of his old

and Aratus published a

collection actually called by this name, for Helladius*'^

friend's collected

The

scholion

on ^/xerepas

x^P^"""^^

(^'

^)

i^

'''^

olKcia

The phrase a-iropdoes Trona in Artemidorus' introductory poem does not, of course, necessarily imply that
hitherto each poem of the three authors had existed separ-

TToi^fxara.

ately.
14, cf.

There were no magazines.

532 a 36.

ap. Phot. Bibl. p

531 h

INTRODUCTION
writes

^^

As Aratus

says in the

first

of his Charites/'

Whether Theocritus' Httle book

extant poems we cannot say.
of
the
any
contained
the
It very possibly contained the Cyclops and
it
may
title
be
judged to have
Beloved, and from the
One biocomprised no more than three pieces.
graphical point should be noted here
Theocritus
was newly come to Syracuse. We gather from the
Charites that Hiero was by no means the first great
man to whom Theocritus had gone for patronage,
and it is to be remarked that the poet ascribes the
indifference with which he had hitiierto been received,
iv XaptTO)!/ irp^rr).

not to the disturbed state of the country, but to the

commercial

spirit of

the age.

There were no doubt

other possible patrons than Hiero in Sicily, but peace

and tranquillity had not been known there for many

The same argument may be used to show
that his sojourn in Magna Graecia was not during
the decade preceding the publication of the Chantes.
years.

The poem apparently

failed like its predecessors

like his own Aeschinas, was fain to

go overseas and seek his fortune at Alexandria.^
The voyage to Egypt lay by way of the southern
Aegean, and we are credibly informed that he now
He doubtless had many
spent some time at Cos.
old friends to see.
was
probably
It
on this voyage
that he wrote the Distaff, to accompany the gift he
was taking from Syracuse to the wife of his old friend
for Theocritus,

Beloch and others put the Ptolemy before the Charites

when the latter was written Hiero cannot have been
king.
See the introduction to t]ie poem.
1

but

xi

INTRODUCTION
Nicias^

The

who was now

Cyclops

is

settled in practice at Miletus.

generally regarded as a consolation

addressed to the lovesick Nicias.

If this

is

true^ it

would follow on this placing of the Distaff that the

Cyclops was written before the Charites for it implies
that Nicias^ to whom it was doubtless sent as a letter^
was then unmarried. The probable age of the two
friends in 273 points^ as we shall see^ the same way.
If on the other hand we may regard the Cyclops as
an outpouring of soul on the part of the lovesick
Theocritus^ the author likening himself^ and not
all that has
Nicias, to Polyphemus, the two lines
^
been preserved of Nicias' reply may be interpreted with more point '^ Love has, it seems, made
you a poet," a compliment upon the first serious
piece of work of his friend's that he had seen.
This
;

interpretation puts

the

long

Cyclops

before the

independently of the dating of the Distaff.

In any case, the Cyclops is certainly an early poem.
Charites,

The same

visit to Nicias

may have been

the occasion

of the eighth epigram, an inscription for the base of

the

new

statue of Asclepius with which the doctor

had adorned

his

consulting-room.

We may

well

imagine that Nicias employed his friend in order to

put a little money in his pocket for his own epigrams in the Anthology show clearly that he could
have written an excellent inscription himself.
The Love of Cynisca, with its hint of autobiography
;

^v

ap' aKr}6S rovro, QeoKpir^' ol

I5i5a|aj' rovs

xii

'jvplf

oLfxavaovs.

yap

''Epccres

ttoKXovs Tron^Tccs

INTRODUCTION
and

its

was
There

friendly flattery of Philadelphus,

probability written about this time.

in all

is no
Ftolemy
approximate
dates
of
the
and
doubt as to the
the Women at the Adonis Festival. They must both
have been written at Alexandria between the king's
marriage with his sister Arsinoe this took place
sometime between 278 and 273 and her death in
The Ptolemy cannot be much later than 273
270.

clear that the Syrian

for it

is

days^

and

At

this

question

war was

in its early

began in 274.
point it becomes necessary to discuss a

this

great

of

importance

not

only

to

the

biographer of Theocritus but to the historian of the

Pastoral.

Does

persons

The scene

the

Harvest-home deal with

real

We

have

of the

poem

is

Cos.

the characters Simichidas and Lycidas and the

dumb

the two songs

characters Eucritus and Amyntas
mention in connexion with one or other of these
persons Ageanax^ Tityrus^ Aratus^ Aristis^ Philinus^
and two unnamed shepherds of Acharnae and
in another part of the poem
Lycope
though
these are not necessarily to be reckoned as friends of
the others we have Philitas^ and Sicelidas of Samos.
Of these^ Philitas certainly, and Aratus possibly^ are
the well-known poets Philinus may or may not be
the Coan Philinus who won at Olympia in 264 and
260 and who is probably the Philinus of the Spell',
Aristis is a clip-form of some compound
like
Aristodamus Amyntas is also called Amyntichus.
;

The

Tityrus^ to

whom^

in the guise of a goatherd^

7

xiii

INTRODUCTION
Theocritus dedicates the Serenade,

is

almost certainlj

a real person^, and as certainly^ Tityrus was not his

name

real

same

Tityrus here

person.

Sicelidas^

may
on

or

may

external

not be the
grounds^

is

certainly to be identified with the poet Asclepiades

it is

to be noted that he

than in Theocritus

is

called Sicelidas elsewhere

but he and Philitas are in a

sense outside this discussion.

Lastly,

Amyntas bears

We know

Ptolemy Philadelphus to
have been taught by Philitas and though his father
was reputed the son of Lagus, the Macedonians were
proud to believe him to be actually the son of Philip
of Macedon, whose father was Amyntas.
It is
generally thought that Philitas went to Philadelphus
but in view both of the climate of Egypt and of the
great probability that from 301 Cos was a vassal
either of Ptolemy I or of his son-in-law Lysimachus,
it is at least as likely that Philadelphus went to
Philitas.
Cos, moreover, was Philadelphus' birtlia royal name.

place.i

were the only facts before us, sufficient

for there is
evidence would be still to seek
unfortunately some doubt as to the identity of
But there are other considerations which,
Aratus.
taken with these, bring us near to certainty. If
If these

Lycidas

upon

is

his

not a real person,

characteristic

why

does the poet

insist

laugh, and emphasise the

^ It is worth noting here that Vergil in his Bucolics uses

the royal Macedonian name lollas. Did Theocritus in a lost
poem use this for some great Macedonian of the family of

Antipater

xiv

INTRODUCTION
excellence of his pastoral get-up
person,,

real

why

is

not

x\ristis'

is

not a

he so carefully described^ and

what business has he in the

lovC;,

If Aristis

poem

knowledge of

it^

Lastly^ there

to the narrative.
the scholia that the narrator

is

It is Aratus'

that

is

is

important

the tradition of

either Theocritus or

one of his friends^ of which alternatives the former

is

come

to

The conclusion we must

more probable.

far the
is

that

we

are dealing througliout with real

whom

have their ordinary names

and others not. This does not mean^ of course^ that
were invented for the occasion
the ^^ other-names
by the poet. Rather should they be considered petnames by which these persons were known to their
There can be no certain identification.
friends.

persons^

some

of

'

'

further question arises.

Whence

did Theocritus

derive the notion of staging himself and his friends

herdsmen ? The answer is not far to seek. First,

the Greek mind associated poetry directly with
music and secondly^ Greek herdsmen were then^ as
they are stilly players and singers. The poets of his
day^ some of whom dealt like him with country life,
would naturally appear^ to a country-loving poet like

as

Theocritus, the literary counterparts, so to speak, of

the herdsmen, and their poetry in some sense the

art-form of the herdsman's folk-music.
It is not
perhaps without ulterior motive that Lycidas the

poet-goatherd

Comatas
combined

the

is

made

to

claim

fellowship with

The accident that

with the use of pet-names in

goatherd-poet.

this staging

XV


iNTRODUCTIOISi
this

poem^

is

responsible^ through Vergil's imitations^

modern notion

for the

of the Pastoral.

Let us now return to the

is

life

of Theocritus.

generally believed^ the Harvest-hojne

is

If,

as

autobio-

was vv^ritten after the author had won

some measure of fame he makes himself say that
he is
no match yet awhile for the excellent Sice"
^^
lidas
strutting cocks
, and the passage about the
of the Muses' yard " is a reference to ApoUonius of
Rhodes and his famous controversy with Callimachus^
graphical^

it

'^^

who

Theocritus declaring his allegiance to the latter^

maintained that the long epic poem was out of date.

This controversy in all probability began upon the
publication of the

The

iiautica.

but

it

first

edition of ApoUonius' Argo-

date of this

is

unfortunately disputed,

can hardly have been earlier than 260.

further shred of biography

may perhaps be

derived

from a consideration of the story of Comatas in

tion to the cruel death of Sotades.^

outspoken

poet

denounced

Ptolemy's

marriage, and was thrown into prison.

guishing there for a long time he

rela-

This brave
incestuous

After lan-

made good

escape, but falling eventually into the hands of

admiral of the Egyptian

vessel

and drowned

fleet,

was shut up

his

an

in a leaden

in the sea. This strange

method

One is
some explanation.
tempted to think that Sotades was a friend of Theohe was a writer of love-poems of the type of
critus
XII, XXIX, and XXX, and that after his friend
of execution calls

for

xvi

Plut. de Puer. Educ. 15, Athen. 14. 621.

INTRODUCTION
had been some years in prison Theocritus wrote the
Harvest-home, hinting that Sotades had suffered long

enough^ and sheltering himself under a reminder of

his own early acquaintance with the king and a
declaration of his allegiance to the great court-poet
Callimachus.

may

On

the unfortunate man's escape^

we

imagine^ the story of the frustration of the my-

thical king's cruel purpose

to the

situation

became

the phrase

directly applicable

KaKOLo-tv aTaa-OaXiaicnv

now genuine censure and the particle

sarcasm and when the admiral sent word

aVaKTos was
6rjv

real

of the recapture^ Ptolemy with a grim irony ordered

that the modern Comatas should be shut up in a
modern chest and put beyond reach of the assistance
Here again we can arrive at no date.
of the bees.
All we know is that Sotades' offence must have been
committed about 275 and that he lay a long time in
prison.

We

do not know for certain where Theocritus

Perhaps after the protest
spent the rest of his life.
of the Harvest-home and its tragic sequel he found it
prudent to retire from Alexandria. But whether he
now left Egypt or not^ it is more than probable that
he spent some time during his later years in Cos.
There was close intercourse during this period between Cos and Alexandria, and if he did not make
the island his home, he may well have paid long

summer
are

visits there.

Besides the Hai^vest-home, there

two certainly Coan poems, the Thyrsis and the

and these would seem to belong rather to this

Spell,

xvij

INTRODUCTION
than to an earlier period. Apart altogether from the
question of actual impersonation, it is impossible to

when speaking

the conclusion that

resist

of the

and the song he sang at Cos, Theocritus had himself at the back of his mind, and that
when he wrote of Thyrsis' victory over the Libyan,
he was thinking of some contest of his own perhaps
one of the Dionysiac contests mentioned in the
Sicilian Thyrsis

Ptolemy

with

And

Callimachus of Cyrene.

it

can

hardly be a mere coincidence that in the Spell Theo-

makes the athlete boast of having ^^ outrun the

fair Philinus,'' and that a Coan named Philinus won
it is only reasonable to
at Olympia in 264 and 260

critus

suppose that Theocritus wrote these words

Philinus' name was on every Coan lip.

when

Except that in XXX the poet speaks of the first

appearance of grey hairs upon his head, and that in
the Beloved the comparison of the maid to the thrice-

wed
wed

wife,

which could not

fail

to offend the thrice-

Arsinoe, must have been written before the

author's sojourn at Alexandria, there

indicate to

what period of

is

his life the

nothing to
remaining

poems belong.

The
us that

list

we

of Theocritus' works given by Suidas tells

possess by no

means

all

of the works once

His Bucolic Poems, Ittt] or 8pa/xara

were in the time of Suidas, or rather of the
writers upon whom he drew, his chief title to fame.
Of the Epigrams or Inscriptions we have some, if not
ascribed to him.

/SovKoXiKCL

all,

known

xviii

as his in antiquity.

The Hymns

are

now

INTRODUCTION
by

represented

the

Berenice fragment^

Ptolemy,

the

and perhaps the

the

Dioscuri,
Charites.

The

Poems must have included the Distaff and

and XXX^ and perhaps also the Beloved and
The books known as Elegies,
the Epithalamy.
Iambics, Funeral Laments, and The Heroines, and the
perhaps
single poem called The Daughters of Proetus
Lyric

XXIX

known
It

is

to Vergil^

all

these are lost without a trace.

strange that Suidas'

list

apparently omits

all

mention of the non-pastoral mimes^ the Love of

Cynisca, tlie Spell, and the Women at the Adonis
Festival, and of the little epics Hylas and The Little
Heracles.
The Spell may have been included among
the Lyric Poems^ its claim to be so classed lying in
the peculiar way in which_, though it is a personal
narrative^ the refrain is used throughout as if it were
VVe may perhaps guess that the four other
a song.
poems belonged to the remaining book of Suidas'
list;,
the Hopes,'^ and that this was a collection
published by Theocritus soon after his arrival in
Egypt^ with the Love of Cynisca standing first as a
sort of dedication to his friend Ptolemy and echoing
the

title's

veiled request for his patronage.

The name
Theocritus^

ctSvXXta^ idyls^ as applied to

is

the poems of

certainly as old as the commentaries

which accompany the text^ and some of these probably go back to the first century before Christ.
It was known to Pliny the Younger as a collective
^

book

of the

same

title

is

ascribed by Suidas

to

Callimachus.

xix

INTRODUCTION
title for

a volume of short poems

there

is

a collection

name among the works of Ausonius.

was apparently unknown as the title of

bearing this

But

it

poems
The meaning of it

Theocritus'

to Suidas and
is

^^

little

his

poems."

predecessors.

We

are told

Odes were known as cL^rj,

and Suidas uses the same word in describing the
works of Sotades. There is no warrant for the
that

Pindar's Epinician

interpretation

'^^

little

pictures."

we may accept the identification of the ^^ pretty

little Amyntas " with Philadelphus^ we can get a very
If

close approximation to the date of Theocritus' birth.

born in 309.
At the time
described in the Harvest-home he is obviously about
In the same poem Theocritus has already
fifteen.
Philadelphus

was

something of a reputation^ but is still a

We shall not be far wrong if we put
his age at twenty-two or three.
He was born then
about the year 316, and when he wrote the Charites
he was about forty-three. This would suit admirably
the autobiographical hint in the Love of Cynisca that
the poet's hair at the time of writing was just
beginning to go ^I'^y. If the Berenice of the
fragment preserved by Athenaeus is the wife, not of
Soter, but of Euergetes, it would follow that
Theocritus was at the Alexandrian court in his
It is at any rate certain that he
seventieth year.
attained

young man.

did not

die

young

for

Statins

senex?1

XX

Silv. 5. 3. 151.

calls

him

Siculus

INTRODUCTION

scholiast

on Ovid's

Ibis

1.

519

Utve Syracosio praestrida jauce poetae.

Sic animae laqueo
tells

us that this

who was

is

arrested

^'

sit

via clausa tuae,

the Syracusan poet Theocritus^

by king Hiero

for

making an

attack upon his son^ the king's object being merely

he was going to be put to

But when Hiero asked him if he would
death.
avoid abusing his son in future^ he began to abuse
him all the more, and not only the son but the
father too. Whereat the king in indignation ordered
him to be put to death in real earnest, and according
to some authorities he w^as strangled and according
There is nothing improbable
to others beheaded.
When Theocritus was sixty-five
in this story.
Hiero' s son Gelo would be nineteen we know of no
other Syracusan poet who met such a fate and
Antigonus' treatment of Theocritus of Chios and
Ptolemy's of Sotades show how the most enlightened rulers of the day could deal with adverse
But whether we believe it or no, the
criticism.
to

make him

tliink that

'*

story

is

evidence for a tradition that Theocritus' last

and we may well imagine

that he died at Syracuse, that birthplace, as he calls
it, of good men and true, where his fellow-citizens
days were spent in Sicily

long afterwards

pointed

out

to

the collector of

inscriptions the statue of his great forerunner Epi-

charmus, and the words which he once wrote for its

base, little thinking perhaps that the time would
xxi


INTRODUCTION
come when his eulogy would apply as truly to
^^ They that
have their habitation in the
most mighty city of Syracuse have set him up here^
as became fellow -townsmen^ in bronze in the stead
of the fleshy and thus have remembered to pay him
himself

his

wages

builded

for

for

the great heap of words he hath

many

are the things he hath told their

children profitable unto

He

life.

hath their hearty

thanks."

The Life

II.

The evidence

of Moschus

for the life of

Moschus

is

contained

Suidas and a note appended to the

Rwimvay Love in the Anthology. These tell us that
in a notice in

he was of Syracuse^ a grammarian and a pupil of

Aristarchus^ and that he was accounted the second
Aristarchus taught
Bucolic poet after Theocritus.
from
180
about
to
144.
Alexandria
The year
at
150 will then be about the middle of Moschus'
He is almost certainly to be identified with the
life.
Moschus who is mentioned by Athenaeus as the
author of a work on the Rhodian dialect^ in which
he explained that X^iraaTrj was an earthenware vessel
like those called Trrw/iartSes but wider in the mouth.
None of Moschus' extant works are really Bucolic
for the Lament for Bion is certainly by another hand.
;

III.

we know

The Life

of Bion

of Bion is gathered from references

and Diogenes Laertius_, from the abovementioned note in the Anthology^ and from the poem

All

in Suidas

xxii

INTRODUCTION
upon

his

death written by a pupil

who was

a native of

Magna Graecia. The third of the Bucolic poets, as he

was apparently reckoned in antiquity, was born at a
little place called Phlossa near Smyrna. His pupil calls
his poetry Dorian and connects him with Syracuse
and the Muses of Sicily. But this may be no more
biographical than his phrase " Bion the neatherd."
According to his pupil he was the leading Bucolic
poet of his day, and it is unfortunate that most of
the poems that have come down to us under his
name/ though all quoted as extracts from his
It is noteBucolica, are really not pastorals at all.
worthy that Diogenes calls him fxeXiKos 7roiriTr)<;, a
The description lyric poems would apply
lyric poet.
in Alexandrian times
to the Adonis and perhaps
Either Diogenes
to some of the smaller poems too.
the
collection
the
title
of
knew
by
jllcXt; fiovKoXiKa, or
there were two collections of which he knew only one.
If we may take his pupil literally, Bion was murdered by means of poison. There is really nothing
Suidas' order, Theocritus, Mosto settle his date.
chus, Bion, is probably to be regarded as chronological, and a comparison of the styles of the two
last poets points to Bion having been the later.
In
the present state of our knowledge it would be unwise to draw a contrary conclusion from the omission
of MoschusV name from the autobiographical passage

of the Lament,
^ The Adonis has been ascribed
to him on the authority of
the Lament for Bion,

xxiii

INTRODUCTION
IV,

The

The Text

text of this edition

Ziegler.

It

owes much

MoellendorfF.

To the

based upon Ahrens and

also to von Wilamowitzis

last scholar's excellent edition^

as also to his various books

and

articles^ particularly

the brilliant Teoctgeschichte der griechischen Bukoliker,

am

deeply indebted throughout the volume. In

many passages^ as is well known^ the text of the
In most of
Bucolic poets is by no means settled.
these I have adopted the emendations of other
scholars^ giving my acknowledgments, where the
I

change is important, at the foot of the page. In

some cases those marked E in the notes I have
Most editors of the classics
preferred my own.
will be human enough, I hope, to sympathise with
my lack of modesty in this respect. There has not
always been room for more than the merest indicaThese will shortly be given, by
tion of my reasons.

the kindness of the editors, in the Classical Review.^

much

be said for Professor von Wilamowitz-MoellendorfF's re-arrangement of the order of

the poems. The usual position of the KSpell is par-

There

is

to

ticularly unfortunate

for

it

leads

the student to

reckon it as a pastoral, which it is not. But the

post- Renaissance order has been too long established,
I think, to be upset now without great inconvenience
and so I have ventured to retain it.
^

are

In a few important cases the

(1916) given in the notes.

now

xxiv

full

references to the G.E.


INTRODUCTION
V.

The Translation

In translating the Bucolic Poets my aim has been

to translate not so much the words as
briefly this
:

their meaning, to observe not merely the obvious

English idioms of syntax but the more evasive but

of stress, w^ord-order, and

equally important ones

balance, and to create an atmosphere of association

atmosphere of the original.

The present fashion, set by Mr. Myers in his Pindar,
in

some sense akin

to the

of translating classical verse into archaic prose, has

much

in its favour,

Theocritus'

carded

it

and

shepherds

in rendering the songs of

into

verse

without due consideration.

I liave

not dis-

In Theocritus'

day there was a convention which made

it

possible

for him, without violating literary propriety, to re-

present the folk-song of a shepherd in the metre of

the Epic.

Some

generations before, this would have

been out of the question. A song in hexameters

would have been a contradiction in terms. A somewhat similar convention nowadays makes prose the
suitable literary vehicle of dialogue or narrative, but
there is no firmly-established convention of using
A literary folk-song, if one
prose to represent song.
may use the term, would now be impossible in blank
verse, let alone prose.

So I have chosen to render the songs of Theocritus'

shepherds in rhyme, and used with only two exceptions the common ballad-metre written long, with
seven^ or where there is a medial pause, six, stresses
XXV

INTRODUCTION
employing occasional archaisms of word
alien^ I hope, to a metre which has
us associations of simple living and unsophisti-

to the line^

or
for

rhythm not

cated modes of thought.

In the prose parts of my translation of the pastorals

have adopted an archaic style partly because the
shepherd in modern literature does not talk the only
modern dialect I know^ that of the upper middle-class^
and partly in an endeavour to create in them an atmosphere similar to th t of the songs. I have extended
I

archaism to two of

tlie

three non-pastoral

mimes

for

kindred reasons, to the Love-Poems because they

are so EHzabethan in spirit, to the Epic poems because the

Epic

ditions, archaic,

is

necessarily,

and to the

fashion of the day.^

under modern con-

rest because

The Women

at the

it

is

the

Adonis Festival

on a separate footing. It is so entirely modern iti

and the chief characters so closely resemble
the average educated Englishwoman, that the only
thing to do is to disregard the few anachronisms of
name and custom and render it into Colloquial

is

spirit,

Suburban.
^ Verse-translations of
the Distaff will be found in the
Cambridge Review for Dec. 8, 1910, and of XXIX and XXX
in the Classical Review for March and May, 1911.

XXVI

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Editiones Principes

iirst prinled with the ^^orhs and

Hesiod at Milan about the year 1480, but the
The Ahline edition
edition contains only I XVIII.
of 1495 contains Theocritus I XXVIII and lines 1-24 of
XXIX, Bion I, Moschus I III, Megara, The Dead
Adonis, and the Pipe. The Juntine edition of 1515
added the Inscriptions, and the Wings and Axe of
The Altar of Dosiadas first appeared in the
Simias.
The rest of Bion and
edition of Calliergus in 1516.
Moschus as well as the Egg of Simias were added in the
editions of Mekerchus (1565), Stephanus (1566), or
Ursinus (1568) but the poems and fragments of Bion
and Moschus quoted by Stobaeus in his Florilegium had
already been printed in the early editions of that work,
the first of which was published by Victor Trincavellus

Theocritus was

Day a

of

in 1536.
The latter half of Theocritus XXIX was first
edited by Casaubon on page 75 of his Commentary to
Diogenes Laertius published at Morges in 1583. The
Second Altar was first commented on by Scaliger in his
Letters {Opera Posthuma, Paris, 1610, p. 469), and first
edited by Salmasius in his Inscriptionnm Herodis Attici
Explicatio (Paris, 1619). Theocritus XXX, which occurs
only in the Ambrosian MS. known as B 75, was long
overlooked, but was discovered by Ziegler in 1864, and
first published by Bergk in 1865.

The Latest Critical Text of the Bucolic Poets

von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (Oxford, 1905,

is

that of

1906).

The Best English Commentary, which, however, contains

xxvii

BIBLIOGRAPHY
only Theocritus and the Megara,
(London, 1900, etc).

Among Other Books

mentioned

Ahrens

Helpful

to

is

the

that of Cholmeley

Student

may

be

Bucolicorum Reliquiae (Leipzig, 1855), an

edition with Latin critical notes and copious
introduction dealing with the MSS, early
printed editions and versions, etc.
Theocriti Idyllia (Leipzig, 1870),
Fritzsche
an
edition with Latin notes critical and exegetical.
Ziegler
Theocriti Carmina (Tubingen, 1879) and
Bionis et Moschi Carmina (Tubingen, 1868),
texts with Latin critical notes.
Textgeschichte der
von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf
griechischen Bukoliker (Berlin, 1906), a history
:

accompanied by a series of articles

dealing with certain poems and passages and
discussing various questions, such as the proper
names used by Theocritus and the dates of the
composition of his various works ; and Bion von
Smyrna (Berlin, 1900), an edition of the Lament
for Adonis with notes, introductory, critical
and exegetical, accompanied by a verse transof the text,

German.
Etude sur TMocrite (Paris, 1898), a series
of essays upon such questions as the authenticity of the various poems, the life of Theocritus, and his style and vocabulary.
TheocrituSy Bion, and Moschus (London,
Lang
1880, etc.), an English prose translation with
an introduction on Theocritus and his Age.
lation in

Legrand

Theocritus in English Literature (LynchKerlin

burg, Virginia, 1910), an exhaustive account of
the English translations of Theocritus and the
:

imitations of

him and

references to

him

in

English literature.
Haeberlin
Carmina Figurata Graeca (Hanover,
1887), a text of the Pattern-Poems with Latin
:

notes, introductory, critical and exegetical.

Scholia in Theocritum Vetera (Lipsiae,

Wendel

1914).

xxviii

THE BUCOLIC POETS

BOYKOAIKA

^ov/coXffcal ISloTcrai (TiropdZe^ iroKa, vvv

S'

ajxa

Trdoat
evrl

iuLid<;

"AXXo?

dyeXa^*

XZo9* iyo) Be Seo/{pLro<;, 09 raS'

6^9 oLTrb
vlo<;

fjidvhpa^, ivrl fitd^;

T&v TToWcop

Upa^ayopao

Movaap

B'

elfu Zivpahcoaicdv,

7repiK\eiTrj<^ re ^lXlpt]^'

66veir]v ovtlv (j)XKvad/ji7]v,

eypa^a

THE BUCOLIC POETS

INTRODUCTORY POEMS
The Muses of the country scattered abroad
are now of one fold and of one flock.
_,

ere

tliis^

The Chian is another man the Theocritus who

wrote this book is one of the many that are of Syracuse, the son of Praxagoras and the famed Philina,
and his Muse is the Muse of his native land.
;

The first of the above poems would appear to have been

written for the title-page of the liivst collected edition of the
Bucolic poets, published by the grammarian Artemidorus
early in the first century befoi'e Christ the second is thought
to have stood upon the title-page of a separate edition
" The
of Theocritus, published by Artemidorus' son Theon.
Chian " is believed by some to be Homer, but is more
probably the orator and epigrammatist Theocritus of Chios.
;

'J

THE POEMS OF THEOCRITUS

L_TIIYRSIS

SHEPHERo and a goatherd meet

and compliment each other upon

noontide,

The shepherd,

Thyrsis

hij

naw.e,

one

in the pastures

is

their piping.

persuaded hy

the

other for a cup which he descriljes bid does not at first

show sing hira The Affliction of Daphnis, a ballad
to

which

tells

how

the ideal shepherd, fiiend not only

Nymph and Muse,

vowed

to his first

about

all the wild, creatures, having

love that she should be his last, pined

the love

first part, after

neglect,

of

The ballad is divided

of another.
The
parts marked by changes in the refrain.

and died for

into three

but

of

tells

the

a complaint

how

and

the herds

dying man,

Nymphs of

the

to

the

their

herdsmen gathered

and Hermes

and

his father,

Priapus the country-gGd offertility ivhom he had folded,

came and spoke and got no

part,

the

slighted

In the second

ansjver.

Love- Goddess

comes,

and.

gently

upbraids him, whereat he breaks silence with a threat of

vengeance after death.

follow
this

tell in veiled iro?iic

friend

of wild

The

lines

of

his speech

7vhich

terms 7vhat the vengeance

things

will be;

for

of

Anchises 7vas

THEOCRITUS
afterjvards blinded

bij

bees,

Cypris herself ?vounded

continued
the wells

iviUi

and

a farewell

rivers

of

Adonis slcmi by a boar, and

by
to

Diomed,

The

speech

the wild crealui'es,

and

is

to

In the third part he

Syracuse.

bequeaths his pipe to Pan, ends his dying speech with

an addi^ess
the river

to all

Nature, and

of Death.

The

Thyrsis comes frorn Sicily,

song.

is

scene

and

overwhelmed at

of

last in

the 7nime is Cos, but

Sicily

is

the scene

of

his

GEOKPITOY
L @TP2I2
eTP2i2

ASv

a ititv^ aliroXe rrjva

a Ttorl Tal<^ ira^alcn fxeXiaherai, dSv Se Kal rv
avpiahes' fxera YIdva to SevTepov d6\ov aTrocafj.
ac/ca Tr/vo(; eXy Kepaov Tpdyov, alya tv Xa-^ff
aiKa h" alya 'Xd/3r} ttjvo^ yepa^, 9 re /caTappel
^ %t/^a/0O9* ')(^c/jidp(p Se KaXov Kpea<;, eaT ic

Ti TO yJ/LOvpia/ua kol

d/MX^r)(;.

AinOAOS
dhiov

S) TTOLjjirjv

TO Teov

TTjv diTO Td<s TreTpa^

fjLXo<; rj

to

KaTaXei^eraL

/caTa')(<;

yyjrodev vScop.

aiKa Tal MoZcrai Tav oliSa 8(opov dycovTai,

dpva TV aaKLTav \a\\rfi yepa<^' ai he k dpeo-fcy
TTjva^ dpva \aj3elVf tv Se Tav olv vaTepov d^fj.
0TP2I5

Tav 'NvfK^dvy Xfj^ aliroXe TiSe KaOi^a^^

0)9 TO KdTavT<; TovTO yeooXofpov ai t fJivplKat,
avpiahev; Ta9 S' alya^ eyoov iv TwSe vojmevacj.

X?79 ttotI

lO

THE POEMS OF THEOCRITUS

I. THYRSIS
THYRSIS

Something sweet is the whisper of the pine that

makes her music by yonder springs, and sweet no
less, master Goatherd, the melody of your pipe.
Pan only shall take place and prize afore you and
if they give him a horny he-goat, theii a she shall be
yours and if a she be for him, why, you shall have
her kid and kid's meat's good eating till your kids
;

be milch-goats.

GOATHERD
As sweetly, good Shepherd,

falls

your music as

the resounding water that gushes down from the

If the Muses get the ewetop o' yonder rock.
you
shall carry off the cosset
lamb to their meed,
and if so be they choose the cosset, the ewe-lamb
shall

come

to you.

THYRSIS
pray you, master Goatherd,
come now and sit ye down here by this shelving
bank and these brush tamarisks and play me a tune.
I'll keep your goats the while.
*Fore the

Nymphs

'*

cosset"

a pet lamb.

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AmoAo:s
OV

TTOL/JirjV

0)

difJLL^

TO

/iJLaafji/3pLP0V

01)

defJbi^

d/JL/MV

(TvpiaSev. TGV

rapl/ca

Yiava

fce/c/jLafcco^;

SeSot/ca/xe?*

ajjuraverat*

fcai oi ael hpifjueia ')(o\a ttotI

dWa

TV jdp

hevp

@vpai

ean

'yap air aji^a^

he Trijcpo^,

plva /cdOqrat,

tcl Adcj^viSof; ciXje' deihe^;

em to irXeov 'iKeo MocVa9,

Tap TTTeXea.p eahoyjieOa tm tg YlpijjTrco

jSovKoXifcd^

fcal Td<;

ical

Srj

?)

VTTO

Tap fcpavaidv /caTepaPTiop,

clirep 6

20

OodKo^

Trjvo^ 6 TTOLjJbepifco^ Koi Tal Spve^;, al Si

deiarj^;,

oKa TOP Ai/SvaOe ttotI Xpoficp aaa<; epiaScop,

alyd Te tol Soyco) SiSvfjLaTo/cop e? t/qI? d/LLeX^ai,
a hv eypi(7^ ipi(po)<; iroTaaeXyeTat 69 Svo 7reXXa9,
0)9

/cal

/3a0v Kccro-v/Bcop fceic\vaf.Levop dhel

>'crjpa),

peoTevyk^, Tt yXv(f)dpoLO TroToaoop,

dfji(pcoe(;y

X^^^V /^ctpveTai mjrodt /aaao^y

e\iXpyo-(p KeKOPip.evo'^' a Be fcaT avTOP
^ jbiep

tS) irepl
fciacTo^;

KapiTcp eXi^ elXecTac

yvpd

cPTOcrOep 8e

30

dyaWofiepa icpoKoePTi?

tl 6eo}p SatS^A/xa TeTV/CTac,

aa/crjTd ireirXM Te /cal dfiTTV/ci.

rrdp Se ol dpBpt<;

fcaXov e6eipd^0PT<^ djjiOi^ahX^ dXXodep dXXo<;

enreeaai.

peifceiova

a\X' oKa
dXXo/ca

jjiep

ov (ppepo^ dirTeTai avTa^*

ttjvop irGTioepKeTai

av

S'

Ta

ttotI

dpBpa yeXdaa,

top piTTTel poop,

ol

S'

vtt

epcoTo^
BrjOd KvXoiBiocoPTe^ eTcoata [.loxPi^oPTi.
1

mss

adjective

lo

also

tw

ttotI

ofchera

b.

Se eAi|

is kxixpvaos and eAi| an

the iv^^-tendril "

a 5e
*'

THEOCRITUS

I,

15-38

GOATHERD
there's no piping for me at high
No^ nOy man
I go in too great dread of Pan for that.
noon.
I
wot high noon's his time for taking rest after the
swink o' the chase and he's one o' the tetchy sort
his nostril's ever sour wrath's abiding-place.
But for
singing, you^ Thyrsis, used to sing The Affliction of
Daphnis as well as any man you are no 'prentice in
the art of country-music.
So let's come and sit
elm,
yonder beneath the
tliis way, over against
Priapus and the fountain-goddesses_, where that
shepherd's seat is and those oak-trees. And if you
but sing as you sang that day in tlie match with
Chromis of Libya, I'll not only grant you three
milkings of a twinner goat that for all her two young
yields two pailfuls, but I'll give you a fine great
mazer to boot, well scoured with sweet beeswax, and
of two lugs, bran-span-new and the smack of the
;

graver upon it yet.

The lip of it is hanged about with curling ivy,
ivy freaked with a cassidony which goes twisting
and twining among the leaves in the pride of her
saffron fruitage.
And within this bordure there's
a woman, fashioned as a God might fashion her,
lapped in a robe and a snood about her head.
And either side the woman a swain with fair and
flowing locks, and they bandy words the one with
the other.
Yet her heart is not touched by aught
they say
for now 'tis a laughing glance to this,
and anon a handful of regard to that, and for all
their eyes have been so long hollow for love of
;

**
Priapus and the fountain -goddesses": effigies. " Mazer":
**
Cassidony " ; the Ev^erlasting or
a carved Avooden cup.

Golden-Tufts.
[I

THE BUCOLIC POETS

T0?9 Se fjiera fypnrev^ re yepcov irerpa re rerv/cTai
\7rpd<?,

a a7rvSo)v

e<^

Blktvov e? j36\ov

/ubiya

eXKet

40

iTpecr^v^ /cd/jLvopTL to tcaprepov dvSpl

otK(o<;.

yvLcov vlv oaov aOevo^ iWo7nevLV'

(pairjf; fca

6)he 01 ^hrjfcavTi fcar

avykva irdvToOev

/cal nroXicp irep eovTi,

to Se

tvtOov

oaaov

S'

Ive^

d^iov

<j6evo<^

dj3a<^.

dircoOev dXiTpvTOiO yepovTo^

irvpvaiai^ crTa(pvXaLorL koXov ^ejBpiOev dXood,

Tap oXijo<;

alpbaaLalai (pvXdaaeL

T/.? /cS)po<^ ec/)'

Se vtv hv dXcoTTSKe^,

rjfjiepo^' iijjb^l

(pOLTTJ aivofjueva

Tav

Tpdy^L/uiov,

S'

[lev dv'

opx^^

eVl Trrjpa

rrdvTa SoXov Tevyoiaa to iraibiov ov irplv avrjaelp 50

(paTl irplv

rj

^fcpaTiaSov

avTap oj dvOepi/coiai
e<pap/ji6aSo)V'

a)(Oiv<p

eVl ^Tjpotat KaOi^rj,

ica\di> irXeKei dfcpLhoOrjpav

fieXeTat

Be

ol

ovt

tv

Trrjpa<;

0VT6

^f Tcoi'

TTaPTO,

Toaarjvop, oaop irepl TrXeyixaTL yaOel,

S' dfji(^l

heira^ TTepinreTrTaTai vypo<; dfcap6o<^,

aloKlyop 6dri}ia
Tco

fJLP

S)pop fcal
^

t)

Tepa^

ice

tv

Ov/jlop

iycb TTopO/jLTjC K.a\vSpi(p

aTv^at,

alyd t eScoKa

TvpoePTa fxeyap Xevfcoto ydXaiCTO^*

(a) k par lad 01^

(scholia

also

E,

cf.

aKpaTta-fiov),

Suidas

a/cpar/fco

which

some

mss

oLKpdricrrov

editors

expla^in

he have wrecked [or safely docked) the breakfast "

'*

till

aloXixoJ^ schol.,

cf.

aloXos, Trvppos, irvppixos

(4.

20)

schol.

mss aliroXiKov
with Hesychius aio\Li(6v
Qd-qiia
Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, cf. Anth. P. 9. 101, Auson. Epist.
^ iropOfx^i KaXvbvicf schol.
mss tz 0drj/jLa
14. 83, Hesych.
schol. also with mss -nopQixu KaKvBcayicp

also

12

THEOCRITUS
her^ they

I,

39-58

spend their labour in vain. Besides these

old fisher wrought on't and a rugged

there's an
rock^ and

there stands gaffer gathering up his

great net for a cast with a right good will like
one that toils might and main. You would say that
man went about his fishing with all the strength o's
Umbs^ so stands every sinew in his neck^ for all his
grey hairs^ puffed and swollen for his strength is
the strength of youth.
And but a little removed from master Weatherbeat there's a vineyard well laden with clusters
red to the ripenings and a little lad seated watching upon the hedge.
And on either side of
him two foxes this ranges to and fro along the
rows and pilfers all such grapes as be ready for
eating, while that setteth all his cunning at the lad's
wallet, and vows he will not let him be till he have
set him breaking his fast with but poor victuals to
his drink.
And all the time the urchin's got starflower-stalks a-platting to a reed for to make him a
pretty gin for locusts, and cares never so much, not
he, for his wallet or his vines as he takes pleasure in
his platting.
And for an end, mark you, spread all
about the cup goes the lissom bear's-foot, a sight
worth the seeing with its writhen leaves 'tis a
marvellous work, 'twill amaze your heart.
Now for that cup a ferryman of Calymnus had a
goat and a gallant great cheese-loaf of me, and never
;

"Breaking

his

breakfast, as the

fast":

the

chief

word

expect to get

at.

Cai^^mnus

is

of a Greek
was unmixed wine

feature

aKpari^co shows,
this, being in a bottle, the fox, even if he

wished

it,

could not

an island near Cos.

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ovSe TL

TTO) ttotI

^eZXo?

i/jiov 6i^/ev,

cixpavTOV. T(p ted rv fiaXa

ac/ca

fJLOi

TV

fcov TL

ov TL 7ra

TV (plXo^ rov

en

fcetrat

dpeaaifjuap,

7rf)6(j)pcov

60

e^t/xepoz^ v/jLVOv aeiarj^,

yap doihav
Kthav ye top eKkeXddovTa c^vXa^el^;

fcepTO/jiio).

eZ?

a)OC

TTOTay^ o)y a6e' tclv

0Tp:|I2

"Kp^GTe

j3ovfc6\iKa<; MoZcrat (plXac dp'veT ao^Sa?.

@vpcn<; 68' (h^ AcTva^,

rra

dSea

fcal vpcrcSof;

<j>covd.

dp" r]a6\ ofca Adeppt^ eTdKeTO, ira iroKa

ttok

NvfKpai;
rj

fcaTa Urjveta) icaXa Tepurea,

yap

ov

Srj TroTa/jLolo

dp')(^eT /3ovKo\i/cd<;

^AvdircOi

AfCLOO^ iepov vocop,

M.OL(TaL (plXat dpj(eT docSd^,

Xvkov oopvaavTO,

Trjvov fJLav 0(oe^, ttjvov

X^^

KaTa UivSco;

fieyav poov elyer

ovo AoTva^ a/coTTtaVy ovo

TTJvov

t)

hpvfjiolo Xecov

e/ckavae 6av6vTa,

dpx^TG (3ovKo\ifcd^ yiolaai (piXac o.pyeT

TToXXai

ol Trap

rroaal ySoe?, ttoXXoI Se re Tavpoi,

TToXXal 8e SapAXac

dpx^Te

/cal iropTte^

/3ovfcoXt/cd^

M.olaac

rjv6' 'Kp/jbd.<; 7rpdTi(7T0<;

Ti^

coSvpavTo.

(jyiXat

dpyeT

dir &peo^, elire Se-

dotBd<;.
'

Ad(ppt,

TV KaTaTpvyjsi; tlvo^ oyyaOe Toaaov epaaac;

dpx^TC jSovKoXifcd^

14

docSd<;,

Isliolaai cpuXat

dpx^r

'

doi8d(;.

70

THEOCRITUS
yet hath

it

my

touched

lip

I,

59-79

it still lies

unhandselled
a good

by.
Yet ri^lit welcome to
fellow thou' It sing me that pleasing and delightful
To't^
Nay^ not so I am in riglit earnest.
song.
good friend sure thou wilt not be hoarding that
song against thou be'st come where all's forgot?
it art thou^, if like

THYRSIS

(sings)

Country -song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.

Etna^ and a rare sweet voice

'Tis Thyrsis sings^ of

hath he.

Where were ye, Nymphs, when Daphnis pined ? ye

Nymphs, O where were ye ?
Was it Peneius' pretty vale, or Pindus' glens } 'twas
never
Amipus' flood nor Etna's pike nor Acis' holy

river.

Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.

When Daplmis died the foxes wailed and

wolves they wailed full sore.

The lion from the greenwood wept
was no more.

the

when Daphnis

Coiintry-song, si7ig country-song, sweet Muses.

O many

the lusty steers at his feet, and

many

the

heifers slim.

Many the calves and many

moan for him.

the kine that

Country -song, sing country -song,

Came Hermes
Daphnis,
'^

Who

from the

first,

hills

siveet

made

their

Muses.

away, and said ^^O

tell,

that fretteth thee, my son ? whom lovest

"
thou so well ?
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses.
is't

'^Peneius, Pindus"

a river

and a mountain

in Thessaly.

'VAnapup, Aois": rivers of Sicily.

15

THE BUCOLIC POETS

rjv6ov To\ IBovTcii, Tol TTOiixeve^y (piroXoi VjvOov
7rdvT<; avTjpcoTevv, tl irdOoi icaicov, rjvO^ 6 TLpLi^Tro^
fcljcpa*

'

Ad(f)vc

Kcopa

apx'^re
dotSd<;

Kpdva<;, TrdvT

aXaea

lSov/co\cfca<;

yioicrac

^dreca- a hiiaepd)^

^ovTa^

fiev

dyav

Ti<;

iXeyeVy vvv

(DTToXo^ ofCK icTopfj Td<;

rd/ceTat

ocf^OaXfidof;,

doihd<;

TV

S'

on

irocrcrl (fyopelrai

dp)(^eT

(jylXac

dixr]yavo^ 1<jgL

aiTroXcp dvhpl

ioLfca<;'

oca /Sarevvrai,

ov Tpdyo<; auT09 eyevro,

M oca at

S' fcVet

ical

iui7]fcdSa<;

^ov/coXcfcdf;

dp'xere

fcal

re

8e

dva

irdo-af;

rdXav, tl vv rd/ceat;

(pCXai

dp^x^er

rds TrapBevo^ oca yekavn,

eaopf}(;

rdfceai 6(pda\aco<;, ore ov jjcerd racac ^opeiJet?.*

GvSev TToreXe^ad^ 6

S'

Tft)9

dWd

l3ovfc6\o<;,

top

avTO)

awe

iTLKpov epcoTa, Kal 9 T6X09

dp')(eT6 l3ov/co\L/<:d<;

ye pcdv dhela

TjvOe

\ddp7]
Kelire'

jxev
^

tv

fcal

top

MoLpa<;.

M.ocaac irdXcv dp^^eT doihd^,

K.v7rpc<;

yeXdocaa, (3apvv
Orjv

awe

yeXdocaa,

dvd Ov/nov

S'

e'^ocaa,

''KpcoTa

fcaTetf^eo

and

2832

Adcfjvi

Xvyc^elv
1

re

Wil from Laur.

76, TQl, Ti

16

32. 16

Paris.

other mss

THEOCRITUS

80-97

I,

The neatherds came^ the shepherds came, and the

goatherds Inm beside.
All fain to hear what ail'd him
Priapus came and
;

cried
^^

^^

Why

peak and pine, unhappy wight, when thou

mightest bed a bride ?
For there's nor wood nor water but hath seen her

footsteps flee
Country-song, sing country-song, sweet Muses
^^
In search o' thee.
a fool-in-love and a feeble is
here, perdye
" Neatherd, forsooth ? 'tis goatherd now, or 'faith, 'tis
like to be
" When goatherd in the rutting-tinie the skipping

^^

kids doth scan,

His eye grows soft, his eye grows sad, because he's
born a man
Country-song, sing country -song, sweet Muses
So you, when ye see the lasses laughing in gay riot,
Your eye grows soft, your eye grows sad, because
;

^^
^'

you share it not."

But never a word said
bitter love bare he
And he bare it well, as I
was to be.

tlie

poor neatherd,

for a

shall tell, to the

end that

Country -song^ more country-song, ye Muses.

to, and smiled on

But and the Cyprian came him

him full sweetly

For though she fain would foster wrath, she could not
choose but smile
And cried ^^ Ah, braggart Daphnis, that wouldst
throw Love so featly
!

17

THE BUCOLIC POETS

avTO<; "FjpcoTO<^ viT dpyaXeco iXvyi')(^dr](;;^

Yjp" ovK.

dp)(^T /Sov/coXiKci^

rav

apa

S'

%a)

Motaai ttoXlv

iroTapieL^eTO*

Ad(})vt<;

aoiSdf;,

cip')(^eT
'

Kvirpt

/Bapeca,

KvTTpt ve/jbeaaard, K.V7rpi OvaTolaiv

7]Srj

yap

'Ai'Sa

/id(f)VL<; KTjv

KaKov eaaerac (1X709 "Epoyrr

/3ov/co\tKd<;

dp')(eT6
doiScii;

M.olaat

ov^ Xeyerat rav T^virpiv

^Ay^taav,

epire ttot

al Se

KoKov

dp^ere
wpoio^

direyPrff;,

(ppdaSj) rrrdvd^ oXlov dpipbi SeSvKelv;

irdXiv

^ovkoXo^;

TTjvel Spv<; rjSe

dp'^^er

epire iror

^ /cviTcpo<;y

/So/m/SevpTL ttotI orpbdveaai /jieXLaaaL,

(SovrcoXiicd^ yiolaai ttoXiv cipx^r dotSd^;,

p^coSa)z^^9,

foal TTTco/ca?

eVei Kal pirfKa vopevei

jSdXKei Kal Orfpia irdvra

Scco/ci,

ctpx^Te j3ovKo\iKd<^ lAolaai irdXiv ap'^er dotSd^;.

aTaaf)

avTt(; OTTCO'^
real

dacrov iolaa,

AcopiTJSeo^;

\ey* top (Bovrav vlkm Adcj)vcv,

dWd

p^d'^ev

piOi,

dp^6T f3ovKo\iKd.<; M^olaat irdXiv dp)(eT

KvKOiy

CO

0) (70)69, CO

y^aipeO^'

av (opea

doiSd<;,

cp(oKaoe<^ aprcroi,

(SovKoko^ vp^pav iyw Ad(f>vL^ ovKer dv

vKav,
^

oh

Graefe

mss and

Wil from Plutarch mss

:

mss

18

oJSe

schol. ov against the dialect

w5e

^i g^ ^yji

^5^

from Plutarch


THEOCRITUS

1,

98-116

^^Thou*rt thrown, methinks, thyself of Love's so

grievous guile."
Country -,song, more country-song, ye Mtises,
Then out he spake ^^ O Cypris cruel, Cypris
;

^'

vengeful yet,
Cypris hated of

all

flesh

think' st all

my

sun be

set?
^'1

thee even 'mong the dead Daphnis shall

tell

work thee
^^

ill

Country -song, more country -song, ye Muses

Men talk of Cypris and the hind begone to Ida
;

hill,
^^

'^

Begone

to hind
doth thrive

And

Anchises

fine oak-trees

sure

bedstraw there

and pretty bees

all

humming

at the hive.
'^

Country-song, 7nore country-song, ye Muses.

is ripe to woo, for a' tends his sheep

Adonis too

o'

the lea
''

And

^^

And then

shoots the hare and a-hunting goes of all the

beasts there be.
Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.
I'ld

have thee

take

thy

stand

by

Diomed, and say

^^ ^

slew the

neatherd Daphnis

fight

me

thou

to-day.'
^^

Country-song, more country-song, ye Muses.

'tis wolf farewell and fox farewell and bear

But

the mountain den,

neatherd fere, your
never see agen,
o'

^'

Your

Daphnis dear,

ye'll

19
c 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ovKer dva
fcal

8pv/jico<;, ov/c

tgI

TTora/jLOi,

aXaea, Xplp

%etTe

icaKov

KpeGoiaa

Kara

(&v/ji^pLBo<;

vScop.

apvere

/3ovfcoXc/ca<; M^occraL

irdXiv ap^er aoiha<;,

^d(pvL^ iyobv oSe ttjvo^ 6 ra? ySoa? 5)he vofievcov,

ravpo)^

^d(j)Pi<; 6 Tft)9

dp-^^ere /3ov/coXcfd<;

o)

Udv

etre

Yldv,

tvj^

eW

/cal

iropTia^ wSe TroTicrScov,

M.0Laai irdXiv dpy&T doiSd^.

iacrl

d/jL<j)iiTGXL<;

Kar Spea fiaKpa

Av/catco,

fieya M.aiva\oVj ev6^

eVt

vaaov
rdv
rrjvo

'XifceXdvy

'EXiKa^ Se Xiire piov alirv re adfia

Av/caoviSao, to

jxafcdpeaatv d<yr^Tov

fcal

XrjyeTS /3ovKQXLKd<; ISAocaat ire Xijyer doiSd<;,

v6^

&va^

yap

rdvhe ^epev iraKTolo^ pbeXLTrvovv

(jvpiyya KaXdv irepl

i/c /crjpro
y]

/cal

eyoov vir epcoro^ e?

Xrjyere ^ov/coXcfcd^

vvv ta

;:^eZXo9

Atoo? eXKopiat

MotaaL

ere Xr^yer

jiev (popeoire (Bdroi, (jyopeone

Se /caXd vdp/cKTorog

iravra

e^rr

6'

rjC')],

dotSd^.

dfcavOac,

dpfC6v6otai /co/jidcrar

evaXXa yevoivTO,

S*

eXiKTdv

fcal

rd^

Kvva^

ttltv^

o'^va^

iveifcat,
iirel

/S.d(f>vc<;

Ovdcrfcet,

teal

eXKOiy

20

(ppev 7ra!cro7o

schol. also 0ep' (hiroLKroio

a)Xa(f)Of;

THEOCRITUS
^^

17-135

And

By glen no more^ by glade no more.

O
^^

I,

'tis

farewell to thee^

Sweet Arethuse^ and all

Thymbris vale that flee

pretty

down

waters

Countrij-song, moi^e country-song, ye

'^

For

this,

this

is

Muses ;

that Daphnis, your kine to field

did bring,

Daphnis

'^'^This

he,

led stirk and

steer

to

you

a-v/atering.

Country-song, more coimiry-song, ye Muses.

Pan, O Pan, whether at this hour by Lycee's

mountain-pile
''
Or Maenal steep thy watch thou keep, come away
to the Sicil isle,
^^
Come away from the knoll of Helice and the hov/e
lift high i' the lea,
^^
The howe of Lycaon's child, the howe that Gods in
heav'n envye
Country-song, leave country-song, ye Muses ;
'*
Come, Master, and take this pretty pipe, this pipe
of honey breath,

Of wax well knit round lips to fit for Love hales

^'^

And

to my death.
Country-song, leave country-song, ye Muses.

me
'^

Bear

violets

too
Daffodilly

now ye

briers,

ye

thistles

violets

^^

may hang

o'

the juniper, and

all

things

go askew
^'

Pines

may grow

tear
**

hound

Arethusa

":

if

figs

now Daphnis

dies,

and hind

she will,

the fountain of Syracuse. *' Helic^, Lycaon's

and her son Areas were famous

child ": the tombs of Helice

sights of Arcadia.

21

THE BUCOLIC POETS

opecov rol cr/cwTre? arj^Qac SrjpiaacvTO*,^

fcrj^

Xriyere ^ovKoXtica^ yiolaat Xre Xijyer doiSd<;,

yii

jjuev

roaa

eliroov

Mocpdv, ^o)

TOP

^Acppohira

S'

avopdcoaar rd ye fidv Xiva iravra XekGiirei

r)6e)C
etc

aireiravaaTO* tov

M.oicraL<;

<^i\ov

e^Kvae Suva

poov,

Ad(j)VL<; e/Sa

dvSpa,

top

Mocaat

ore X^qyer

ov

140

l>iv/x(f)aiatv

d7r')(6ri,

\7]yT /3ovKoXi/cd<;

TV SlBov rdv alya to re

fcal

doihd<;,

aKV(j)o<;,

a>9

fcev^

dpuek^a^
(TTreicray

ral^ Mo6crai9.

'X^auper' iyco S'

v/jljullv

ifKrjpe^ TOi /Jb\tTO<;

TrXrfpe^

he

^aZ/oere TroWd/cc Motaat,

koL e? varepov dhiov aa&,

AinoAOS
to Kokov (JTOfjia @vpcrt yepoiTo,

(T')(aS6pcoPy

kol dir

AiyiXco

la')(d8a

Tpcoyot<;

dSetap, TeTTtyo<; eirel

rjPiSe TOL

TO

Serrra^'

Tvya (pepTepop

Odaat

pip eiii

wo

TV o a/ieXye

ov

^
'^

fjLT)

Br}pl(TaivTo

Kep

22

a/ccpTaoelTe^y

mss

/jLT}

Kpdpaiai hoKrjael^,

'^

mss

plp.

Tpdyo^

Scaliger from Verg.

also plp

koKop oaSer

cJ)l\o^, o)?

'Updp ireTrXvaOai
iUL ]S.t(T(7aLua,

aSL<;,

Ed.

ai oe

v/jL/jLlp

8.

(TKipTaarrjre

55

')(^L/bLaLpaLj

dpaaTrj,

mss. yapvaaiurc

150

THEOCRITUS
^^

1,

136-152

And

the sweet nightingale be outsung

by the scritch-owl from the hill."

i'

the dale

Country-song, leave country -song, ye Muses.

Such words spake he^ and he stayed him still

and O^ the Love-Ladye^
She would fain have raised him where he lay^ but

that could never be.

For the thread was spun and the days were done
and Daphnis gone to the Iliver^
And the Nymphs' good friend and the Muses' fere
was whelmed i' the whirl for ever.
Country -song, leave country -song, ye Muses,

There give me the goat and the tankard^ man

and the Muses shall have a libation of her milk.
Fare you well;, ye Muses^ and again fare you well^
and I'll e'en sing you a sweeter song another day.
;

Be your

fair

GOATHERD
mouth filled with honey and the

honeycomb^ good Thyrsis

sweet

figs

delightful

be your eating of the

of Aegilus
for sure your singing's as
as
the cricket's chirping in spring.

Here's the cup {taking

how good

it

from, his 7vaUet).

smells; you'll be thinking it
it

Fray mark
hath been

washed at the well o' the Seasons. Hither^ Browning

and milk her^ you.
A truce to your skipping^ ye kids yonder^ or the buckgoat will be after
;

you.

The Fviver"

Acheron, the river

of

Death.

23

II. THE

SPELL

This monologue, which preserves the dialogue-form by

a dam!) char'acter, consists of two parts

Coan

named

girl

lover,

Jieglectfid

his

tin lei,

won and
sea,

at

the

city,

Moon

the

young

she

lost.

The

roads

and

athlete Delphis,

the

scene

where

place

the

tells

to

not

lies

his love

was

far from

the

roads

being bordered

and in

meet

with

ivithout

The

tombs.

the foreground is a

wayside shrine and statue of Hecate with a

the

in the

smear the ashes

how

JVLoon

three

shines in the background,

before

upon her

lays a fire-spell

when her maid goes off

second,

upon

Sijiiaetha

the first a

in

little

altar

Upoji this altar, in the first part of the

it.

rite,

poor girl burns successively barley-mxal, bay-leaves,

a waxen puppet, and some bran

next, the coyning

of

the

Goddess having been heralded by the distant barking of

dogs and welcomed with the beating of brass, amid the
holy

silence

the libation

that betokens her presence

Simaetha pours

and puds up her chief prayer;

lastly

she

burns the herb hippomanes and, a piece of the fringe of

her lover
^

24

s cloak.

She

is

The

incaidation which begins

not a professional sorceress, see

1.

and ends

91.

THEOCRITUS

II

the four-line atanza devoted to the burning

of each of

these things, as well as the two central stanzas belonging

to

the holy silence

and

the libation, is addressed to the

magic four-spoked wheel which

bird

was

bears the

still

bound

name of the
wheels,

and

kept turning by Simaetha throughout the

rite.

that

originally

such

to

which

is

When

Thestylis withdi^aws with the collected ashes in the

libation-bowl^ her
consists

of two

mistress

begins her

halves, the first

except the last,

ofJive

Moon,

lines ; then

comes the climax of the story, pid

the second
latter

half begins, with

wJiich is divided, by a

of

refrain addressed to the listening

into stanzas, all,

instead

of

is

the refrain

briefly in t?vo lines,

its tale

its

and

In the

of desertion.

half the absence of the refrain with

romantic associations

This

solilocpiy.

lyric

and

intended to heighten the contrast

between then and now, between the fulness ofjoy and the
emptiness

of despair.

Towards

and of the second parts of

that

the end both

the j)oem there

Simaetha only half believes

spell ;

for she threatens

that

if

in
it

the

is

of the first
a suggestion

efficacy

of her

fails to bring back

Delphis' love to her, poison shall prevent his bestowing

it

elsewhere.

25

II. ^APMAKETTPIAI

Ua

ral

fjbOi

earvXc, ira he ra

(pepe

8d(f)vaL;

(j}i\Tpa;

rav /ceXe/Sav

(jTe^^rov

(f)OLVLKe(p olo<^ dcoray,

TOP ijuibv jSapvv evvra (biXov /aTa6vao/.iat

avdpa,
09 /Jiot ScoSeKaraio^ a0' ct> raXa^ ovSe iroOiKei,
ct)9

if

rs

ouS' eyvco, irorepov redvci/ca/jLe^

rj

^ool

ei/JLe<;,

dWa

ovSe Ovpa^ apa^ev dvdpcno<;, rjpd ol

-Eipo)? Ta^f^va^ <pp6va<; a r
^
oi'x^eT ^ ^X^'^ ^
^AcppoBira;
^aaev/JLat ttotI tclv Tifjiay7]T0L0 irdXaiaTpav
avpioVy w? VLV tSo) Kal p^epj^lropbai old pue Troiet.
vvv he viv e/c Ovecov /caraSijaopLac,'^
^eXdva 10
(palve
Kokop* TIP yap iroraeicropbai, dav)(e^

dWd

halpiop,

ra xPopia

9^

'^/cdra, rap /cal crKuXaKe^; Tpopbeovri

ipxppiepap peKvcop dpd Trjpia Kal pueXap alp^a,

%a?yo' 'E/cdra SacrTrXijTL, /cal 69 tXo9 apu/jLip OTrdhei

ravr epBotaa x^pelopa prjre tl K.Lp/ca^

^apOd^ Heptp^TJSa^;,

(j>appLa/ca
/jL7]t

tl Mr]Seia<; pbrjre

Ivy^, eX/ce tv irjpop epLOP irorl BcopLa top dphpa,

dX(f>CTd TOL TTpaTOP TFvpl Td/ceTac dXX eimraaae

heiXaiay ira Ta^ (ppepa^; eKTreiroTaaat;

%e(TTvXi.
1

otx^T^

Karadvao/iiai,

from

26

1.

100

mss ^x^'^^
from 1. 3
:

'^

Kardbi\(Toixai

^ affvx^ Kiessliiig

Toup

mss

mss. aavxa,

II.

Where

are

my

-THE SPELL
bay-leaves

Come^ Thestylis

my

love-charms ? Come crown me the

I would fain
bow^l with the crimson flower o' wool
have the fire-spell to my cruel dear that for twelve
days hath not so much as come anigh me, the WTetch,
nor knows not whether I be alive or dead, nay nor
even hath knocked upon my door, implacable man.
I warrant ye Love and the Lady be gone away
with his feat fancy. In the morning I'll to Timagetus'
school and see him, and ask what he means to use
me so but, for to-night, I'll put the spell o' fire
upon him.
So shine me fair, sweet Moon for to thee, still
Goddess, is my song, to thee and that Hecat
infernal who makes e'en the whelps to shiver on
her goings to and fro where these tombs be and the
red blood lies.
All hail to thee, dread and awful
Hecat I prithee so bear me company that this
medicine of my making prove potent as any of
Circe's or Medea's or Perimed's of the golden hair.

where are

Wryneck, wryneck, drarv him

First barley-meal to the burning.

throw it on. Alack, poor

wits gone wandering ? Lord

fool
!

am

hither.

Come, Thestylis

whither are thy

I become a thing

27

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Tjpd

j TOL

irdacr

fjivcrapa teal rlv eTTi')(ap[Jba TTvy/xai;

dfia KaX Xeye-

'

ravra rd

20

AeXcfyiSo^ oarta

Tracer CO.'

tvy^, eX/ce tv ttjvov ifiov iron

Sco/jta

top dvSpa.

AeX^t? /ji dviacrev* eyco S' iirl AeXcpcSc Sdcppap

a id CO' %a)9 ctvra Xa/cet ,uya KaKirvptaaaa
i^a7riva<;

dcbdT] /cov8 (tttoSov t8oiuL<; avrd^;,

ovToy TOL Kol AeX<^i9 ^vi (j^Xoyl adpfc^ djbiaOvvoi.

tv ttjvov ijjiov ttotX oSyfia top dvSpa.

TQVTOV top Koypop ^ iyo) avp Sai/jiOPL Ta/cco,
Td/coid^ VTT^ p(OTo<; 6 Mvp8lo<; avTL/ca AeX0i9.

Ivy'^y eX/ce
ft)9

0)9

%ft)9 hipelO"

0)9 TTJPO^;

oSe pofx^o^ 6

"-^dXfceo^;

i^ ^AcfypoBiTa^,

30

StPOLTO TToO' dfierepaKJi Ovpaiaip.

Ivy^f eXfce tv ttjpop ip.op ttotI hS>fia top dpSpa.

pvp dvcrco Ta nriTvpa, tv

S'

"ApTefJH

zeal

top ip

''AiSa

kol el tl rrep acr0aXe9 dXXo,

fcvpe^
Tal
eaTvXiy
dpLfjuiP dpd tttoXlp MpvoPTac.
d 060^ ip TpLoootcrr to yaXKeop o)9 Ta^09 d')(^6L.
Ivy^, eXfce tv ttjpop ifioi^ ttotI Swyw-a top dpSpa.
ypiSe (Tiyfj ptep ttopto';, aiyodPTi S' df/Tar
d S' ipid ov aiyfj aTeppcop ePToaOep dpia,
dXX* irrl Typcp irdaa Kajaidopiat, 09 /^e TaXacpap
dpTl yvpaifco^ Wijice tcaicdp koX dirdpdepop elfxep.
Ivy^y eX/ce tv ttjpop iptop ttotI Sco/jia top dpSpa.
9 TpU diTGaTrephd) koX Tpl<; TdSe, iroTPia, (fycopcoiT6 yvpd TTJpcp irapaKeicXiTaL etre koX dprjp,
KLPTjcrai^ dSdjiiaPTa

KOLKirvpia-affa c^airivas Et.

Ital.

Filol.

cl.

1907)

Mag. and Hdn.

(cf.

40

Garin Stud.

niss KaTnrvpiaaGra (or Kanvp.) KTj^aTrivas

Kcopoi^ E, cf. Veig. Ed. 8, Hor. Epod. 17, Ov. Her. 6. 91

Soph. Jr. 481a k6pou aCo-Tdoaas irvpl 15. 120: mss KTipop, from
a gloss

28

THEOCRITUS

20-44

II,

thee may crow over ? On, on

with the meal, and say ^^ These be Delphis' bones
I throw."
Wryneck, wryneck, drarv him hither.
As Delphis hath brought me pain, so I burn the
bay against Delphis. And as it crackles and then
lo is burnt suddenly to nought and we see not so
much as the ash of it, e'en so be Delphis' body
whelmed in another flame.
Wryneck, wryneck, draw him hither.
As this puppet melts for me before Hecat,
so melt with love, e'en so speedily^ Delphis of
Myndus. And as this wheel of brass turns by grace
of Aphrodite, so turn he and turn again before my
a filthy drab like

threshold.

Wryneck, wryneck, draw him hither.

Now to the flames with the bran. O Artemis, as
thou movest the adamant that is at the door of Death,
so mayst thou move all else that is unmovable.
Hark. Thestylis, where the dogs howl in the town.
Quick,
Sure the Goddess is at these cross-roads.
beat the pan.
Wryneck, wryneck, draw him hither.
Lo there now wave is still and wind is still,
though never still the pain that is in my breast for
I am all afire for him, afire alas
for him that hath
made me no wife and left me to my shame no
maid.
Wryneck, wryneck, draw him hither.
Thrice this libation I pour, thrice. Lady, this
prayer I say be woman at this hour or man his
!

" Turn and

Myndus a town of Caria, opposite Cos.
turn again before my threshold " waiting to be let in cf.
:

7.

122.

29

THE BUCOLIC POETS

TOG GOV
iv

Aia

X(Wa(;, ocraov irofca ijcrea (f^avrl

^-yoi

\aa6P]/j.ep ivTrXo/cd/juco 'ApidSva^.

Ivy^, eX/ce rv ttjvov

i7r7royL6are9

ifjiov

ttotX h&jjia rov dvSpa.

(pvrov iari Trap*

tm

'Apfcdai,

S'

iirl

TrdaaL

Kol ttcoXgl fxaivovTai dv copea /cat OoaX Ittttoi.

0)9 KCLi A.X<ptv iSoLfiL, KOL 69 ToSe Scbfia TTepdaaL
XL7rapd<; e/CToade iraXaiaTpa^;.

fjiaLvo/j>V(p L/ceXoi;

Ivj^, eX/ce TV Tfjvov ijiov ttotI

TOVT

Ta^

diro

j/Xaiva^

Sco/jLa

tov dvSpa,

t0 fcpdairehov

coXecre

AiXcj^L^,
(hyoj

vvv TiXXoiaa fcaT

(iypi(p ev irvpl /SdXXco,

alal ''E^a)9 dviape, tl fxev pAXo.v eV Xpoo<^ alfjia

ct)9 XifJuvcLTi^ dirav etc jSheXXa TreTr(OKa^;
Ivy^f Xk TV TTjVov ifiop ttotI h&fjia tov dvhpa.
aavpav tol Tpiyjracra KaKov ttotov avptov olaco.
(TTvXLy vvv 8e Xa^olaa tv tcl Opova Tav6'
ijLKpv^;

VTTOfia^OV
Ta9 T7JVC0 (pXid^ /caO^ virepTepov

d<;

eTt kol

vv^}

Xey^ iTTCcpdv^oLGa' 'Ta AeX(f)iSo<^ oaTia fidaaco^^

Ivy^y 6X/6 TV TTjvov efjiov ttotI Sco/bia TOV dvSpa.

fcal

vvv

Srj fjbdyva

eolaa iroBev tov epcoTa Sa/cpvaco;

TrjvcoO' dp^evfiat,^ T69 j^oi fcafcov

dyaye tovto.

rjvO' d Triv/BovXcLO /cavacpopo^; dfi/Mv ^Ava^co

dXao<; 9 'ApT/jitSo<^, to, Srj rrvfca^ iroXXa fxev dXXa
0r]pia TTOfJLirevecnce TrepcaTaSov, iv Se Xeaiva,
(ppd^eo [lev tov epcoB' oOev Xk^to, iroTva XeXdva,
^

vv^ Buecheler

from

1.

21

mss

vvv

rivos ap^Mfiai (and ^.p^ofxai)

61 EK OvfiM

mss

30

^Ede/xaif t 5e ihev

Ahlwardt: mss Trdacrco,

Wil: mss ek r-nvw 5' &p^co or e/c
iruKa Th. Fritzsche
mss noKa

^ judaa-ot}

rrjvcoQ^ ap^evfj^ai
'^

K6yov ov^eva

Troiel,

not

in

the best

THEOCRITUS

45-69

II,

O be that mate forgotten even as old

Theseus once forgat the fair-tressed damsel in Dia.
Wryneck, wryneck, draw lihn hither.
Horse-madness is a herb grows in Arcady, and
makes every filly, every flying mare run a-raving in
In like case Delphis may I see, aye,
the hills.
coming to my door from the oil and the wrestlingplace like one that is raving mad.
Wryneck, wryneck, draiv him hither.
This fringe hath Delphis lost from his cloak, and
this now pluck I in pieces and fling away into the
ravening flame. Woe's me, remorseless Love why
hast clung to me thus, tliou muddy leech, and
drained my flesh of the red blood every drop }
Wryneck, wryneck, draw him hither.
bray
ril
thee an eft to-morrow, and an ill drink
But for to-night take thou
thou shalt find it.
love-mate,

ashes, Thestylis, while 'tis yet dark, and

smear them privily upon his lintel above, and spit
for what thou doest and say ^^ Delphis' bones I

these

smear."
Wryneck, wryneck, draw him

Now I am alone. Where shall

my love ? Here be 't begun
brought me to this pass.
of

hither.

begin the lament

I'll

tell

who

'twas

One day came Anaxo daughter

of Eubulus our
way, came a-basket-bearing in procession to the
temple of Artemis, with a ring of many beasts about
her, a lioness one.
hist, good Moon, where I learnt my loving

'*

for

Dia '^ Naxos, where Theseus abandoned Ariadne.

what thou doest " to avert ill-luck.

*'

Spit

31

THE BUCOLIC POETS

tcai

jjb

a ev/j.apiSa pacraa

Tpo<p6^y

jjuaKaplri^,

70

ciy')(i6vpo^^ vaioiaay /carev^aro /cal Xtrdpevcre

OdaaaOar

TCLV iropbirav

dy/jbdprevp

iyoo Se ol

^vaaoio koKov avpoLcra

d jneyaXoLTO^
'^tTCJva

^vcrriSa rdv KXeapiara^.

(jypd^eo fxev top epcod' oOep Il/cetOj iroTPa XeXdpa,
7]Sr] B^ evaa pueaap Kar duba^iTOP, a ra Av/ccopo^,
elSop Ae\(j)LP ofjLov re /cal EvSd/jLLTTTrop lopra^,
rol^ 8^ 7; 9 ^apOorepa /ulcp iXi'x^pva-GLo yepecd^,
crT7]0ea Se (7TL\/3opTa ttoXv irXeov 7) rv XeXdpa,
CO? diro yvfipacriolo KaXop ttopop dpn Xlttovtcop.
80
(ppd^eo fiev top epcod^ oOep Xk&to, iroTpa \eKdpa.
f<:d/jid>ccrTL\afiva tclv

fviC'O

%<^9 iSop, ft)9 ifidpTjp, &<;(^p irepl Ovjubh^ Idcpdrj

SetXaia^' to Se fcdXXo^ eTdfcsTo, /covSe tl ttoixttci^
T7]Pa^ icppaad/uiaP' ovS' co? TrdXup ottcaK aTTTJpOop
ypa)p'
/ceifiap

dXXd
B^

fie

ip

tl^ /caTTVpd pocto^ e^aXdrra^e''^

fcXcPTrjpc

heic

dfJuaTa

/cal

8e/ca

PViCTW^,
(j)pd^e6 (lev

TOP pco0^ 66ep 'ifceTOyTroTPa %eXdpa,

Kai uev XP^^ /^^^ ofjLOLO^ eyipsTO iroXXdici Od\[ra)y

eppevp B^ ifc fC6(j)aXd<; irdaai rptp^e?, avTa he
XoLird
ocTTL^ T 7} 9 ;<:al hepjia, fcaX 69 tlpo^ ovfc errepacra,
90
rj TToia^ eXiTTov ypaia'^ So/jLOp, aTi^ iiraSep;
dXX' ^9 ovSep iXacjypop' 6 Be j(^p6po^ dpVTO (f)vycop
(fypd^eo txev top epcod^ oOep XtceTo, iroTPa %eXdva,
yovTCO TO, BovXa top dXaOea /jlvOop eXe^a'
el B' aye %eaTvXi jjlol ')((2XeTrd<^ poaco evpe tl /jltj-^o^,
irdcrap e^6i fxe TdXatpap 6 Mui^S609* aXXd jxoXolaa

32

ayxldvpos

mss dyx-

Schol. also i^^a-dKa^e

THEOCRITUS

II,

70-96

Now

Theumaridas' Thracian nurse that dwelt

next door, gone ere this to her rest, had begged and
prayed me to go out and see the pageant, and so
I followed her, in a long gown of
ill was my luck
fine silk, with Clearista's cloak over it.
List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving.
I was halfway o' the road, beside Ly con's, when lo
I espied walking together Delphis and Eudamippus,
the hair o' their chins as golden as cassidony, and
the breasts of them, for they were on their way from
their pretty labour at the school, shone full as fair

as thou, great

Moon.

good Moon, where I learnt my loving.

And O the pity of it in a moment I looked and
was lost, lost and smit i' the heart the colour went
from my cheek of that brave pageant I bethought
me no more. How I got me home I know not
but this I know, a parching fever laid me waste and
I was ten days and ten nights abed.
List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving.
And I would go as wan and pale as any dyer'sboxwood the hairs o' my head began to fall I was
nought but skin and bone. There's not a charmer in
tJie town to whom I resorted not, nor witch's hovel
whither I went not for a spell. But 'twas no easy thing
to cure a malady like that, and time sped on apace.
List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving.
At last I told my woman all the truth. ^^ Go to,
good Thestylis," cried I, ^^ go find me some remedy
List,

a sore distemper.
possesseth me altogether.

The Myndian,

"Clearista": perhaps her

Everlasting or Golden- Tufts.

sister.

for

Go

alack
he
thou, pray, and watch
**

Cassidony "

the

33

THE BUCOLIC POETS

rrjprjaov ttotI tclv Tt/jbajTjTOLo iraXaicrTpav'

yap

dBv fcaOrjaOai.
(j)pd^6 [lev TOP epcoO^ o6ev 'iKero, iroTva ^ekdva'
Krjirei Ka vtv eovra fiddj]^ jjlovov, dav^^a vevcrov'
fCC(f)' OTL XifiaiOa TV KoXel, /cat vcj^ayeo Ta8e.'
ft)9 i^dfiav a S' 7]v0 KaX dyaye top XcTrapo'^poyv
rrjveZ

Be ol

(pocTTj, Trjvel

69 i/jid Sco/jLara AeXcjyLV

dpTi 6vpa<; virep ovSov

(f)pd^Q

pev TOP

iyco Se vlv co? ivorjaa

pco6^

oOep

t/cero,

irdcra fiep e^\rv^67]p yj.opo<^ ifKeov,

l8pco<; piV

ovhe Ti

iroTPa ^eXdpa

d/jiet^ojiievov ttoSI Kov<f)0),

etc

he fxercoTrco

Ko^vhecFKep laop poriaiatp eepa-ai^,

(fyaypTJcrac

Svpdp^ap, ovS*

oaaop

ep virpcp

/cpv^covrat (pcopevpra (puXap itotI fxaTepa retcpa*

d\X

iirdyrjp

(ppd^eo
fcai p!

e^eT
*

hayvhi koKop %poa irdpToOep taa.

top epcod^ odep XfceTo, iroTPa Xe\dpa.

/iiev

iaihoop &crTopyo<; eiTi

eTrl /cXiPTrjpt

koL

')(9opo<;

e^6p>epo<;

6p,p,aTa ird^a^

(pdTo puvOoP'

rjpd pie Xcpbatda toctop e(j)6acra<;, ocraop eyco Orjp

e^Oaaaa ^iXlpop,
ToSe
rj ^pue Trapelpiep.
KoKeaaaa
aTeyo^
TO TOP

irpdp TTOKa TOP ^apiePTa Tpe'X^cop

69

(^pd^eo pbev top epco6^ 60 ep

rjpdop
rj

ydp Kep

TpiTO'^

pidXa

r)e

eyd)P, pal

TeTapTO^

XfceTO,

TroTPa XeXdpa.

top yXvKVP f}p0op

''FipcoTa

icop <pi\o<; avTitca pvkto^^

piep ep icoKttoigi

Atcopvaoio (j^uXdacrcop,

icpaTl S' e%a)j' XevKap, '}ipaKXeo<^ lepop eppo^,

nrdpTO0e iropcj^vpeaicn Trepl ^coo-TpaLcrip eXt/cTdp.

(f>pd^6 piev TOP po)0^ 60ep li/ceTO, iroTPa ^eXdpa.

34


THEOCRITUS

97-123

him by Timagetus' wrestling-place

for

he

II,

resorts,

'tis

there he loves well to

'tis

thither

sit.

good Moon, where I learnt my loving,

so be thou be'st sure he's alone,
give him a gentle nod o' the head and saj Simaetha
would see him, and bring him hither." So bidden
she went her ways and brought him that was so
And no sooner
sleek and gay to my dwelling.
was I ware of the light fall o's foot across my
List,

'^

And when

threshold,

hist, good Moon, where I learnt my loving

than I went cold as ice my body over, and the sweat
dripped like dewdrops from my brow aye, and for
speaking I could not so much as the whimper of a
;

mother in his sleep for my

was gone all stiff and stark like a puppet's.
List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving.
When he beheld me, heartless man he fixed his
gaze on the ground, sat him upon the bed, and
child that calls on's

fair flesh

^' Why,
thus spake
Simaetha, when thou
bad'st me hither to this thy roof, marry, thou didst
no further outrun my own coming than I once
outran the pretty young Philinus.
List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving.

sitting

'^ For I
had come of myself, by sweet Love I had,
of myself the very first hour of night, with comrades
twain or more, some of Dionysus' own apples in my
pocket, and about my brow the holy aspen sprig of
Heracles with gay purple ribbons wound in and out.

good Moon, where I learnt my

List,

loving.

"Heartless man": to behave so and then desert me.

"Philinus" of Cos, here spoken of as a youth; he won at
Olympia in 264 and 260.
:

35

D 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

eSe^eade, ra

koI yap

Kai

fc

/cal

Ka\o<? Travrecrcn [xer rjWeoiai KaXevfJiai,

el fiev

/jl

S*

779

(jylXa*

e\acf>po(;

evahe^ r
o

fi&vov to fcakov arofxa rev^ i^iXrjaa*

el

aWa

(ouetre fcai

fi

Ka

a uvpa

eL)(^TO fjuo^Xw,

koI Xa/jLTTciSe^ rjvOov ecj) v/nca^.

top epwO" 66 ev Ticero, irorva XeXdva.
vvv Se xdpiv fiev ecpav ra KvTrptSc irpdrov oc^eiXeiv,
KoX /xerd rdv J^virpiv rv /Lie Sevrepa i/c Trvpo^ eiXev
0) yvvai eaKaXeaacra reov ttotI tovto jxeXaOpov
avTO)^ rj/nLcpXefCTov ''Epco? S' dpa /cal AcTTapaico
iToXXdiCL^ 'AcfyaiCTTOLo creXa^ (bXojepcoTepov aWei
(f)pd^e6 fjbev TOP epcod^ 66ev 'UeTo, iroTva XeXdva
avv Se KaKal^ fjLaviai<; /cal irapOevov e/c OaXdfjiOLO
/cal vv/ncpav ea6/3r}a ^ eTi hefjbvia Oepjxd XiirolGav
7rdvTco<;

(ppd^eo

ireXefcei^

fjLev

d Ta^vTreLOr]^

dvepo^.^ 0)9 o [lev elirev eyoo Se ol

p^etpo? (f)a'\lra/jLeva /xaXaKcov e/cXiv
/cal

Ta'xp

XP^^

^^^^

Xe/CTpcov

eirl

TreTraiveTO,

XP^^^^

/cal

Ta

TTpocrcoTra

OepfioTep*
(jt)9

/cat ^

979

TOi

^
[17]

irpocrOe, /cal iyjriOvpLaSofie^ dBv,

fxa/cpd cfytXa OpvXeot/jiL

XeXdva,

Ta fieyicTTay Kal 9 rroOov rjvOoixe^ d/bicpco.

KovTe TL T7]V09 i/MV e7re/JL/jbyjraTo fjLea(j)a to y

iirpdxdr]

6X^69,^

ovT iyo) av ttjvm, dXX^ rjvOe fJiOi a re ^tXccTTa^

IxdTTjp Ta9 dfjid^ avXr)Tpi6o<^ d re yieXt^ov^
adfiepov, dvl/ca irep re itot oypavov eTpaxov Tttttol
'Aw Tav pohoirax'^v dm ^/ceavolo (pepocaac,
^

^
eoaBe L. Schmidt : mss ev^op
mss ic()6/iv(r'
schol., cf. 13. 48
and Laur. 32. 16 : other mss kol
:

36

^
^

Kai

ia-o^rjo-"

Jacobs from

Wil from Vat. 915

THEOCRITUS
^'

And had

ye received

name

124-148

II,

me

so, it

had been joy

beauty of shape as
for I have a
speed of foot with all the bachelry o' the town,
and I had been content so I had only kissed thy
But and if ye had sent me packing with
pretty lips.
bolt and bar, then I warrant ye axes and torches had
as well for

come against you.

List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving.
But, seeing thou hadst sent for me, I vowed my
thanks to the Cyprian first but after the Cyprian
'tis thou, in calling me to this roof, sweet maid, didst
snatch the brand from a burning that was all but
done for i' faith, Cupid's flare oft will outblaze the
God o' Lipara himself,
Uist, good Moon, where I learnt my loving
^^And with the dire frenzy of him bride is
driven from groom ere his marriage-bed be cold,
much more a maid from the bower of her virginity."
So he ended, and I, that was so easy to win,
took him by the hand and made him to lie along
the bed.
Soon cheek upon cheek grew ripe, our
faces waxed hotter, and lo
sweet whispers went
and came. My prating shall not keep thee too
long, good Moon enough that all was done, enough
that both desires were sped.
And till 'twas but yesterday, he found never
a fault in me nor I in him.
But lo to-day, when
She o' the Rose-red Arms began her swift charioting from sea to sky, comes me the mother of
Melixo and of our once flute-girl Philista, and
''

a name": the self- complimentary details of

speech are due to the reporter.
"God of
Lipara" the Liparaean Islands contain volcanoes.
"Our
flute-girl "
the girl who used to play to him and me
the
'^I

have

Delphis'

37

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Kelire fxot

aWa re iroWa ical co? apa Ae\(j)i<; eparac.

fcetre viv

avre yvvauco^ e^ei ttoOo^ eire koI avhpo^,

ovK e<paT

aTp/ce<^ t8/jLVy

drap Toaov

dfcpdro) 7T)(^eLTo Kal ? Te\o<;

alev^^F^pcoro^

(o'X^eTo cj^evycov,

KOI (pdro ol arecj^dvoLcn rd Sco/jbara rrjva Trv/ca^elv,^^

ravrd /jlol d ^eiua jivOrjaaTO, earc S' d\a6rj<^,
fj ydp fJLOL Kai T/ot? tcai Terpdici^; dWoK
(f>oiTrj,
rdv
eTiOei
Ao^piSa
Kol ivap iiuv
iroWdKt^ 6\7rav*
vvv Be SvcoSe/caralo^^ dcf>' core vlv ovSe TroreiBov.
rjp ovK
Ti repTTVov eyei, djjLoyv Be XeXacrraL
vvv jjidv Tol^ ^iXTpoi^ KaraOvorofxar al S* en

dWo

fcd /xe^

rdv ^AtSao rrvXav, vol Mo^pa?, dpa^er

TOid ol iv Kiara Kaica cj^dpfiaKa ^apX (pvXdaaeiv
^AacrvpLO), SecTTTotva, irapd ^eivoLO /maOolcra.
TV fjiev ')(^aipoiaa itot o)Kavov rpeire irdiXco^,
iTOTVL' iycb S' olao) rov ifMov iroOov cocrTrep virearavJ^

\v7rfjy

dWd

^atpe ^ekavaia Xtirapoy^poey ^ai/aere t&XKol^

darepe^ evicdXoio tear avTvya l>iv/cro<; oiraBoL

E mss irvKaaZ^v
^
Ahrens mss wr/yue
r^Woi E mss 5' (or k') aAXoi
^

^
^

KOL

38

irvKa^e^v
fxe

Cf.

Wil
CL Rev,

5uco5.

mss
1911,

re
p.

5a'5.

68

THEOCRITUS
among

divers other
Delphis was in love.

149-166

II,

talk

would

And

she

me

liave

knew not

believe

for sure^ so

she said^ whether this new love were of maid or of

man^ only ^^ he was ever drinking " quoth she '^ to
the name of Love^ and went off in haste at the last
saying his love-garlands were for such-and-such a
So ran my gossip's story, and sure 'tis true
house."
for ah! though time was, i' faith, when he would
come thrice and four times a day, and often left his
Dorian flask with me to fetch again, now 'tis twelve
I am
days since I so much as set eyes upon him.
forgot, for sure his joy doth lie otherways.
To-night these my fire-philtres shall lay a spell upon
him but if so be they make not an end of my trouble,
then, so help me Fate, he shall be found knocking
at the gate of Death for I tell thee, good Mistress,
I have in my press medicines evil enough, that one
out of Assyria told me of.
So fare thee well, great
;

Lady

my

to

Ocean with thy team.

And

I, I

will bear

may. Farewell sweet Lady o' the

love as best
Shining Face, and all ye starry followers in the train
of drowsy Night, farewell, farewell.
I

same is still employed by Delphis, and it is through her

mother that Simaetha learns that he loves another, a second
daughter of the same woman being one of Simaetha's
serving-maids.
"Assyria": the land of magic herbs.

39

III. THE

The

SERENADE

after Jive lines dedicatory to a friend rohom

Tityrus, serenades his mistress
is

a jnonologuCy bid,

of

who

poet appears to personate a young goatherd,

the

appeal

like II,

preserves the dialogue- for7n

character.

The

Amaryllis may be regarded as consisting of

three parts each ending with the offer

garland, goat

of four

calls

The poem

Amaryllis.

mime by means of a dumb

to

he

and

gift

apples,

a fourth part containing a love-song

The

stanzas.

of a

mark

reciter

would doubtless make a

and

the

failure of the song before the renewal of the cry

of

slight

'pause to

the rejection

of each

gift

despair.

41

Ill KflMOS
Kco/jbdaSco ttotI rav AfiapyWiSa, ral Se jjlol aly6<;
^oGKovTai Kar 6po<;, /cal 6 Turvpo^ avTa<^ iXavvet,
HiTvp e/Av TO KoKov 7recj)L\7]fjivey /36cr/c ra? alya'^,
Kol ttotI rav Kpdvav aye Turvpe, koX top evopx^v,
^

TOP Aij3vK0P KPCLKCOPa,

&

'X.apieaa

(j}V\dcr(T0

A/napyWiy

fJLT]

TV

tI pH ovKeTi

Kopvyjij],

tovto /cut

aPTpop
TrapKviTTOiaa

top epcoTvXop rjpd fie paael^;

KaTa^alvopiaL eyyvOep rjpLep,
pvfi(f)a, /cal TTpoyepeio^; aTrdy^acrdai f.ie 7C07]ael<;.
rjPihe TOi Se/ca fiaXa (f)p(o, Trjpcode fcaOelXop,
& fi ifceXev /caOeXecp tv* koX avptop dWa tol olaoo.
fcdXL<;;

rjpd ye tol cnfjio^

OvpuaXye^ epXv a%09. aWe yepoipiap

KaX e? Teop dpTpop iKoipiap
TOP Kccraop S^aSu9 fcal tclp TTTepcp, a tv 7rvKdaSet<;,
vvp eypcop top "E/^wra* ^apv<; 6e6<^' rjpa Xeaiva^
fial^op eOrjXa^e ^, hpvjJbCo re plp eVyoac^e /jbdTrjp'
W9^ /le KaTaapbv^cop /cal 9 octtlop dxpL<^ IdirTei.
& TO /caXop TToOopcbcra, to Trap Xt^09' & /cvdpocjypv
pvp^cpa, TT poaiTTV^ai pie top aliroXop, &^ tv ^iXrjao),
eaTt /cal ep Kepeolai (l)iXrjpbaaLP dSea Tepyjn^,
TOP <TTecj>apop TtXat pue /caT avTUca XeirTa Tror/aei^,
TOP TOL eyoop KpbapvXXl (piXa /cioraoio (pvXdaaco
dpLTrXe^a^; /caXvKeacn Kal evoBpLOLort aeXiPOi<;.

Oaaai

p.dp'

/Bop^lSevcra pbeXtacra

"

42

dO'OAa^e

Stobaeus

mss

-a^'e

'^

&s

cf.

25.

53

mss

os

IIL_THE SERENADE
I GO a-courting of Amaryllis^ and my goats they
go browsing on along the hill with Tityrus to drive
them on. My well-beloved Tityrus^ pray feed me
my goats pray lead them to waterings good Tityrus^
and beware or the biickgoat^ the yellow Libyan
yonder^ will be butting you.
Beautiful Amaryllis^ why peep you no more from
your cave and call me in ? Hate you your sweetheart ? Can it be a near view hath shown him snubI dare swear
nosed^ Nymph ^ and over-bearded ?
you'll be the death of me.
See^ here have I brought
you half a score of apples plucked yonder where you
bade me pluck them^ and to-morrow I'll bring you
;

as

many

again.

Look^ ah look upon me my heart is torn with

pain.
I wish I were yon humming bee to thread
my w^ay through the ivy and the fern you do prink
your cave withal and enter in
O now know I well
what Love is. 'Tis a cruel god. I warrant you a
she-lion's dugs it was he sucked and in a forest
was reared^ so doth he slow-burn me^ aye^ pierce me
to the very bone.
O Nymph of the pretty glance^
but all stone O Nymph of the dark dark eyebrow^
come clasp thy goatherd that is so fain to be kissing
thee.
E'en in an empty kiss there's a sweet delight.
You'll make me tear in pieces the ivy-wreath I have
for you^ dear Amaryllis
of rosebuds twined it is^
!

and of fragrant parsley

leaves.

43

THE BUCOLIC POETS

MfiOL iycov, TL irddco, tl 6 8vaaoo<;

rav ^airav

airohv^;

ayjrep Tft>9 6vvv(o<;

Kac/ca

yL6r)

eh

ov^

vira-

fcvfiara rrjva) aXev/j,ac,

aKOTTid^eraL "OXiTi^ 6 ypiTrehS'

^Troddvco, to

eyvcov irpdv, ok ijiev

ye

/juav

reov dSi) rervKrai,

iiieiJiva/,Lvo}, el

(pcXeec^

fie,

ovSe TO TrfKe^iKov TTOTefid^aTO to ifkaTdyrjjjia,

aXX*

avT(o<; d'JTaXco ttotI 7ra%609^ i^efiapavdrj*

elvre /cal

30

Aypoico ToXaOea KocnctvofiavTi^,

d TTpdv TTOLoXoyevaa Trapai^aTL^;, &ve/c iyco jjuev

tIv oXoq ey/cecfxac, tv Se fiev Xoyov ovheva ttolt}.
rj fjidv TOL \evKav ScSv/jLaTO/cov alya (pyXdcrao),
Tdv fJie fcal d M.epfjLvcovo^ epiOa/cU d ixe\avo\p(t)<^
aWel,

/cal Scoaoj ol, eirel

tv

oXkeTat 6(j)da\fi6<; /xev

avTdv; acrevpLat ttotI tuv
fcai

Ke

pL

/xol

evhiaOpviTTr],

6 Se^^09*

ttltvv

6(jco9 ttotlSol, iirel ovfc

^pd y

ISrjo-co

eSS' diT0K\Lv6ei<=;*

dSapbavTiva eaTiv

Tav Trapdevov r}9e\e ydpbai,

ekoov Spojuop dvvev d S' 'AraXaz^ra

'l7nropbevr}<; o/ca Srj

yLtaX'
ft)9

ev ')(epa\v

thevy

ft)9

e/jidvijy co?

44

awaXu)

69 /3a9vv ciXuT

'i(or\

irdx^os, cf. 12.

24

epcoTa,

40

THEOCRITUS

24-42

III,

what's to become of me ?
Alas and well-a-day
Ay me you will not answer. I'll dofF my plaid and
go to Olpis' watching-place for tunnies and leap
from it into the waves
and if I die not, 'twill be
through no fault of yours. I found it out t'other
day my thoughts were of you and whether or no
you loved me, and when I played slap to see, the
love-in-absence that should have stuck on, shrivelled
up forthvt^ith against the soft of my arm. Agroeo
too, the sieve-witch that was out the other day
a-simpling beside the harvesters, she spoke me true
when she said you made me of none account, though
I was all wrapt up in you.
Marry, a white twinnergoat have I to give you, which that nut-brown
little liandmaiden of Mermnon's is fain to get of me
and get her she shall, seeing you choose to play
me the dainty therein.
Lo there a twitch o' my right eye. Shall I be
seeing her ? I'll go lean me against yon pine-tree
and sing awhile. It may be she'll look upon me
then, being she's no woman of adamant.
!

(sings)

When Schoenus' bride-race was begun.

Apples fell from one that run
She looks, she's lost, and lost doth leap
Into love so dark and deep.
;

" Through no fault of yours " the Greek is ** at any rate

as far as you are concerned it has {i.e. will have) been done
" Love-in-absence a flower. The Greek
as you wished."
is '* stuck not on at the slapping-game."
*'
twitch o'
my right eye": a good omen.
*' Schoenus' bride-race"
Hippomenes won Atalanta the fleet-footed daughter of
Schoenus by throwing an apple in the race for her hand the
:

45

THE BUCOLIC POETS

rav ayekav ^&) /JbdvTi<; air O0pvo<; aye MeXayL67rou9
69 HvXov a Be B/^az^ro? ev dyKolvataiv e/cXivOj]
'

judrrjp

a ')(apieaaa irepi^povo^

rdv Se /caXav J^vdepetav

'AX(f)cn.,8oia<^.

ev copeai purfKa vo/Jievcov

ovp^ ovTO)^'^nScjcivt<; eirl irXeov

ay aye

\v(j(Ta<=;,

oxjt ovoe (puifjbevov viv arep /jua^oto tlutjtc;

^aXa)T09

/jiev ifilv

^iv8v/jLLCL>v, ^aXct)

top arpoirov vttvov lavcov

Se (pi\a yvvai ^laaicova,

60

09 Toaarjv eKvprjaev, oa ov TrevaelaOe ^e/3a\oL.

'

dXyeco rav Ke(j>a\dv, rlv

S'

ov

/jbeXet,

ov/cer

decSo),

Ketaevfjiac Be Treacov, Kal rol

0)9 pieXi

46

TOi

Xvkol woe

yXvKv tovto Kara

pu

eBovrai.

^p6')(jdoio yevoLTO,

THEOCRITUS
When

the seer

III,

43-54

in's brother's

name

With those kine

to Pylus came,
Bias to the joy-bed hies

Whence sprang Alphesibee

tlie wise.

When

Adonis o'er the sheep

hills his watch did keep,
The Love-Dame proved so wild a wooer,
E'en in death she clips him to her.
In the

would I were Endymion

That sleeps the unchanging slumber on,
Or, Lady, knew thy Jasion's glee
Which profane eyes may never see

My

head aches sore, but 'tis nought to you. I'll

end, and throw me down, aye, and stir not
the which I pray be as
if the wolves devour me
sweet honey in the throat to you.

make an

Melampus by bringing to the king of Pylus the oxen oi

won the king's daughter Pero for his brother Bias
although he was slain long ago, Aphrodite Cytherea loves
her Adonis so dearly that she still clasps him at the Adonis
festival to her breast
Endymion was loved by the Moon,
seer

Iphiclus

and Jasion

as in the Eleusinian mysteries by l>emeter.

47

IV. THE

HERDSMEN

CONVERSATION between a goatherd named Battus and

his

fellow goatherd Corydon, who

place

of a

certain

at

gives

occasion

acting oxherd

in

Aegon who has been persuaded by one

Milon son of Lampriadas

match

is

Olympia.

to

go and compete

Corydons temporary

for sc^e friendly banter

sententious fello7v

does not

in

a boxing-

rise in

which

always understand

rank
the

varied

with bitter references to Milon s having supplanted Battus

in tht

favours of Amaryllis.

The

reference to Glauce

fixes the imaginary date as contemporary with Theocritus,

This is not the great Milon, but afctitious stroiig

the

same town

poem,

The

called, suitably enough, by his narne.^

like all the other

a song.

Zacynthus

sceiie is

man of
The

genuine shepherd-miiJies, contains

is still

called the flower

near Crotona in Southern

of the Levant.

Italy.

^ The identification
of Milon with the great athlete is
The great Milon flourished B.C. 510; the
incorrect.
scholiast knows of no such feats in connexion with him ; and
the feats ascribed to him by authors ap. A then. 10. 412 e, f,
are by no means identical with these.

49

IY._NOMEIS
BATT02
Elire fiQi

S)

Kopv8(j;)Vy rivo^ at ySoe?;

qpa ^iXdavha;

KOPTAnN
ovK, aXk! Kl<ycovo<;* ^oarcetv Se /xot avra^; eSco/cev,
BATTO:2
rj

IT a yjre

aX)C

KpvfShav ra TroOeairepa irdaa^; a/jueXyet^;

6 yepo)v v(f)irjTi

KOPTAHN
ra fioax^la

/cr}/j,

(^vXdaaei,

BATT02
avTO^

S' 69

TtV d(pavTO<;

6 /3ov/c6\o<; oi'^ero ')(oypav;

KOPTAHN
ovK dfcovaa^; aywv viv

iir

^A\(pOP (o^'^ro MlXcov.

BATT02
fcat

iTOKa rrjvo^ eXaiov

cV

o^OaXfJiolcnv oTTcoTret;

KOPTAHN
(pavTL VLV 'Upa/cXrJL ^irfv /cal /cdpTO<; epiaheiv,

BATT02
Krjjjb

50

(pa6'

/jbdTi]p II oXvSev/ceo^; rjjxev apbeivoy,

IV.

THE HERDSMEN

BATTUs
Wliat^ Corydon
Philondas's ?

Nay^ Aegon's

them

a bantering tone)

(in

man

whose may your cows be

CORYDON
he hath given

me

the feeding of

in his stead.

BATTUS

And

come evening, you give them all

a milking hugger-mugger ?
COHYDON
Not so the old master sees me to that he puts
I

suppose^

the calves to suck, himself.

BATTUS

But whither so
man gone ?

far

Did you never hear

him to the Alpheus.

was their own proper herds-

CORYDON
Milon carried him
}

off

with

BATTUS

Lord

When

likes of him ever

upon a flask of oil ?
CORYDON (sententiously)
say he rivals Heracles in might.
1

had the

so

much

as set eyes

Men

BATTUS

And mammy

{scoffing)

says I'm another Polydeuces.

" Hugger-mugger": on the

upon their bodies.

sly.

" Oil": used by athletes

^'
^
E 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KOPTAHN
KW'^er e^wp a/cairdvav re kol ei/cari TOvroOe firjXa, 10

BATT02
ireiaai

Ka^ MtXwz^

ical rco? \vico<;

avTi/ca Xvaarjv.

KOPYAHN
ral hajjbaXat

S*

avrov

ixvicoofjuevat

aihe iroOevvri,

BATT02
SeiXacac y avraty top ^ovkqXop w? kukop evpop.

KOPYAHN
rj

flap SetXaiai ye, kol ovKeri Xcopti pefJ^ecrOat,

BATT02
T7]Pa<; fiep Stj rot

Tcoaria,

/jurj

Ta9

7r6pTCo<;

avra XeXeiiTTai

irpSiKa^ cnTL^erai wanrep 6

Tem^;

KOPYAHN
ov Aap,
/cat

aXX OKa

/jlP

pip

eV

fjiaXaKM ')(0pT0L0 tcaXap

aXXoKa

Alcrdpoio

po/Jivo)

/cco/jivOa SlSco/jli,

Se (TKaipei to /SadvorKtop

djucf)!

Adrvfjipop,

BATTOIS

XeTTTo?

yjo

/Jiap

ravpo^

irvppl^o^,

Xd^otep

20

53

aide

Ktt

Ahrens

mss

k6, toi, t<

THEOCRITUS

IV,

10-20

CORVDON
Well, he took a score of sheep and a spade with
him, when he went.

BATTus

a momentary hitterness)
he'ld persuade a wolf to run

(ivith

Ah, that Milon

mad

for the asking.

CORYDON

And

his

heifers

miss him sore

hark to their

lowing.

BATTUS {resuming

Aye

'twas an

herdsman

it

ill

day

his bante?')

for the kine

how

sorry a

brought them

CORYDON
Marry, an ill day

(jnisnnderstaiiding)

was, and they are off their

it

feed now.

BATTUS

Look you now, yonder beast, she's nought but skin

and bone. PraV;, doth she feed on dewdrops like the
cricket

CORYDON

Why, sometimes I graze her along

no.
Zeus
the Aesarus and give her a brave bottle of the
tenderest green grass, and oftentimes her playground's in the deep shade of Latymnus.
!

BATTUS
Aye, and the red-poll bull, he's lean as can be.
(bitterly again) I only would to God, when there's a

"A score of sheep": athletes when training fed largely

upon meat, and kept themselves in condition by shovelling
sand.
*' Persuade a wolf": i.e. *'he
beguiled Aegon to
compete at Olympia though he is but a poor hand at boxing
(cf. 1. 7) just as he beguiled Amaryllis away from me though
she never really loved him."

53

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Tol TO} Aa/jiTrptdSa, toI ^afiorat

ra

^^iipa, rotovhe*

fcaKo^x^pdcr/jLcov

oKKa Ovwvn
yap 6 Bd/juo^.

KOPTAnN
/cal

fjbav

arofjuaXifJivov

eXavverai

tg

tcl

^VOTKCOV

KOi ttotI tov ^rjatOov, oira /ca\a Travra ^vovtl,

alyiTTvpo^

/cat

Kvv^a Kal

6V(o8rj<; fJueKiTeia.

BATT02
^ev cj)v ^acrevvrat Kal ral jSo69 w rdXav Acycov
669 "A.thav, o/ca fcal rv KaKa^ rjpdaaao viKa^,
yd Gvpiy^ evpoyTL TraXvveTai, dv itok iird^a,

KOPTAnN
ov TTjva y, ov
Scopov

ifjiiv

/C6V jjbev

Nu//-</)a9, iirel ttotI Yilcrav dcf^epTrcov

viv eXeiirev

rd TXavfca<;

eycb Se tl^ eifu fieXc/crd^,

dyKpovofJiaL, ev he

rd Uvppco*

Alveo) rdv re Kporcova /caXdv ttoXlv are Zd-

KvvOov^
Kal TO TTOTacpov TO KaKLVLov, arrep 6 irvKTa^
MiXo)?/ ^ oyhooKOVTa [lovo^ KaTehaicraTO fid^a<^,
Trjvet

Kal tov Tavpov dir

copeo'^

dye

Trtd^af;

Ta^ oirXd^ ktjScok ^A/jbapyXXiSc, Tal 8e yvvalKe^

jxaKpov dvdvaav, %a) /SovkoXo^; e^eyeXacraev,

mss

^v(TK(cv SO Palat. 330, cf. Philologus, 1908, p.

^ KaKav ttSKlv are ZaKvvQov E, cf.
^v(TKu)

466 other
a Laconian
:

inscription I. A. 1^ ravra Sre ovrccs us, and a modern folksaying, 7} ZaKvvBus, 7] ZaKvvBos, rh 6,v6os ttjs 'AvaroXrjs mss
^ MlXocv Naber, cf. 1. 7 :
Ka\b, tt6\is St (or a re) ZolkwOos
:

mss and

54

schol. AY7u:j/

THEOCRITUS

IV,

21-37

Hera in their ward, the sons of

to
Lampriadas might get such anotiier as he they are a
foul mixen sort, they o' that ward.
sacrifice

CORYDON
driven to the sea-lake and
Physcian border, and to that garden of good
things, goat-flower, mullet, sweet odorous balsam,
to wit Neaethus.
All the

same that

bull's

the

BATTUS (syynpathising as with another of Milons victims)

Heigho, poor Aegon thy very kine must needs
meet their death because thou art gone a- whoring
after vainglory, and the herdsman's pipe thou once
didst make thyself is all one mildew.
!

CORY DON
He bequeathed it to
Nay, by the Nymphs, not it.
me when he set out for Pisa. I too am something of
a musician.
Mark you, I'm a dabster at Glauce's
snatches and those ditties Pyi-rhus makes
(sings)
:

is a bonny town as Zacynth by the sea.

a bonny sight on her eastward height is the
fane of Laciny,
Where boxer Milon one fine morn made fourscore
loaves his meal.
And down the hill another day.

Croton

And

While

lasses holla' d

by the way,

To Amaryllis, laughing gay

Led the bull by the heel.
" Might get such another ": the greater part of a sacrificed
'*
animal was eaten by the sacrificers.
Mullet ": sometimes
called

'

fieabane.'

55

THE BUCOLIC POETS

BATT05
'^apieaa ^A/jbapvWiy fiova^ deOev ovhe Oavoiaa^
Xaaevfjuead'' oaov alye^ i/uv (f)i\ai, oacrov d7r6a/3r]<^,
alal TO) afcXrjpco fiaXa haljjLOvo^, 09 /xe XeXojx^^'
o)

4(

KOPYAriN

Oapaelv

^^^^

XPV

Barre-

avpiov

Tci'x^

eaaer

a/jiLVOP,

-^d)

Zev^ aXkoica

fiev nreXei

aWpio^, aXXoKa

BATT02
Oapaew, ^dXXe KarcoOey rd

jjboa')(la'^

S^ vet,

tcl^

yap

iXaLa<;

Tov OaXXov rpcoyovTC rd Svcrcroa.

KOPYAnN
o-Lrd' 6 Ae7rapyo<;y
ov/c eaaKovec^;
aiT0' d K.v/iaL0a irorl tov X6(f)ov,
Tj^Sd vol TOV Yidva icaKov TeXo^ avTt/ca Sooa&v,
c8' av irdXcv a8e iroOepirei,
el jjurj direi TovTcodev,
eW^ rj<; jULot poLKov tc^ XaycojSoXov, C09 tv irdTa^a,

BATT02

Odaai
apfioL

jjH

&

K.opvBcov ttottco A^o?*

7raTa^

cob

jjb

to

vtto

d ydp d/cavda
acpvpov.

co?

oe

jSaOelai

TdT paicTvXkihe^ ivTL, /ca/c&)9 d iropTi^ oXoito'

669 TavTav iTVTTTjv '^acr/jLVfMvo(;, rjpd ye Xevaaet^;

KOPTAnN
vat vai, T0t9 ovvx^aaiv
^

^dWe

KOsTOiBe

56

ra

KOiTcode,
}x.

"

ra

fx.

E,

Polk6v ri

cf.

')(^oi)

re vlv dhe /cat avTa.

^d\\^

Hermann

is
:

KOpaKas others j3d\\

p. rh or ru
:

mss

5(

THEOCRITUS
BATTUS

IV,

proof against

(not

38-55

the

tactless

reference

apostrophising)

beautiful Amaryllis, though you be dead, I am

pretty goats are
and Til never forget you.
dear to me, but dear no less a maiden that is no
well-a-day that
luck turned so ill
more.

My

true,

my

CORYDON
be comforted.

Soft you, good Battus

comes with another morn while there's

hope rain one day, shine the next.
;

Good luck
life

there's

BATTUS

Let be 'tis
you, ye calves

{changing the subject) Up with

the hill
They are at the green

well,

up

of those olives, the varlets.

Hey

up,

Snowdrop

CORYDON
hey up, Goodbody
!

to the

Art thou deaf.?^

hill
ye!
'Fore Pan I'll
presently come thee an evil end if thou stay there.
back she comes again. Would
Look ye there
there were but a hurl-bat in my hand
I had had
wi'

at thee.

BATTUS

Zeus save thee, Corydon see here

It Iiad at
me as thou saidst the word, this thorn, here under
my ankle. And how deep the spindle-thorns go
A plague o' thy heifer It all came o' my gaping
after her.
{Corydon comes to help hiin) Dost see
him, lad ?
CORYDON
Aye, aye, and have got him 'twixt my nails and
lo here he is.
;

THE BUCOLIC POETS

BATT03
6a(Tbj(ov earl to rvfifMa Kal oKIkov avhpa

Bafjud^ec^

KOPYAHN

eh
iv

6po<^ OK')^ epTTT}^,

yap 6pet

/JL7]

pdjuLVOc re

vrj\Liro<;

ep^^o Bdrre'

kol dairakoSoi Kopbeovrai,

BATT02
etiT

dye

o)

jju

K.opvScov, to yepovriov

rjp^

en

/jLvWec

TTjvav TCLV /cvdvocppvv ipcorlBay rd^ ttok e/cvladi];

KOPTAHN
aKfidv y
fcal ttotI

5)

BetXate' rrpoav ye jxev avro^ eTrevBcov

ra pbdyhpa KareXd/n^avov

dfjio<^

60

evrjpyei,

BATT05
ev

&v6p(t)iTe (f)t\ol(pa* to Totyevo<;r} ^aTVpiaKOi<;

eyyvOev

53

rj

Udveacn

/ca/coKvd/jLocacv epiaSec^;,

THEOCRITUS

IV,

BATTus (in mock-heroic

what a
mighty a man

little

tiny

wound

56-63
strain)

to

overmaster so

coRYDON (pointing the moral)

should' st put on thy shoes when thou goest
into the hills, Battus 'tis rare ground for thorns and
gorse, the hills.

Thou

Pray

tell

BATTUS
me, Corydon, comes gaffer yet the gal-

lant with that dark-browed piece

smitten of?

o'

love

he was

CORYDON
Aye, that does he, ill's his luck. I happened of
them but two days agone, and near by the byre, too,
and faith, gallant was the word.
BATTUS (apostrophising)

Well done, goodman Light-o'-love.

'Tis plain
thou comest not far below the old Satyrs and illshanked Pans o' the country-side for lineage.
"Old Satyrs":

effigies

of

Pan and the Satyrs were

feature of the country-side.

59

V._THE GOATHERD AND THE SHEPHERD

The

scene of this shepherd-mime

pastures near the mouth

of Syharis and Thuril

of the

in

is

laid in the ivooded

river Crathis in the district

Southern

The foreground

Italy.

of a lagoon near which stand effigies of the

Nymphs ivho preside over it, and there is close by a rustic
is

the shore

statue

of Pan of the

seaside.

The characters are a goat-

herd named Comatas and a young shepherd named Lacon

who are watching

some

little

their focks.

Having

seated themselves

distance apart, they proceed to converse in no

very friendly spirit, and the talk gradually leads to a

of song with a. woodcutter named Morson for the

judge and a lamb and a goat for the stakes. The contest
contest

is

a spirited, not

say a

bitter, one,

alternate couplets, the elder

of
couplet and
series

to

same theme.

and

man

consists

first

singing his

the younger then trying to better him at the

'The themes

Comatas chooses are various,

but the dominant note, as often in Theocritus, is love.

some of the
the surface.

lines there is

In

more meaning than appears on

After foui^teen pairs of couplets, Moi^son

bi^eaks in before
to

of a

Lacon has replied and awards

his

lamb

Comatas,

6i

v. AinOAIKON KAI HOIMENIKON

KOMATA2
AZye?

i^iai, ttjvov

(f)vyT

tov TroLfiepa rov Xv^aptrap

TOV AaKcopa- TO

fjbev

vclko^ e%^e9 eKXeyjrev.

AAKHN
ovK airo Ta9 Kpdva^
TOV

fjLV

<jltt afjbvlhe^

ovk, ecroprjTe

Tav avpiyya irpoav KKe^^ravTa

J^o/JLciTav;

KOMATA2
Tav iTOiav (jvpiyya; tv yap iroKa ScoXe Xi^vpTa
ifCTacra avpLjya; tl S' ovKeTL avv KopvScovt
dpfcel TOi fca\djbia<; avKov iromrvahev e')(0VTL;

AAKHN
Tav

fioi eScoKG

Avkcov ooXevdepe. tIv Se to ttolov

Ad/ccov dyK\eylra<;

tto/c

ejiav vdico<;

ovSe yap ^vfidpa tco hecrrroTa

tj^;

elrre ILoixara*

tl evevhetv,

komata:s
TO K.poKv\o(;
Tal'^

fjLot

Nv/jL(j)ac<i

eSco/ce,

to ttolklKov, dviic

Tav alya'

Tif

8'

w KaKe

Wvae
Kal

t6/c

eTdKev
^ao-fcauvcov, Kal vvv fie tcl

62

\oia6ta yv/ivov

e6r]ica<;,

v. THE GOATHERD AND THE SHEPHERD

COMATAS

Beware^ good my goats^ of yonder shepherd from

he stole my skin-coat
beware of Lacon

Sybaris^

yesterday.

LACON
He}^ up

my

away from the

pretty lambkins
you not Comatas that stole my pipe

See
two days agone
spring.

COMATAS
Pipe

Sibyrtas'

bondman

that was content to

a parcel o' straws ?

sit

possessed of a pipe } he
with Cory don and toot upon

LACON
Yes^ master freeman^ the pipe Lycon gave me.
And as for your skin-coat^ what skin-coat and when
has ever Lacon carried off o' yours ? Tell me that^
why^ your lord Eumaras^ let alone his
Comatas
bondman^ never had one even to sleep in.
;

COMATAS
gave me^ the dapple skin^ after
that he sacrificed that she-goat to the Nymphs.
And as your foul envious eyes watered for it then,
so your foul envious hands have bid me go henceforth naked now.
'Tis that Crocylus

63

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AAKHN
OX)

jMavTov Tov Tiava top d/crtoVy ov re ye Ad/ccov

rap /Saurav airehva 6 ILvXaiOiho^} i) Kara njpa^

rd^ 7r6Tpa<; copdpcoTre jiapei^ eh K.pdOcp aXoi/jLUP,

KOMATA5
OV flap ov ravra^ ra^ \tfipdSa<; o)ya0e Nu/>fc<^a9,
aire /lot 'iXaol re koI evfiepee^; reXeOotepy

ov rev rap avpiyya \a6cop

al rot

aXX

irtG-revo-atfjLiy

e/cXeyjra KofjLdTa<;,

AAKHN
rd ^dcfypcSo^;

dXX

dye rot

Scaeucro/jLac,

20

ecTi fxep ovoep

(OP ac/ca A.779 epicpop Ue/jLep,

lepop,

ciXye dpOLfiap,

eare k

dTreiirrj^,

KOMATA5
^AOapaiap epip rjpiaep, rjPiSe /cetrat
aXX aye Kat rv top evporop afxpop epLcroe,

9 iroT
Mpccpo^;'

AAKriN
rdS* epiaaerai^ e^ taco dfifup;

fcal 7rco<; S) fctpa^ev

TL<; Tpi'x^af;

aLyo<;

dpT

epucop eiroKi^aro

tl<;

Be 7rapevcra<;

irparoroKOLO Kaicap Kvpa hrjXeT djieXyeiP;

KOMATA2
ocTTi^ Pifcaaelp

a(f>d^

top irXaTiop

^0[Jij3eo)P

TeTTtyo^

oo<;

tv

TreTroiOet,'^

epaPTiop.

dXXd yap

ov TL
&pi^o<^ laoiraXrj^; tol^

tS' o

Tpdyo^

ovto<^' eptaSe,

^ KvAaidi^os Bechtel from Herodas 6. 50: mss KaA.

^ rdd'
mss also epeiSe
with accus. of stake

(passive)

Heinsius

64

mss

mss

raS'

TreTrot^ets

[Tay\ raSe
^

roi

7*)

Ahrens

eo-crerat
:

mss rv

piad

ipicra^rai

ireiroiQei

30

THEOCRITUS
Nay, nay, by Pan

V,

14-30

LACON
the Shore

Lacon son of
fellow, may I
coat
of
thine,
Cylaethis never filched
run raving mad else and leap into the Crathis from
yonder rock.
o'

COMATAS
so
No, no, by these Nymphs o' the lake, man
surely as I w^ish 'em kind and propitious, Comatas
never laid sneaking hand on pipe o' thine.
;

LACON

Heaven send

me

the

affliction of

Daphnis

But enough of this

if e'er I

if thou'lt
believe that tale.
wage me a kid 'tis not worth the candle, but
I'll have a contention o'
nevertheless come on
song with thee till thou cry hold.

the old story

'Tis

my wage
fine fat

is

laid.

COMATAS
thy grandam.

teach

And

lamb against

thou, for thine^ lay

There

me

thy

it.

LACON

Thou fox prithee how shall such lajdng fadge ?

As well might one shear himself hair when a' might
!

have wool, as well choose to milk a foul bitch before

a

young milch-goat.

COMATAS
thou that he'll vanquish his
neighbour is like the wasp buzzing against the
cricket's song.
But 'tis all one my kid it seems is
no fair stake. So look, I lay thee this full-grown

He

that's as sure as

he-goat

*'

and now begin.

Teach thy grandam

against Athena."

''

"

the Greek

Fadge"

is

*'

the sow contended

be suitable.

6s

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AAKHN
ov yap tol irvpi OdXTreai, aSiov aafj
fjbT) (TTrevS'
Tt8^ VTTO rav KOTivov fcai ToXcrea ravra icaOi^a^;,
'\^v')(^pov vScop Trjvel /caraXei^eTar ^Se irecpv/cet
'

ya

TToia

(TTil3a<=;

ahe, koL afcpihe^ cohe \a\evvTt,

KOMATAS

aXX ov

TL (TTrevSco* /jueya

8' a^x^dofiai, el

rv

fji

ToX/njjs

o/n/xacn TOLoS^^ opOolcn TroTt^Xeirev, ov itok

Trato

eycov

eoLoaa/cov,

a %ap^9

co

eovra

t9

iro6epiTi.

Opeyjrat tol Xv/ciSet^;, Opiylrat Kvvd^,

w? rv

(f>dyQ)VTL,

AAKHN
TTOfc

fcal

iycov nrapa rev^ tl /xaOcov

koXov

rj

fcal

dfcovaa<^
jmefjiva/jL

S)

cf)0ovepov

rv

dirpeiTe^

fcal

dvhpiov

avToy<^,

KOMATA5
eiTvyiXov rv, rv 8' d\y<;' at Se yiijuaipai
aihe KaTe/3X7]^(0VT0, ical 6 Tpdyo<; avra^; irpvirrj.
dvifc

AAKHN
fjbrj

/3d0tov rrjvco irvyia fxaTO^ vjSe rat^et/y?.

dWd

yap

p(j>\

c58'

epire,

ical

vcTTara

jSovfco-

Xia^f},

KOMATA5
^^X ^P'^^ rrjver rovrei Spv<;, wSe Kvireipo^y
S)he /caXov jSofJb^evvTi irorl crfjidveo-ai jneXiaaar
v6^ vSaro^ ^jrv^po) icpdvai Svo' ral S' iirl SevSpec
opvi^X^^ XaXaYeOz^T^* /cat d atcia ovSev ofjLOia
rd nrapd tlv jSdWet he Kal a 7rLTV<; v'ifrode /coovot^i,
^

ofjL/JLaa-i

TOio-S*

Hermann

mss

6,

rols

66

THEOCRITUS

V,

31-49

LACON

no fire's burning thee. You'll sing

Soft, soft
better sitting under the wild olive and this coppice.
There's cool water falling yonder^ and here's grass
and a greenbed, and the locusts at their prattling.
;

Vm

COMATAS
no haste^ not I^ but

in sorrow rather that

you dare look me in the face^ I that had the teaching
of you when you were but a child.
Lord
look
where kindness goes. Nurse a wolf-cub^ nay rather^
nurse a puppy-dog to be eaten for't.
in

LACON
w^hen^ P^^Jy do I mind me to have learnt or
heard aught of good from thee ? Fie upon thee for
a mere envious and churlish piece of a man

And

Cum

COMATAS
ego te paedicabam^ tuque dolebas et capellae

balabant et caper eas terebrabat.

LACON

Utinam ne ista paedicatione^ gibber^ profundius

But a truce^ man
hither^ come thou
hither^ and thou shalt sing thy country-song for the
sepeliaris

last time.

COMATAS
Thither will I never come. Here I have oaks and
bedstraw^ and bees humming bravely at the hives,
here's two springs of cool water to thy one^ and
birds^ not locusts^ a-babbling upon the tree^ and^ for
shade, thine' s not half so good and what's more the
pine overhead is casting her nuts.
;

67
r 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AAKHN
dpvaKiBa<; re /cal elpta rethe 7raT7]creL<;,
aiK V0r](;, vTTVco iiaXaicwrepa- rat Se rpayelat
Toi Trapa rlv ooSovrc Ka/coorepov rj rv nrep oaSei^.
araach 8e Kparrjpa /mejap XevKolo yaXafcro'^
ral^ Nvfji(j)aL^, crracrco Se koI aSeo? aWov iXaico,

Yj

jjLav

KOMATA5
al Be fC KoX TV /Jb6\r]<;, airoiXav irrepiv wSe Trarrjaecf;
Kol fykd^oav dvOevaav VTreao-eirai Se ')(^t/jLaLpdp

rdv
dpVMV,

hepixara
aracrS)

irapa

S' ofcro) puev

rerpuKL^

piaXafccoTepa

rlv

javXcb^

Tcp Tlavl ydXafCTo^,

OKTO) Se o-K:a<piha<; jjueXtro^ irXea Kr^pi

i'^oLcra^;,

AAKHN
avToOe fJLOL TToreptaSe /cal avroOe ^ovKoXidahev
rdv aavrS) Trarecov e%6 ra? Spva^. dWd ti? dfipLe,
T69 Kpivel; al6* evdoi tto^' o ^ovkoXo^ c&S' d
KvKdyira^.

KOMATA2

dWd

ovSev ijcb T7]V0) TTOTtSevo/iiar

top dpSpa,
al X^9, TOP SpvTOfiop /3(0(TTpij(rofji<=;, 09 Ta9 epeiKa<^
Trjpa<; Ta9 irapd tip ^vXo^i^eTar ecTL Be M.6pa(jop.

AAKHN
y9&)(7T/9ea)yL669.

KOMATA5
TV KoXet

PtP,

AAKHN
lo)

TiS^ ep6d)P'

d/jifie^

jdp

^ovKoXiacTTd^ eaTL. tv
P %ayo^T6

68

Kpiprjf;, jjltJt

^epe fjbiKKOP d/covaop

epioSopie^;, 6aTL<;
S'

cop

coyade

jjltJt

Tvya tovtop

dpeiwp

e/xe

M.6po-(ov

6pdarj<^.

THEOCRITUS

V, 50-69

LACON

An

come here.

you'll

Til

you

lay

shall

tread

lambskins and sheep's wool as soft as sleep. Those

buckgoat-pelts of thine smell e'en ranker than thou.
And ni set up a great bowl of whitest milk to
the Nymphs, and eke Til set up another of
sweetest oil.
COMATAS
If come you do, you shall tread here taper fern
and organy all a-blowing, and for your lying down
there's she-goat-skins four times as soft as those
lambskins of thine. And Til set up to Pan eight
pails of milk and eke eight pots of full honeycombs.
LACON
Go to be where you will for me for the match o'
Go your own gate you're welcome
country-song.
But who's to be our judge, say who ?
to your oaks.
Would God neatherd Lycopas might come this way
;

along.

COMATAS
no want of him. We'll holla rather, an't
please ye, on yon woodcutter that is after fuel in
the heather near where you be.
Morson it is.
I suffer

LACON

We

will.

COMATAS
Call him, you.

LACON

Ho, friend hither and lend us your ears awhile.

We two have a match toward, to see who's the
!

better

man

at a country-song,

(morson approaches)
good Morson; neither judge me out of
favour nor yet be too kind to him.

Be you

fair,

69

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KOMATA2
val ttotI rav ^v/jL(j)dv Mopacov (piXe
TO TrXeov evOvvrj^y

jLiTJre

Kofjidra

&v Tvya tmSs X^P^^V*

/jLiJt

aSe TOL a TroL/uva tw @ovpL(o iarl Xc^vpra,

AAKHN
/JL7]

TV

Tt9 r/pcoTT] TTOTTco

acT ifiov

A^09, aiT

KCLKiaTe TO

icTTL

/SevTLcrO^ ovTO^, iyo)

fcovSev /cav^Mfjiar

KOMATA2
jjiev aXaOea

tv

S*

^L^vpra
\a\o^ iaaL

TToifJiVLOv; 0)9

itclvt

d'yopevfo

ciyav (piXoKepTOfjio^ iaai,

AAKHN
ela

Xey\

tl

el

Xeyet^;,

/cat

tov ^evov e? ttoXlv

avdL<^
i^SyvT

w Uaodv,

a^e9'

rj

aTO)fjLvXo(; rjcrda

l^ofxaTa.

KOMATA2

Tat yiolaai
AdcpvLV

ijo)

jjue

S'

(piXevvTt ttoXv ivXeov

avTacf;

rj

tov docSov

x^fjidpw^ Svo irpdv ttok

edvaa.

AAKHN
Koi jdp

[xeya,

koI /caXbv

he J^dpvea kol

Stj ecpepirei.

^UttoXXcop (piXeei

e/ii

,,

avTco

Kpiov eyo) jSoaxo).

tcl

I
73

Y^vfidpa

rightly omits.

70

86

Tots

alyas

SpTjS

<f)i\

rw

^vf^apira.

Wil

THEOCRITUS

V,

70-83

COMATAS
'Fore the Nymphs^ sweet Morson^ W'W J^^
neither rule unto Comatas more than his due nor yet
This flock o' slieep^ look
give your favour to Lacon.
you^ is Sibyrtas' of Thurii.

LACON
Zeus! and who asked thee^ foul knave^ whether
Lord^ what a
the flock was mine or Sibyrtas' ?
babbler is here
!

COMATAS

Most excellent blockhead^ all I say^ I, is true^

but Tord
though for my part^ I'm no braggart
a
railer
here
what
is
!

LACON

Come^ come
friend
Apollo save
the gab.
suffer

say thy say and

be done, and let's

Morson to come off with his life.
Comatas
thou hast the gift o'
us_,
;

Match)

(^Tke Singing

COMATAS

The Muses bear me greater

love than Daphnis ere

did see
well they may, for t'other day they had two
goats of me.
;

And

LACON

But Apollo loves

have I,

fine fat

me

all as well,

ram a-batt'ning

and an

offering too

for Apollo's feast

draws

nigh.
''Foul

knave":

Comatas'

apparently innocent remark

implies the taunt of slavery ; cf. 11. 5 and 8.

the Greek has ''the poet Daphnis."

*'

Daphnis"

71

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KOMATA5

rrXav Svo ra? \oL7ra<; SlSv/jlutoko^; alja<; a/neXyo),

fcai fi

iroOopevaa

TTol^

'

rdXav

'

Xeyet

'

avro^

'

afjiiXyec^;

AAKHN
(pev (pev' Adfccov roc raXdpcof; (j')(ehov

eUaTi

TrXrjpol

Tvpco fcal TOP dvaj3ov iv avdeau iralha pioXvveL.

KOMATA2
/SdXXei

fcaX /jbaXotaL

top al^rroXov a KXeapiara

Ta9 alya^ TrapeXcivra koI dhv tc TroTTTrvXtdoSet.

AAKHN
Kr]fji

yap

eKjiaiver

6 }^paTiSa<;

Xnrapa

rbv

he Trap"

TTOL/Jbeva

Xeco^ viravr&v 90

avykva aeUr edecpa,

KOMATA5
dXX^ ov avfi/3X7]T
7ryoo9

icrrl

Kwoa^aro^;

ovS* dvejuLcova

poSa, TMV dvSrjpa irap aljjiaGLalai iTe<pvKeL.

AAKHN
ovhe yap ovK dfcvXoc^ 6pojiaXihe<^' at fiev
XeiTTOV

exovn

diro irpivoio Xeirvpiov, at he fieXtxpccL

i
^

AeTi-ToV

of taste

72

THEOCRITUS

V,

84-95

COMATAS

Nigh all my goats have twins at teat there's only

two with one
And the damsel sees and the damsel says Poor lad^
;

'

dost milk alone

LACON

tale of

woe

here's Lacon^ though^

fills

cheese-

mid

flowers

racks well-nigh twenty

And

lies^

good hap

in his leman's lap

that blow so plenty.

COMATAS
But when her goatherd boy goes by you should see

my

Clearist

Fling apples^ and her pretty lips

call

pouting to be

kissed.

But madness

'tis

for

LACON
the shepherd to meet the

shepherd's love^

So brown and bright are the tresses light that toss

that shoulder above.

Ah

COMATAS
but there's no comparing windflower with rose
at

all^

Nor wild dog-rose with her that blows beside the

trim orchard's wall.

LACON
There's no better likeness, neither, 'twixt fruit of
pear and holm
The acorn savours flat and stale, the pear's like

honeycomb.
" Pear"

in the

Greek, a sweet kind of wild apple.

73

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KOMATA5
KTjyo)
i/c

/jbev

ScocTM

ra irapOevfp avTifca (pdaaav

Ta9 apKv9(o fcaOeXwv

rrjvel

yap

icf^uo'Set,

AAKHN
oXTC

iyco 9

xKalvav fjuaXaKov

rav olv rav TreWav, KpariSa

ttokov, onriroKa Tre^co

Scoprjao/jLat

avro^.

KOMATA2
(TiTT
0)9

ciiro

ra^

fcOTLVoy

toI

/Jirj/cdSef;'

mSc

vefieade,

TO KaTO.vre'^ tovto yecoXocpov at re fivpL/cai,

AAKnN
ovfc diTo

rd^ Bpvo^ ovro^; 6

}s.(ovapo<;

TOVTt ^O(TfC7)crla0 TTOT civToXd^}

a re KtvaiOa;

&)9 o

^oXapo^,

KOMATA2

ean

Se fiot

yavXb^

/cv7rapiaatvo<;,

(Scttl

epyov IIpa^LT\V<;' ra iratSl Se ravra

Se /cpaTrjp,
<pv\dcrcrco,

AAKHN
y^dfjilv

eorn kv(ov

OP

iraiSl BiScopLL

Tft)

TTor

2.1247

74

f^iXoTroipiVLOf;, 09 \vko<; dy')(ei,

rd

Orjpia Trdvra SiM/cetv*

aUTo\ds " uphill " E, cf. 4. 44 and avareWoo Ap. Ehod.

"
others " towards the east

100

THEOCRITUS

V, 96-107

COMATAS
In yonder
nest
I'll

go

this

juniper-thicket

cushat

day and fetch her away

sits

for the

on

her

maiden

love best.

So soon as e'er
take
I'll

my

LACON
sheep I shear^ a rare

fine gift I'll

give yon black ewe's pretty coat

cloak to make.

my

darling's

COMATAS
Hey^ bleaters away from the olive where would
be grazing then ?
Your pasture's where the tamarisk grows and the
slope hill drops to the glen.
!

LACON
Where are ye browsings Crumple ? and^ Brownings
where are ye ?
Graze up the hill as Piebald will^ and let the oakleaves be.

COMATAS

up a piggin of c^^press-wood and a bowl for

mixing wine^
The work of great Praxiteles^ both for that lass of
I've laid

mine.

LACON
have a flock-dog, a wolver of good fame.
Shall go a gift to my dearest and hunt him
manner of game.

And

1, I

**

Great Praxiteles"

all

not the sculptor.

75

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KOMATA2
dfcpiSe^f

\(o^d(Trj(T6e Ta<^ afJureXof;' ivrl

jLtev

fjLTj

at Tov (f^payfiov VTrepTraSfjre top

ci/jlov,

yap a^ai}

AAKHN
Tol TeTTLy6<; oprjre, tov aliroXov co? epeOii^o^*
ovTCO<; KvpLjie^ 6r}v

ipedi^ere ro)? /caXafjuevrdf;,

K0MATA5
ra MiKcovG(;

piiaico Ta<; Sa(TVK6p/co<; aXcoTrefca^y at

a lei

(j>oLT(oaat

rd TroOeaiTepa payu^ovTC.
AAKCIN

yap

h:al

iycb paaeo)

to9 Kavddpof;,

rd ^iXcovoa

oc

av/ca KaTarpdtyovTe^ VTravejaiot (popiovrat,

K0MATA2
fj

ov /jLepivaa^ ok iydo rv KarijXacra,

/cal

rv aeaap(b<;

ev 7roTKtyfc\i^V /cal rd<; Spvb<; etx^o Trjva<;;

TOVTO

puev

OV ixkixvaiL'

^vfjidpa^ /cddap,

AAKHN
oKa jxdv rot^

KaXw

relSe rv hrjaa^

fidXa tovto

7' taajJLi,

KOMATA2
i^hy]

T^9 Mopcrcoz^ irncpaiverai'

afciXXa^
^

ajBai

lo)v

mss

ypaia^ diro

rj

ov')(l

crd/xaTO^;

avai, a^ai, a^ai, schol.

irapdaOev;

avrcKa TiWetv,

ava.i,

&C^i,

ahrai

pro-

bably special name of a choice sort of vine, cf. Hesych.

a/jLireXos
some take it as "youths," i.e. young vines
7/^877:

/xdv rot

76

Wil

mss

ixdv Troica

or ftav

THEOCRITUS

108-121

V,

COMATAS
Avaunt^ avaunt^ ye locusts o'er master's fence that
spring

These be none of your common vines

your ravaging.

have done

LACON
See, crickets,
'Tis

see

how vexed he be

Goatherd boiUng
even so you vex,

troAv,

see master

the reapers at their

toihng.

COMATAS
hate the brush-tail foxes, that soon as day declines
(yome creeping to their vintaging mid goodman
Micon's vines.
LACON
So too I hate the beetles come riding on the breeze,
Guttle Philondas' choicest figs, and off as quick as
I

vou please.
COMATAS

Num

oblitus es

quam pulchre mihi

et quercui

illi

cum ego

turn,

tu

tuam caudam

adhaerens

te

percutiebam,

iactaveris ringens

LACON
Istud quidem non ego memini at turn, cum hie te
Eumaras alligatum depectebat, quid acciderit probe
;

scio.

COMATAS
Somebody's waxing wild, Morson
is

plain

Go pluck him
his

see you not

what

squills

from an oldwife's grave to cool

heated brain.

77

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AAKHN
icrjr^d)

fiav fcvL^co IS/lopcrcov Tivd' koI

ev9(bv

rav KVKKdjJbivov opvcrae vvv

tv Se
e?

\ev(TGei<;,

rov'^AXevra,

KOMATA2
'I/A,pa

avG" vhaTO^ peLroy ^aka,

ocv(p 7rop(f)vpot<;y

/cal

tv Se K.pd9c

rd Se rot aia Kapirov

evei/cac,

AAKHN
peiro)

ya ^v^apln^

e/juv /juiXt,

kol to iroTopOpov

ival^ avd" vBaTOs: to, KoXirihi Krjpia ^dyjrat,

KOMATA5
TOi fiev

ifjual

/cat a')(ivov

kvtigov t

/cat

acyiXov alye^ ehovTL,

iraTeovTU kol iv fcofidpotai KeovTau,

AAKHN
Taccrt S'

ijuLai<; otecrcri

TrdpeaTi fiev d /jbeXuTeta

<j>ep^ea9ai, 7ro\Xo9 Se koX a)9

poha

KLcr0o(; iiravOet,

KOMATA2
ov/c epa/.t

^AXfciTTTra^, otl pie irpav ovfc e^iXrjae

TMV coTwv KaOekola

78

oica ol

Tav (pdacrav

eSco/ca,

130

THEOCRITUS
Nay^

LACON
be nettling somebody

tell

Be

V,

122-133

what needs

it

you to

Haleis' bank^ Morson,

off to

and dig him an

earth-apple.

COMATAS
Let Himera's stream run white with cream, and
Crathis, as for thine,

Mid apple-bearing beds

of reed

may

it

run red with

wine.

LACON

Let Sybaris' well spring honey for me^ and ere the
sun is up
May the wench that goes for water draw honeycombs
for

My

my

cup.

COMATAS
goats eat goat-grass, mine, and browze upon the
clover.

Tread mastich green and

waving over.

lie

between the arbutes

LACON

may be

so^ but Fid have ye know these pretty

sheep of mine
Browze rock-roses in plenty and sweet as eglantine.

It

COMATAS

When

I brought the cushat 'tother night 'tis true

Alcippa kissed me,
But alack she forgot to kiss by the pot^ and since^
poor wench, she's missed me.
!

" Kiss by the pot"

to kiss taking hold of both ears.

79

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AAKnN

aXX

iyo)

EvfjurjSev^;

epafiat

fjieya*

avTcp
rav (Tvpiyy cope^a, koKov tl

fxe

Kapr

fcal

yap ok

ec^ikrjaev,

KOMATA2
ov depLLTov Adfccov iroT drjSova Kiaaa^ ipiaSetv,
ovS
eTTOira^ KVKvoiar
rv S* S) rdXav iaal

MOPSHN
iravaaaQai KeXoixai top irotp.eva, rlv Se KoyLtara
hoypeiTaL Moyocrcoz^ rav afiviSa' /cal rif Be dvaa^
Tol^ NvfjLfpaL^ M.6p(T0)VL KoKov Kpka^ avTLKa
Trefiyjrov*

komata:2
Trep^yjrco

vol top Tldpa. (fypcpbdcraeo irdaa rpayicncwp

pvp dyeXa* KTjycop yap cS^ &)9 fieya tovto Ka^dahw

KaTTO) KdKWPO^ TO} 7rOLpLPO(;, OTTL TTOK Tjhr]
dpyadfiap rap dp^pop' 9 oopapop vpbpiip dXevpiai,
aly<; ipal dapcreire KepovrtBe^ ^
avpiop vpLpue
nrdaa^ iyco Xovaco Xv^aptrcSo^; epSodt XipbPa^,
ovTO^
X6VKLTa<; 6 KOpviTTiXo^y el TIP oyevael<^

Tap alySyp, cj)XaacrS) tv, irplp rj e/xe /caXXceprjaac

Tal<; Nu/x^a^9 Tap dp^pop,
dXXd
o S' air irdXiP*
yepoipiaPy

at prj TV
^

Kaxoi<T^oi)

Tides
KiSes

So

(f)Xd(TcraLpLi,

Ahrens

E,
:

cf.

mss

MeXdpdio<; dpTL KopbaTU,

^ ,cepoi;.
mss /caxa^w
153, 23. 46
Kcpooxi^^s, schol. also KepovXlBcs, KcpovX-

2.

THEOCRITUS

V,

134-150

LACON

When

Eumedes took the pipe

that was his

token
kissed him sweet as sweet could be his lover's
love's unbroken.
COMATAS
nature's law that no jackdaw with nightingale
fair

lover's

He
'Tis

shall bicker^

Nor owl with swan^ but poor Lacon was born a

quarrel-picker.

MORSON
You^ Comatas^ may
bid the shepherd cease.
take the lamb
and when you offer her to the
Nymphs be sure you presently send poor Morson a
well-laden platter.
1

COMATAS

That

will I^ 'fore Pan.

buck-goats

all.

Come^ snort

Look you how great

Lacon

ye^

my

a laugh

merry
have

have at last achieved

the lamb. Troth^ I'll caper you to the welkin.
Good she -goats mine^ frisk it and be merry tomorrow I'll w^ash you one and all in Sybaris lake.
What^ White coat^ thou wanton
if thou leave not
meddling with the she's^ before ever I sacrifice the
lamb to the Nymphs I'll break every bone in thy
body.
Lo there he's at it again. If I break thee
not^ be my last end the end of Melanthius.
of shepherd

for that I

"owl": the Greek has ''hoopoe."

"Melanthius":
the goatherd mutilated by Odysseus and Telemachus in the
twenty-second book of the Odyssey.

81

VL A COUNTRY SINGING-MATCH
Theocritus dedicates

the

poem

to

he speaks in the Harvest- Home.

and

in the pastures,
is

a.

the time a

the Thyrsis.

If

The

summer

scene

is

iioon.

a spring

The theme

between a certain Damoetas and

friendly contest

Hhe neatherd DaphnisJ

of

of whom

the Aratus

This

so, the

is

probably the Daphnis

two singers are meant

to be

contemporary with the persons of whoin they sing, as

are the singers
Daphjiis,

of IV, V, and X.

apostrophising

blind to the love

of

the

Each sings one song.

Polyphemus, asks why he

sea-nymph Galatea.

personating him, declares that his apathy

make her

is all

is

Damoetas,
put on,

to

love secure.

83

VI. BOTKOAIASTAI
^ovkoXo^ eh eva

Aa/jiOiTa<; ^co Ad(f)VL<; 6

rap ayeXav ttok, ''Apare, avvdjayov

^(^Ihpov

rj^

S"

o fiev

avTcov
TTvppo<;, o 8' rjficj6veL0<;'

iirl

Kpdvav

he tlv

a/Ji(f)(o

ecrSofievoL Oepeo<^ fjbeacp afiart roidS^ detSov,

7rpdT0<; S*

BaXXe^

dp^aro

Ad(pvt<;, eVet

Kal Trpdro^;

epccrSe*

d TaXdreta
jjbdXoKjLv, Svaepcora rov aliroXov dvBpa /caXevaa'
Kao TV viv ov TToOoprjcrda rdXav rdXav ^, dXXd
TOL Tlo\v(f)a/jie to iroijjbVLOv

/cdOrjcrac

aoea

avpicrdcop,

d TOL Tap
eh dXa

rraXiv ao

ice

otcop eireTai aKoiro^*

Ta

hepKOfjuepay

(f>aLpeL

Se

rav fcvva paXXei,

a Se

jSavcrhei

fcaXd

plp

/cvfjiara

dav')(a KayXdi^opTOf; iii alycaXoto deoiaap,

fjbr) rd^ TracSb^ eirl Kpdfxaiaip opovarj
aXo9
e^
ip')(^ofjLepa^y icaTa Be X/ooa fcaXop dpbv^rj*
a he Kol avToOe tol ScaOpvirreTac (h<; dii aKdpda^
dpLKa
Tol KairvpaX yjUTai, to koXop Oepo^

(ppd^eo

(f>pvyCj

Kal ov (jytXeopTa BicoKei,

/cat (f)evyet (f>iXeopTa

^
'*

T(x\av

(paiv^i

accus. iieut.

cf.

Men. Ep. 217

others voc. masc.

schol. also paiv^L

84

VL A COUNTRY SINGING-MATCH
Damoetas and neatherd Daphnis^ Aratus, halfbearded the one^ the other's chin ruddy with the
dov/n, had driven each his herd together to a single
spot at noon of a summer's day^ and sitting them
down side by side at a water-spring began to
Daphnis sang firsts for from him came the
sing.
challenge

Galatea's at thy flock with apples,

See, Cyclops
see
fool' s-in -love
The apples fly, and she doth cry
are ye
But with never a look to the maid, poor heart, thou
sit'st and pipest so fine.
Lo yonder again she flings them amain at that
good flock-dog o' thine
See how he looks to seaward and bays her from the
!

'^

'

land!

See how he's glassed where he runs so fast i' the

pretty wee waves o' the strand
Beware or he'll leap as she comes from the deep,
leap on her legs so bonny,
And towse her sweet pretty flesh But lo where
e'en now she wantons upon ye
O the high thistle-down and the dry thistle-down i'
the heat o' tlie pretty summer O
She'll fly ye and deny ye if ye' 11 a- wooing go,
!

*'

Apples": a

there

is

love-gift, of. 2.

120, 3. 10.

**

glassed":

an ancient variant "splashed."

8s

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KaX TOP aiTo

iroWcLKi^

ypafi/iid<; Kivei
5)

\idov'

ra

Ilo\v(f)a/jL6

rj

fyap epoyri

Koka

juurj

icdXa

TreipavTac,

T(p S' inrl AajULOira^;

EZSoz/ vol Tov

KOV

ave/SdWero

Hdva, to

6\a6\ OV TOV

fJb

/cal

raS' deiSev

ttoc/jlvlov clvlk

i/JLOV

20

eySaXXe,

TOV va yXvKvv,

&

TTodopM/Jbt

avTap

9 TeXo9,

iX^P^

dWa

6 fxavTi'^ 6 TrfKfjLO<;

eyOp d^opevcov

(p^poc ttotI oIkov, ottco^ Tefceecrai (j)v\daaoc.

Kol avTo^ iyco kvl^cov irdXiv ov

dX)C aXkav
^a\oL

fJb

tlvcl cj^a/M

& Uacdv

yvvacK e^j^v a

koI Ta/ceTao,

iraTTTaivoLcra

olcTTpel

TrodoprjfjLt,,

ttot

eic

dtoccra

S*

he OdXdcraa^

dvTpa t6 koI

ttotl

TTOL/jLVa^.

(TL^a^

S'

v\a/CTtv VLv KoX Ta KVVi* KoX

S'

6<rft>9

ofc

ijpcov

iGyia pvyxP^ exocca.

avTd<;, eKvv^rjTo itot

TavTa

yap

iaopaxra iroevvTd

fjue

iroWaKi,

irejji'y^el

ajyeXov, avTap iyco icka^S) Ovpa^, eaTe k ojxoaarj

avTa

fioL

86

aTopeaelv KoXd

(ft^a

Ruhnken

mss

hejjuvta

TaaS*

<riya, 0-170,

iirl vd<j(o,

cnya, tnya

30

THEOCRITUS
But cease to woo and
king's the

For

move

oft the foul,

VI,

18-33

then the

she'll pursue, aye,

good Polypheme,

is fair

i'

the eyes

of love.

Then Damoetas

in

answer

up

lifted

his

voice,

singing
I saw her fling them. Lord Pan my witness
be
this
I was not blind, I vow, by this my one sweet
I
Heav'n
send
see
the
to
end,
Wherewith
and
Telemus when he
Foretells me woe, then be it so, but woe for him
I

saw,
;

and

his

her on I look not on the jade

say there's other wives to wed, and lo she's
jealous made.
Jealous for me. Lord save us and 'gins to pine for
'Tis tit for tat, to tease

And

me
And
And

glowers from the deep on the cave and the

sheep like a want-wit lass o' the sea.
the dog that bayed, I hissed him on for when
;

'twas I to woo
He'ld lay his snout to her lap, her lap,
her friendly to.

Maybe
But

send

she'll

gate

me

messages

if

long

and whine
I

go

this

bar the door till she swear

be my wedded mate.
I'll

o'

this shore to

" The king " moved as a last resource in some game hke
draughts or backgammon.
"Telemus": prophesied the
blinding of Polyphemus by Odysseus.
:

87

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KoX yap 6r]v ovK elho^ e^ct) KaKov, w? /xe Xeyovrt,
yap irpav 9 ttovtov icre/SXeTroVy ^9 Se yaXava,
Kal KaXa jjuev ra yeveia, KoXa 8e /jLv a jiia Kcopa,
Trap' ifjilv KeKpLTaty KaTe<\)aiV6To, r&v he r
ft)9

r}

6S6vTO)V

XevKorepa avya ^ Jlapia<; vTre'X^acve ^ XiOoio.

ft)9 /^^ ^aaKavOS) Se, rpk et9 ejjbov CTrrvora /coXttov
ravra yap a ypaia /xe Korvrrapk e^ehiha^e,
Toora eiTTcov top Adcjyvcv 6 Aa/juoiraf; e(j)iXr}o-,
h\ T(p fcaXov avXov eScofcev,
^o) juiev TM Gvpiyy
auXet AafjiOLTa<;, avpiahe Se Ad(f>vi<^ 6 /3ovTa<;'

wp^evvT
VLfCT]

ev

fiaXaKa ral iropne^ avrifca

fiav ovBdXXo<;, avrjcraaTOi

XevKorepa avyd Meineke,

mss AVKOTpav avydu

Kar(i>alv&To

cf.

e.g.

virexatve

eyevovro,

S'

2.152,

mss

10.

30, 11.

v'n:^(paivE

12:

from

above

41 h irpav audprecrai vap' 'Itxtt okIocvl iroTavK^i,

best ms, after 42 in another.

88

Troia.

Not

in the

40

42

THEOCRITUS

VI,

34-46

I have looked i'

Ill-favoured ? nay, for all they say
the glassy sea,
And, for aught I could spy, both beard and eye
were pretty as well could be.
And the teeth all a-row like marble below, and
that none should o'erlook me of it.
;

As Goody

Cotyttaris taught

me, thrice

in

my

breast

I spit.

far Damoetas, and kissed Daphnis, and that to

gave a pipe and this to that a pretty flute.
Then lo the piper was neatherd Daphnis and the
flute-player Damoetas, and the dancers were the
heifers who forthwith began to bound mid the
tender grass. And as for the victory, that fell to
neither one, being they both stood unvanquished in
the match.

So

this

*'
And the teeth all a-row " the Greek has " of my teeth
"O'erlook
below, the sheen gaped whiter than marble."
me " to see one's reflexion made one liable to the effects of
the evil eye ; spitting averted this.
:

89

VJL THE HARVESr-HOME

The poet
out

tells in the first

from Cos

On

country.

to

person horv three friends went

join in a harvest-home at a farm in the

the

way

named Lycidas, and

they overtake a Cretan goatherd

the conversation leads to a friendly

sinsins-match between him and the narrator Simichidas,

Lycidas
vious

song, which

November,

is

was apparently composed

the pre-

of good wishes for

beloved Ageanax to Mitylene, but

primarily a soiig

the safe passage

of

the greater part

of

his
it is

concerned with the merryynaking

which will celebrate his safe arrival, and includes an

address

to

the mythical

story

to

be sung by

is

Tityrus on the festive occasion.

Simichidas replies with a prayer to

Pan and

which passes, however, into

aii

appeal

the Loves to

Aratus, a prayer

bring the fair Philinus to his lover

such youthful follies.

Comatas, whose

goatherd-poet

Aratus

to

to cease

Lycidas now bestows the crook

which he had laughingly offered as a stake, aiid leaves the

three friends at the entrance to the
the

poem

is

The

a description of the feast.

serve a tradition that Simichidas is

and indeed there

throughout the

is

rest

of

scholia pre-

Theocritus himself,

great probability that

poem

The

farm.

with real persons.

we are dealing

discussion

of

this question will be found in the Introduction,

91

YIL AATSIA
'H? y^povo^
^'

iyco

avifc

/cat

^vKptro^ eh top

AXevra

gk ttoXlo^, avv /cat Tyotro? cc/jljuip ^KpuvvTa^*

rd AyoL yap eVeu^e doXvaia koX ^pacrihapio^;
/cAvTcyV7j<;, Svo re/cva AvKooireo^, el tl irep eaOXov
ipTroiJLe<;

airo K.XvTLa<^ re /cal avTco

l^aXKOdvo^, HovpLvav 09 e/c 7roSo9 awe icpdvav
ev ^ ivepetcrdpievo^; irerpa yovv, ral Se irap avrav

%ci(x)v TCdv

eirdvGddev

evaKLov

acryecpot TTTeXeai re

aXcro<; vi^aivov^

')(X(opoiaiV ireTaKoidi KaTT] pe(f>ee^ fcopooocrai.

oSov dvypue^, ovSe to adpta

d/LLcv TO ^paaiXa fcaTe(f)aiVTO, /cau tlv oSiTav
eaOXov crvv yioiG-aLCTt T^vScovlkop vpopbe<^ dvSpa,
ovpo/jba jjbev Av/ciSaVf ^9 8' aiiroXo^, ovBe ice t69 vlv
icoviTco TCLV /jbeo-drav

rjfyvoirjaev IScop, eTrel aliroXcp e^o')/

f fjiep

yap XaaloLO

1(

(p/cet,

haavTpi')(o<^ ^%^

Tpdyoto

pea^ TapaoroLo TroTocrSop,

dpLcpl Se ol oTTjOecraL yepcop eac^iyyeTO ireTrXo^
^coaTTJpi 7r\a/cep(p^, pot/cdp 8' e')(^ep dypieXaUi}
Se^CTepa Kopvpap.
fcai pu aTpepua^^ elire aeaapco<;
fcpaicop Sepfi

cofMOiai

opbpLaTL pLethiowPTi
'

XcpLCX^iSa, IT a Srj
1

eirdvcodev

Hermann

Ed.

92

9.

42

Reiske,

mss

ev

yeXco<; Se ol et'X^eTo %etXei;9'

to pueaapieptop 7roSa9
cf.

mss. ^(paivop

Ep.

22.
^

vcpaivov

Schol.

mss IV

2fl

e\/ceL<;,

&i/a)dv

^g

Heinsius from Verg.

also irKoKcptp

VII. THE

HARVEST-HOME

a time went Eucritus and I^ and for a

Amyntas^ from the town to the Haleis. 'Twas to
a harvest-feast holden that day unto Deo by Phrasidamus and Antigenes the tv/o sons of Lycopeus^sons to
wit of a fine piece of the good old stuff that came
of Ciytia^ of Clytia and of that very Chalcon whose
sturdy knee planted once against the rock both
made Burina fount to gush forth at his feet and
caused elm and aspen to weave above it a waving
canopy of green leaves and about it a precinct of
shade.
Ere we were halfway thither^ ere we saw
the tomb of Brasilas^, by grace of the Muses we overtook a fine fellow of Cydonia^ by name Lycidas and
by profession a goatherd^, which indeed any that saw
him must have known him for^ seeing liker could
not be.
For upon his shoulders there hung^ rank of
new rennet^ a shag-haired buck-goat's tawny fleece^
across his breast a broad belt did gird an ancient shirty
and in's hand he held a crook of wild olive. Gently^
broadly^ and with a twinkling eye he smiled upon
me^ and with laughter possessing his lip^ '^ What^
" whither away this sultry
Simichidas/' says he

Once upon

tliird^

"Deo": Demeter.
"Clytia and Chalcon": legendary
queen and king of Cos.
"Burina": the fountain still
bears ihis name.
93

THE BUCOLIC POETS

avifca

kol aavpo<; ev alfxaa-ialcn KaOevhety

Br]

KopvSaWiS<; rfKaivovri;
halra kXtjto^; iTrelyeai; rj tlvo<; aarcov

ovS* eTriTVfjb^ihLat
jjiera

rj

\avov

em

w? rev iroal viaaofxevoio

irdaa \i0o<; TrraiOLcra iror ap^vXtSeaacv aeiSei,^
AvKiBa ^iXe, (f)avTL rv
TOP S' iyoj a/jLL(j}Or}V'
6pa>afCi<;;

'

Trdvre^
rjixev

avpLKTav

fie^y

ev T a/jLarrjpeo-aL,

to

kut

a/jbeTepoir fcauTOi
eXiro/jiac,

v7reLpo')(^ov ev

fjuaXa Ovjjlov lalvet

Srj

epiov voov Lao(f)apL^tv

oho^ aSe OaXvatdS'^'

"S

dvepe'^ evireifXid

yap eTalpot

yap

acj)L(rt iriovL

fieTpcp

evKptOov dveirXripcoaev dXcodv.

Balfioyv

aW

rf

Aa/xaTept SacTU TeXevvTi

oXl3co a7rap')(^6/jbevoL' fiaXa

re vofievaLv

^vva yap

^vva be fcat aco<;,

^ov/coXtao-Sco/uieaOa' Ta%' wrepo? dXkov ovaael,
fcal

aye

yap

or],

ooo<;

eyco M.ot(Tav /cairvpov aTO/Jia,

/d^/uue

\eyovTC

irdvTe^ doiSov dpto-Tov iyo) Se Tt9 ov Ta'xyTTetOr]^,

ov

Adv

ov ydp irw KaT

XcfceXiSav

vcfc7]fjit

tov

ifjuov

ifc

detScoVy ^dTpa'Xp'^ Be ttot

voov ovt6 tov ecrOXov

Xd/mco ovTe

dKpiBa^

^cXiTav^

co<^

tc<;

epiaSco,^

dBv yeXdaaa^;
Tdv TOi e(j)a fcopvvav BaypyTTOfxai, ovve/cev eaal
TTCiv eTT dXaOeia ireirXacrp^evov etc Aio<; epvo^,
W9 fJLOt /cal TeKTcov fiey^ diTe')(6eTaL, oaTi^ epevvfj
laov 6pev<; Kopv^a TeXeaat Bo/jlov ^flpofieBovTO^'^,
0)9 e(j)d/jiav
'

'

94

S' al7r6Xo<;

'

6a\v(Tido{)

^i\i]Tav

eVtraSe?* o

^ ^iXirav Cronert
E mss OaXvaias
Schol. also evpu/x^bopros
:

mss

THEOCRITUS
noontide^

when

VII,

22-46

e'en the lizard will be sleeping-

i'

th'

hedge and the crested larks go not afield ? Is 't

even a dinner you be bidden to or a fellow-townsman's vintage-rout that makes you scurry so? for
'faith^ every stone i' the road strikes singing against
your hastening brogues."
" 'Tis said^ dear Lycidas/' answered I^ " you beat
all comers^ herdsman or harvester^ at the pipe.
So
how'tis said^ and right glad am I it should be said
beit to my thinking I'm as good a man as you. This
our journey is to a harvest-home some friends of
ours make holy day to the fair-robed Demeter with
first-fruits of their increase^ because the Goddess hath
;

threshing-floor in measure so full and fat.

pray you, since the way and the day
be yours as well as ours, and let you and me make
country-music.
And each from the other may well
take some profit, seeing I, like you, am a clear- voiced
mouthpiece of the Muses, and, like you, am accounted
best of musicians everywhere,
albeit I am not so
quick, Zeus knows, to believe what I'm told, being
to my thinking no match in music yet awhile for the
excellent Sicelidas of Samos nor again for Philitas,
but I am even as a frog that is fain to outvie the
pretty crickets."
So said I of set purpose, and master Goatherd
with a merry laugh ^^ I offer you this crook," says he,
'^^as to a sprig of great Zeus that is made to the
pattern of truth.
Even as I hate your mason who
will be striving to rear his house high as the
peak of Mount Oromedon, so hate I likewise your
filled their

So come^

**The pipe" here it impHes music generally

Zeus " Truth was daughter of Zeus.
probably the highest mountain in Cos.
:

of great
is

*'

Sprig

Oromedon

95

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KoX lAoLaav

6pvi')(^e<^,

oaoi ttotl ^uov drjSco^ Cuoibe^^

avTia KOKKV^ovT<^ ircocrta

6X)C

fJLO^Oi'CovTi,

a^ye l3ov/co\t/cd<; Ta^j^eo)? dp^wfjieO^ dothd^,

KTjycb

Xt/JLfx^iSa'

/JL6V,

dpeaKei

oprj (f^iXo^. ec rot

T0v9^ OTL irpdv iv opec to p.ekvhpiov e^eTvovaaa*

^Ayedpa/CTi. KaXo<^ ttXoo?

"FiO-o-erai

eh MtTf-

'X7]vav,

y&KKev'^

eairepioi^ 'Ept^o^9 voto^

(j)^

Kv/nara, ^'flp^coi;

at

6/c'^ eir

vypd

Sccofcrj

d}tc6av(p TroSa? 'icrXVy

TOP AvfCiSav OTrrevp^evov e|' 'A^poStra?

fcev

pvcTTjTat*

OepjJio^

yap

epco^ avro) fie fcaraldei.

p^aX/cfoz^e? aropecrevvTL

rd /cvp^ara rdv re OdXaa-

aav
Tov re voTOV

top

evpop,

09

ea^ara

^vtcia

Kipel,

yXavKot^ ^yprjtaL ral rd p.dXicrTa

aXfcvope^;,

6pPi')(^cop i(j)L\7]dep,

oaaL^ re Trep i^ d\b<; dypa

^AyedpaKTL irXoop

htl^rjpepcp

&pia irdpra yepoiTO, kol

Kar dpuap

KTjycb TTjPo

ev7rXoo<; oppbop lkolto.

dprjTiPOP

Kol Xev/cotcop arecpapop

7]

eh MtTv\7]pap
r/

poSoepra

irepl /cparl

TOP TTTeXeaTUcop olpop diro /cpaTrjpo^

Trdp

KetcXipbepo^,

TTvpl

Kvapiop

Se

(pvXda acov
dcjyv^co

ti^

irvpl

(ppv^eL
1

a7;5c^

Lyr.^ Ill
3

'6k'

96

E,
p.

cf.

1.

140

mss

cJr'

136, 5. 136, Bacch. 3. 98,

^ x^'^i^^^ ^
aoihSv

mss

and Bergk Poet.

iiiss x^TP-i^

THEOCRITUS

VII, 47-66

strutting cocks o' the Muses' yard whose crowing

pitiful contention against the
Chian
so
But enough let's begin our countrynightingale.
pray look if you
First will I
songs^ Simichidas.
approve the ditty I made in the hills 'tother

makes

day

(^sings)

What though

the Kids above the flight of wave

before the wind
Hang westward, and Orion's foot is e'en upon the sea?
Fair voyage to Mitylene town Ageanax shall find.
Once from the furnace of his love his Lycidas be free.
The halcyons and of all the birds whose living's of
the seas
The sweet green Daughters of the Deep love none
so well as these
O they shall still the Southwind and the tangle-tossing East,

And

lay for

him wide Ocean and

his

waves along to

rest.

Ageanax late though he be for Mitylene bound

Heav'n bring him blest wi' the season's best to haven
safe and sound
And that day I'll make merry, and bind about my brow
The anise sweet or snowflake neat or rosebuds all a;

row.
there by the hearth I'll lay me down beside the
cheerful cup.
And hot roast beans shall make my bite and elmy
wine my sup

And

*'The Chian nightingale": Hon- jr.

''The Kids": the
time of the year indicated is at the end of November.
*'The halcyons" said to command a calm for their nesting
" Elmy wine " wine flavoured
about the winter-solstice.
with elm-catkins, or else ** wine of Ptelea."
:

97

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ya

(TTi^a<;

iaaeirat

ireirvicacrfJbeva

Kvv^a T dacpoSeXq^ le

avXrjaevvTi

koI 9 rpvya

/cvXifcecrat

he

ira')(yv

TrdXv^vdiJbTTTcp re crekivtp,

fcal TTLOfiaL /xaXa/c(i>9 jxefivaixevo^

avratatv

ear eVt

Svo

/llol

Ay edvafcro^;

')(ei\o^ ipeiScov,

7rot/jive<;,

/xep

el?

'A%api^6U9,

eh

Se Av/cco7riTa<;' 6 Be Tcrvpo^ iyyvdev aael,

W9 iTOKa
%ce>9

aevea^ rjpdaaaTO

Td<;

oy0O9

d/ji(j)e7rovelTO,

KoX

&)9

/\d(f)VL<; 6

/Sovran,

Bpve^ avTov eOprj-

vevv,
'Ifiepa aire (J)vovtl Trap"

evre
Tj

W9

%^coz^

"A6w
aael

rj

t^9 /caTerdfcero fjua/cpov

'VoSoirav
&<;

S'

o^Oataiv Trorafiocoy

rj

v(f)*

Alfjuov

l^av/caaov ecr^arocoz^Ta.

itok

rov

eSe/cro

evpea

aliroXov

Xdpva^
^coov
a>9

eovra /ca/cataiv dracrddXiaLaLV

re vlv at

at/Jbol \tjLicov66 (jyep^ov

iceBpov 69 dBelav /jLa\aKOL<;

ovvefcd ol
S)

dvOeaai

jXvKv Motcra Kara

/xa/captcTTe liLofJbdra,

tv

dva/cro^;,

iolaai

jxeXicraaL,

aro/naTOf; yee veKjap,

Orjv

rdSe Tepirvd

Xdpvatca,

ireivov-

dei^,
ical

TV

/caT/cXda07j<;

IxeXtaadv

98

teal

rif

THEOCRITUS
And

VII,

elbow-high

soft I'll lie, for

67-84

my bed

strown thick

and well
Shall be of crinkled parsley, mullet, and asphodel
And so t' Ageanax I'll drink, drink wi' my dear in

mind,
Drink wine and wine-cup

at a

draught and leave no

lees behind.

My

pipers shall be two shepherds, a man of

Acharnae he.
he a man of Lycope singer shall Tityrus be.
sing beside me of X^nea and neatherd Daphnis'

And
And

love.

How

the hills were troubled around him and the

oaks sang dirges above.
Sang where they stood by Him eras flood, when he
a-wasting lay
Like snow on Haemus or Athos or Caucasus far far
away.
And I'll have him sing how once a king, of wilful
malice bent,
In the great coffer all alive the goatherd-poet
pent.

And

the snub bees came from the meadow to the

sweet cedar-tree.
fed him there o' the flowerets fair, because his

coffer of

And

lip

was free

O' the Muses' wine Comatas 'twas joy, all joy to

thee
Though thou wast hid 'neath cedarn lid, the bees thy
meat did bring,
!

**
Mullet " sometimes called fleabane.'
His lip was
Muses' wine" the Greek has " nectar," and the
meaning is that he was a poet.
*'

free of the

99
H 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Kifpia <pep/36/jLvo<^ to<; coptov i^eirovaaa^^,

aW

ivapiO jjulo^ axpeXef;

/jiv ^(00 L(;

iiT

rjpbev,

TOi ijcov evofievov av copea Ta<; /caXa<; alyaf;

0)9

(j)ci)vd<;

rv

elaatcov,

S*

vtto Spvcrlv

rj

vtto irevKai^

dSv fxekiahoiMevo^ KareKeicXLao 6ele

p^ft)

Toacr

fjiev

elircov

K.ofidTa.^

aTreTravaaro' rov he

yaer'

avTi<;^
Krjfyoi)

ToV

i(l)d/jLav'

AvKiSa

(f)i\e,

iroWd

fxev

aXXa

SiSa^av dv copea ^ov/coXeovra

eadXd, rd ttov kol Zrjvo^; eirl Opovov d^a^e (pd/jiW
aWa TO y etc irdvrcov [xey viTeipo')(^oVy S tv jepaipecv
dp^-ev/jL' aXX' virdKovaov, eirel (piXof; eirXeo Mot^vficpai

'

K-qjJbe

^iliL'Xiha

fxev

"Eyowre?

eireTrTapov*

rj

yap

SetXo<;

Toaaov epa Mu/)toO?, oaov ecapo<; alye<; epdvrt.

S' Q rd irdvTa (ptXaiTaTOf; dvepi rrjvM

ttulSo^ vtto (JTrXdyxyoicnv e^enroOov' olSev^Apia-

^'HpaT09

Tt9,

iaOXb^

dvTjpy

jxey*

dpidTO^,

ov

ovhe Kev

avro^

deiheiv
^olj3o<;
0)9

avv ^oppayyi irapd rpiiTohecrcn

eK iraiho^ "Kparof; vir oareov

TOV /jLot TLdv,

'0/Li6\a<;

d/cXrjTOV Keivoio

loo

avris

epcon.

epaTov ireSov oaT Xekoyxjct^y

(j>iXa<;
^

aWer

fjueyaipoi,

9 X'^lpa^ epeiaai^,

Ahr

mss

""

^<^V^>>-^^
ST. WICHAEL'^-:

COLLEGE

atOis

V \

"
THEOCRITUS

VII,

85-104

thou didst thole, right happy soul, thy twelve

months' prisoning.
How
And O of the quick thou wert this day
gladly then with mine
I had kept thy pretty goats i' the hills, the while
'neath oak or pine
Thou 'dst lain along and sung me a song, Comatas
the divine
Till

So much sang Lycidas and ended and thereupon

Dear Lycidas " said I, '^ afield with my herds on the
hills I also have learnt of the Nymphs, and there's
many a good song of mine which Rumour may well
have carried up to the throne of Zeus. But this of
all is far the choicest, this which I will sing now for
your delight. Pray give ear, as one should whom
the Muses love (sings)
;

^'

The Loves have sneezed,

Simichidas

for sure

they have, on poor

For he loves maid Myrto as goats the spring but

where he loves a lass
His dear'st Aratus sighs for a lad. Aristis, dear
good man
And best in fame as best in name, the Lord o' the
Lyre on high
:

Beside his holy tripod would let him make melody

knows Aratus' woes. O bring the lad, sweet
Pan,
Sweet Lord of lovely Homole, bring him unbid to 's

Aristis

fere,

" Have sneezed " a sneeze meant good luck, and a man
deeply in love was said to have been sneezed upon by the
*' Lord of the Lyre "
Loves.
the Greek has " Apollo."
:

loi

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ecT ear
tcel

/jLV

a pa ^tXivo<^

ravT

n^ aXko^,

6 /jbaXOa/co<; ecre

epSo^9

TLav

<^6\e,

tl

/jl"^

tv

TracSef;

^ApKaBcKol (jKiWatcnv viro TT\evpd<; re koI

Tavifca ixaGTiahoiev, ore Kpea
el

dWo)^

S'

haKv6fJLevo<^
el'r](;
^'

/cara

vevcrat^,

Kvaaato koI ev

3' 'HScoz^coz^ puev

rvrOa
fiev

co/Jbcof;

irapeir]'

%/ooa

ttclvt

/cviSaco-c /caOevSot^;,

ev copecn

')(^6L/jLaTC

fjueaacp

Ei^pov Trap TTora/jbov rerpafi/jbevov ijyvdev" Ap/cro),

iv he depet TTUfidrotcrL Trap' AWcoirecro-t vofivoc<^

irerpa viro BXefivcov, o6ev ovKeTi NecXo^; oparo^,

v/jb/jLe^;

vd/jba /cal
0)

S'

'TeTi8o<; /cal ^v/3\lSo^

Ol/cevvra, ^avda<;

dSv

\tiT6vTe<^

So<; alirv Accova<;,

fjLoXoiacv ''Epcore^ epevOofJuevoiaiv opuoloiy

^dWere
^dWer,

/jlol

to^oktl tov IpuepoevTa ^iXlvov,

tov

eireX

^ecvov 6

hvafiopo^^

ovfc

eXeec

fJL6V.

Kal
^^

St)

fiav

aiaV ^avi\

/jLTj/ceTL
/jLTjSe

TOL

TToSa^

diTLOLO ireTTairepo^;, at he yvvalKe^

^'^tXtve, to tol

(j)povpeco/jie<; eirl

Tpi/3o)fi<;*

I02

5rj

fxav

S'

mss

Ka\ov av6o(;

drroppel,

rrpoOvpoiaiv "ApaTe,

opOpto^

also

5-/)

aWov

fxd\*

dXe/CTCop

THEOCRITUS

VII,

105-123

Whether Philinus^ sooth to say, or other be his dear.

This do, sweet Pan, and never, when shoes be too few,
May the leeks o' the lads of Arcady beat thee black
and blue
But O if othergates thou go, may nettles make thy
bed

And

set thee scratching tooth and nail, scratching

from heel to head.
And be thy winter-lodging nigh the Bear up Hebrus

way
r the hills

of Thrace
furthest Africa

Mayst feed thy

when summer's

in,

mid

by the Blemyan rock beyond

flock

Nile's earliest spring.

come ye

aw^ay,

ye

little

Loves like apples red-

blushing,

From

Byblis' fount and Oecus' mount that is fairhaired Dion's joy.

Come shoot the fair Philinus, shoot me the silly boy
That flouts my friend Yet after all, the pear's o'er!

ripe to taste.

And

the damsels sigh and the damsels say ^ Thy

bloom, child, fails thee fast
So let's watch no more his gate before, Aratus, o'
'

this gear.

But ease our aching

my

feet,

friend,

and

let old

chanticleer

"Leeks"

the sea-leek had purificatory uses; the poet

refers here to what was apparently the current explanation

of a flogging rite
the choristers flogged the statue of Pan at

the feast because they had once received short commons.

Dion " Dione is Aphrodite or her mother ; the Loves are
" 0' this gear"
summoned from the district of Miletus.
in this way.
Aching feet " from standing about at the
door, one of the conventional signs of being in love.
'

'

' '

103

THE BUCOLIC POETS

fcofCfcv^oiv
t<; S'

vdpKaicnv avLapaicn

SlSolt],

dirb rdcrhe (f^eptcrTe {jloXcov d^yoi^o iraXai-

arpas.^
dfJLfjitv S' cLGvyia re piekoi <ypaia re irapeirj,
cLTt^ eTncpdv^otaa ra firj fcdXa voo'(pcv ipv/cot,

Toaa (pd/Jbav
yeXdaaa^
609 7rdpo<;, etc

yiotadv

Se

/jloi

\ayco^6\ov, dSv

to

^etvrjlov conraGev rjpbev.

^^w ixev diroicXiva^ eV dpiarepd rav eirl JIv^a<;

elpcj)' 686v, avrdp iyco re /cat ^vKpiTO^ i<^ ^paatSd/jico

(jTpaj>6evTe<^ %&) /caXo^ ^ApuvvTixo^ ev re ^adeiai^

dSeia^; a')(pivoio ')(^a/JLevviaLv ifcXivdrj/jbe^;

ev T veoT/JbdroLat yeyaOore^; olvapeatcn,

TToWal

S' d/jL/jLLV

virepOe

Kara

/cparh^ Soveovro

atjeLpoL irreXeaL re' to S* eyyvdev iepov vScop

ISiv/jL^dv ef dvTpoio KaTSL^opbevov /ceXdpv^e.
Tol Se ttotI crKLapaL<^ opoSafivlcnv aldaXiQ)V<^
T6TTLye<; XaXaj6vvTe<; e')(pv irovov a

S'

oXoXvycov

TTjXoOev ev irvKivalai /BdTcov Tpv^ear/cev d^dvffat^,

dethov /copvSot fcaX aKavOihe^^, ecTeve Tpvycov,
TTO^ToyvTO ^ovOal 7Tpl TTiSaKa^ dpicjyl pLeXcaaat,
TrdvT Siahev Oepeo^ pudXa ttlovo^;, McrSe S' oTrcopa^.
6')(yaL fiev irdp iroaai, irepl irXevpalat Se pudXa
SayfnXicof; dfuv eKvXivheTO* toI S' ifce'X^vvTO

opTTaKe^ jBpa^iXoicTi KaTal3pi6ovTe^ epa^e.

TeTpdeve<^ he irlOcov direXveTO KpaTo^ aXetcpap'

NvfKpac J^aaTaXiSe^; Hapvdaacov

^

439 D
and Ar.

Cf. Plat. Gorg.

yvfivacriov tt) vvv,

104

al7ro<;

^\\7]v col elK6va Ae^oj

Vesp. 526

e^ocaai,

e/c

rov avrov

THEOCRITUS
Cry

VII,

124-148

shiver to some other when he the dawn shall

sing
scholar o' that school's enough to have met his

'

One
'Tis

To

death i' the ring.

peace of mind, lad,
beldame nigh

sit for

us

my

and

we must

spit for us

and bid

find,

and have a

all ill

go by."

song and Lycidas, with a merry laugh

bestowed the crook upon me to be the
Muses' pledge of friendsliip, and so bent his way to
the left-hand and went down the Pyxa road and
Eucritus and I and pretty little Amyntas turned in
at Vhrasidamus's and in deep greenbeds of fragrant
reeds and fresh-cut vine-strippings laid us rejoicing
down.
Many an aspen, many an elm bowed and rustled
overhead, and hard by, the hallowed water welled

So

far

as before,

purling forth of a cave of the Nymphs, while the

brown cricket chirped busily amid the shady leafage,
and the tree-frog murmured aloof in the dense
Lark and goldfinch sang and turtle
thornbrake.
moaned, and about the spring the bees hummed and
hovered to and fro. All nature smelt of the opulent
summer-time, smelt of the season of fruit. Pears
lay at our feet, apples on either side, rolling abundantly, and the young branches lay splayed upon the
ground because of the weight of their damsons.
Meanwhile we broke the four-year-old seal from
off the lips of the jars, and O ye Castalian Nymphs
that dwell on Parnassus' height, did ever the aged
**One scholar o' that school"
one dallier with such
"Castalian Nymphs":
all
nymphs were
:

follies.

Castalian.

105

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ye ira roLovSe ^oXco icaTa \aivov dvrpov
Kparrjp 'HpaKXr/t yepcov io-rdaaTO ^eipcov;
150
rjpd ye ira ttjvov tov Trotfieva tov ttot ^KvdiT(p,
Tov /cparepov JJoXvcpafMGV, 09 copeo-i vaa^^ e/SaWe,
TOLOV ve/crap eireio-e KaT avKia iroaal 'X^opevaaCy
olov Sr) TOfca TTcb/jua Sce/cpavdaaTe ^v/jb(j)ac
a^ eirl acopM
^co[Jb(p Trap Ad/JLaTpo<; oXcolSo^;
avTi^ eyco ird^aifjiL fieya ittvov, a 8e yeXdaaai
Spdy/juara /cal /jud/ccova^; ev d/ji(p ore pa lctlv e')(OLcra.
rjpd

106

mas Heinsius

mss Aaas

THEOCRITUS

VII,

149-157

Cheirori in Pholus' rocky cave set before Heracles

such a bowlful as that ? And the mighty Polypheme
who kept sheep beside the Anapus and had at ships
with mountains, was it for such nectar he footed it
around his steading such a draught as ye Nymphs
gave us that day of your spring by the altar of
Demeter o' the Threshing-floor ? of her, to wit, upon
whose cornheap I pray I may yet again plant the
great purging-fan while she stands smiling by with
wheatsheaves and poppies in either hand.

Of your spring " the wine was drunk mixed with water.
"Demeter"' a harvest-effigy.
'

'

107

VIII. THE

SECOND COUNTRY SINGING-

MATCH
The

of this shepherd-mime are the mythical

personages Daphnis the iieatherd and Menalcas the
characters

shepherd, and an
their contest
direction,

between

of song.

the
the

unnamed goatherd who plays umpire

After fovr lines hy way of stage-

conversation

opens with

two young countrymen,

singing-match with pipes for the stakes.

alternate elegiac quatrains aiid

is

mutual

and

banter

leads

Each

to

sings four

an envoy of eight hexa-

In the first three pairs of quatrains Menalcas

meters.
sets the

iii

theme and Daphnis takes

addressed

to the

it

up.

The first pair

landscape, and contains mutual com-

pliments ; the remainder deal with

love.

The

last

pair

of quatrains and the two envoys do not correspond in

The resemblance of most of the competing
therne.
stanzas has caused both loss and
manuscripts.
the

poem

is

From

transposition in the

metrical and linguistic considerations

clearly not the

work of Theocritus.

109

VIII.--B0TK0AIA2TAI
Ad(f>vcSt T(p j(apievTi crvvrjVTeTO /SovKoXeovrc

fiaXa

vejiiov, co? (^avTi,

Kar

copea [latcpa Mez^aX/ca?.

i](TT7]v 7rvppoTpi')((o, ajJL^od avrj^co,

ci/jL(p(o

Tciyy

a/JL(pa)

cTvpicrhev SeSaTj/jbevco,

d/ji(pa)

irpaTO<; S' S)v ttotI Ad(f)vtv ISoov

'

Tov
'

eTTiovpe /Socov Ad(f)VL, X979 fioi deiaat;

/jLV/c7]Tdv

(j)afjiL

S*

TV

aeiSev.

dyopeve Mez^aX/ca?*

vt/cacrecv

apa

^ft)

oaaov

diXco, avT6<; deiScov,^

Ad(j)vi^ tol&S* dTrafMei^ero /Jbvday

elpOTTo/ccov otcov crvptfcrd Mez^aX/ca,

TTOL/jirjv

ovTTOTe vifcaael^; p! , ovS*

ec tl 7rddoL<;

rvy

deiScov,^

MENAAKA2
'X^p^aSet';

&v

Icnhelv;

XPW^^^^

fcaraOecvat aeOXov;

AA4NI2
Xprjcrhay

tovt eaihelv,

')(pi]aSo)

/caraOecvaL deOXov,

menaaka:s
Kol TLva

0r]crv/jL(T0\

OTi^ dpZv apKio^

elr];

AA*NI2
fjbocrxov iyoi) 07] era)*
^

TIO

rrivov

mss

a}iv6i'

rv Be

0<;

IcropbdTopa ttjvov^

(with unlikely hiatus) from gloss

VIIL THE SECOND COUNTRY SINGING-

MATCH
Once on

a day the fair Daphnis^ out upon the

with his cattle^ met Menalcas keeping his
sheep.
Both had ruddy heads^ both were striplings
grown^ both were players of music^ and both knew
Looking now towards Daphnis^
how to sing.
Menalcas first ^What^ Daphnis/ cries he^ ^thou
watchman o' bellowing kine^ art thou willing to sing

long

hills

me somewhat ?

I'll

warranty

come

my

turn^

I shall

have as much the better of thee as I choose.' And

this was Daphnis' answer ^ Thou shepherd o' woolly
sheep^ thou mere piper Menalcas^ never shall the
likes of thee have the better of me in a song, strive
he never so hard.'
:

MENALCAS

Then

will

please you look hither

't

you lay a wage

Aye, that

will

it

Will't please

DAPHNIS
I'll both look you and lay you^

too.

MENALCAS

And what

shall

sufficient for us

Mine
tall

shall

our wage be

what

shall

be

be a

calf,

DAPHNIS
only let yours be that mother-

fellow yonder.

Ill

THE BUCOLIC POETS

MENAAKA2
ov Orjao) TTo/ca ttjvov^,
')(a

aXka

T6

/jLCiv

eirel yaXeiro^; 6 rraTrjp fiev

Se fjLoXa 7ro9e<JTTepa

TCi

iLCLTTip,

apiO-

irdvT

AA*NI2
6r]aeL^; tl Se to irXeov e^ei o

vifccbv;

menaaka:S
avptyy^ av eTTorjaa Kokav iyoo evvedcpcovov,
\evKov KTjpov e'X^OLcrav tcrov kcltco laov dvcoOev*
Tavrav ica delrjVy ra he Toy iraTpo^ ov /caTa07]aco.

rj

fjbdv

20

AA*NI5
cvpiyy e^o) ivvedcfxovov,

TOi Krjycd

\evfcov fcrjpop ')(pL(Tav taov /cdTco laov dvcodev.

irpcoav VIP crvveira^^* tc kol tov

TOVTOV,

hdKTvXov dXyeco

eTrel /cd\a/Ji6<; fxe 8ia(T'\/tcrdeL<; viv eTjJLa^ev?

MENAAKA2

dXka

Tt?

TTjvov

7rco<;

dfifJie

Kpivel;

eaaeTai

eTrd/coo^

tl<^

djuecov;

AA4NI2

c5

ivTavOa tov alrroXov,

rjv

KoKeaayfJie^,

itotI Ta?9 epl(l}OL<; 6 kvo)v 6 (f)a\apo<; v\a/cTc,

'Xpl fiev

TTttiSe?

dvaav,

6 S' aliroXo^ rjvO^

eVa-

Kovaai,
oV^ [lev TracSe^ decSov, 6
7rpdT0<; S' S)v decSe

ecTa

S'

S'

aliroXo^; rjOeXe Kpiveiv,

Xa^oyv IvfCTa M.vdXKa<;,

dfjbOi^aiav vTreXdfi^ave Ad^vc^; docSdv

^ovKoXc/cdv ovTco Se WevdX/ca^; ap^UTO

^

TOKa

Meineke
112

rrjvou
:

mas

mss

hUrjxa^e

ttoku
^

oi

afxvhv,

cf.

1-1

mss x^

TTpuTO^;'
^ vlv ^rixa^ev

oq

THEOCRITUS

VIII,

15-32

MENALCAS
Father and
be no wage of mine.
mother are both sour as can be, and tell the flock to
a head every night.
DAPHNIS
Well, but what is't to be ? and what's the winner

He

shall

to get for's pains

MENALCAS
Here's a gallant nine-stop pipe I have made, with
good white beeswax the same top and bottom this
I'm willing to lay, but I'll not stake what is my
;

father's.

DAPHNIS
Marry, I have a nine-stop pipe likewise, and it like
yours hath good white beeswax the same top and
I made it t'other day, and my finger here
bottom.
sore yet where a split reed cut it for me.
(each
stakes a pipe)

MENALCAS
But who's, to be our judge? who's to do the
hearing for us

DAPHNIS
Peradventure that goatherd yonder, if we call
him him wi' that spotted flock-dog a-barking near
by the kids.
;

So

lads holla'd, and the goatherd came

them, the lads sang and the goatherd was
fain to be their judge.
Lots were cast, and 'tw^as
Menalcas Loud-o'-voice to begin the country-song
and Daphnis to take him up by course. Menalcas
thus began

the

to hear

"By

course"

stanza by stanza.

THE BUCOLIC POETS

"ArfKea

MevakKa^

Oelov yVO<;, ac rt

fcal Trorafioi,

TTijTTO'x^ 6 (jvpiicra^ 7rpo(7(j)tX<; acre

^ocTKOiT Ik -^/ru^a? ra?

a/jLVciSa^;'

Ad(})VL^ ex^^v 8a/JLd\a<;,

/jL\o<;,

Se ttok ev9rj

rjv

eXaccrov e^oL,

/jirjSev

AA*Nn
Kpavai KoX ^ordvai, <y\v/cepov

(j^vroVy aiTrep o/jloiov

jjiovaiahei Adcjyvi^; Talcnv drjSovlcn,

TOVTO TO ^ovKoXiov TnaiveTe*

ktjv ti M.vd\Ka<;

irdvra

relB^ dydyrj, ')(aip(ov d(j)6ova

40

vefiot.

MENAAKA2
V0^ ohy evO' alyes StSv/jiaTOKOc, evOa fJieXicro-ac^

45

afjidvea irXripovaiv, /cat Spve^; v^irepaiy

ev6^ 6

KoKo^ yiikcdv ^aivet iroaiv al

t7]v66l

%ft) TTOifJbrjv ^rjpo<;

S'

46!

av d^epirrj,

%a6 ^ordvat,

47
4,4:

AA*NI2
iravra eap, iravra Be

ovdara
evda Kokd
%ft)

iravra he ydXafcro^;

vopuoi,

irihSyaiv,^ /cal

rd vea

')(al

42

rpecfyerac,

Nai'9^ eircvLcraeTar al

Ta9 ySw9 ^oa/ccov

41

S'

dv

d(pep7rr),

43

^6e<; avorepat,

MENAAKA2

&

Tpdyf rdv \ev/cdp alycov dvep,

fjLvpiov (al aijJLal^
1

41-47

transposed

Ahrens
Mein mss TraTs
Wil mss S> a.

^ irihSxTiv
:

114

mss
**

Sevr e^' v8a)p

by

Anon.

Ephem.

j3d9o^^ v\a<;
epicpoi)'
Goth.

qq
1803.

22

^ Nats
schol. alsoTrX'f^dovo-ip
^ al a-iiual
mss S) B.
l3d6os schol.

tttjBmo-ip,

&


THEOCRITUS
Ye woods and

VIII,

;;;

33-50

waters, wondrous race^

Lith and listen of your grace

If e'er my song was your delight
Feed my lambs with all your might
And if Daplinis wend this way,
;

Make

his calves as fat as they.

DAPHNIS

Ye

darling wells and meadows dear.

Sweets o' the earth, come lend an ear;
If like the nightingales I sing.
Give my cows good pasturing

And

Menalcas e'er you see.

Fill his flock and make him glee.
MENALCAS
Where sweet Milon trips the leas
There's fuller hives and loftier trees
Where'er those pretty footings fall
Goats and sheep come twinners all
If otherwhere those feet be gone.
Pasture's lean and shepherd lone.
if

DAPHNIS
Where sweet Nais comes a-straying
There the green meads go a-maying
Where'er her pathway lies along.
There's springing teats and growing young
If otherwhere her gate be gone.
Cows are dry and herd fordone.

MENALCAS
Buck-goat, husband of the she's.
Hie to th' wood's infinities
Nay, snubbies, hither to the spring
This errand's not for your running

**

Snubbies

'
-:

kids.

^15
I

THE BUCOLIC POETS

iv TrjV(p 'yap ttjvo^'

Upcorev^

W^

'

&

(pcofca^ /cal

fcaXe^^ /cal Xeye,

^eo9 cov^

'

yiiXcov,

eve/jue,^

AA4NI2

jbiT]

fjioi

MENAAKA2
yav IleXoTro?, firj [iol VLpoLcreta'^ TciXavra

^cv,

17]

/ji7]S6

TTpoaOe Oeeiv

ave/jicov*

aX\' vTTo ra irerpa raS' aaofxau

ay/ca<; e^odv rv,

avvvofxe^ Ka}C^, iaopcov tclv XifceXdv 9 oka,

AAcfNI5

hevhpecTL

^(ei/jioov

fiev

(tto^epov

/ca/cov,

vSaat

S'

avxf^6<;,

opvtcrtv S' v(T7r\ay^, aypojepot^ he \iva,

avSpl Se irapOevLKCi^ diraXd^ nroOo^,

ov

fjLovof;

raura
rdv

r]pd(70r]v'

Zed,
60

mv, 8l d/jLot^aicov ol 7rac8e<; detaav

juuev

^eihev rdv
dSifcet

e^dpye Mez^aX/ta?*

ipicpcov, (fyeiSev Xv/ce

on

fjL ,

fiCKKb<^ icbv

rdv rofcdScov fiev,

iroWalcnv

ofiapTeco,

AdfjLTTovpe Kvovy ovTco /3a6v<; vttvo^ eyei tv;

ft)

ov

'X^pr]

ral

KOifjbdaOai /3a0eo)^

S' ot69, /Ji7]8^

TTOLa<;'

&

irdrep

Kal tv yvvaLKO(f)i\a<;,

irvfjiardv 8' cohdv ovtco<;

fjL7]8^

S)

ov TL

116

KOpeaaaOat

irdXiv dSe (pvrjraL,

mss and schol. ko\4

mss xp^<^^^<^
kolK^ Mein
mss /uaA'

Ka\e schol.

TratSl ve/juovra,

ofcveW^ aTvaXd^

/cafjieLaO\ o/c/ca

Kpolaeia Jortin

crvvvojxa

v/ji/jLe<;

avv

**

&v Mein mss ws

Graefe mss

(tvvuo/j,

THEOCRITUS

VIII,

51-68

Go^ buck, and '^ Fairest Milon " say,

A God kept seals once on a day."

"

[Daphnis' reply

is lost^

MENALCAS

would not Pelops' tilth untold

Nor all Croesus' coffered gold,
Nor yet t' outfoot the storm-wind's breath.
So I may sit this rock beneath,
I

Pretty pasture-mate, wi' thee.

gaze on the Sicilian sea.

And

DAPHNIS
doth fear the tempest's ire.
Water summer's drouthy fire.
Beasts the net and birds the snare,
Man the love of maiden fair
Not I alone lie under ban
Zeus himself 's a woman's man.

Wood

So

far

went the

lads'

songs by course.

Now

'twas

the envoy, and Menalcas thus began

Spare, good Wolf, the goats you see.

Spare them dam and kid for me
If flock is great and flockman small,
Is't reason you should wrong us all }
Come, White-tail, why so sound asleep ?
Good dogs wake when boys tend sheep.
Fear not, ewes, your fill to eat
For when the new blade sprouteth sweet,
;

Then ye

shall

no

losers

be

"A God kept seals": Proteus the message means *Do

*'
not despise your lover because he keeps sheep.'
Lie
under ban " the Greek has have fallen in love.'
;

'

117

THE BUCOLIC POETS

(TLTTa

ra

vejieaOe,

vefxeaOe

ovdara

S'

ifKrjcraTe

Trdaai,
ft)9

TO

/jiV copve^^

e%a)i/Ti,

to

8' e?

TaXdpco<; airoOSyfiaL, 70

Sevrepo^ av Ad<pvt<;\Ljvp(0(; dve^aXker deiSev

Ktj/jl i/c

Ta9

avvo^pv^ Kopa ix6e<; ISotaa

irapeXavra koXov koKov rjpbev

cnrTJXvyyo^;^

SafjidXa<;

e(paa/cV'

ov iiav ovSe Xeycov i/cptdrjv airo top ircKpov auTa?,^

aWd
ciheV

Karo) ySXe^Ira? rdv dfjuerepav oSbv elpirov,

dhv Se

(fxovd tcl^ 7r6pTto<;,

TO)

dSv to

76

nrvevfjia'

Oepeo^ Trap" vScop peov aWpiOKOLTelv,

78

Ta hpvl ral jBoXavoi Koa/juo^;, ra fjLaXihi fjuaXa,

ra ^oi S' d /jLocrxo^, to) ^ov/coXm at I36e<; avraL
TTUtSe^ deicrav, 6 S' aliTo\o<^ &S*

o)? ol
'

dSv

KOl

TL TO (TTO/jLa TOL

/cpeaaov

fieXTTo/jbevco

\d^0 Ta9

tv aKove/iev

crvpLyyof;^'

ai he TL X779

/xe

(j)i/JipO^

ivLKaaa<;

CLTL^ virep /(j)aXd^ alel

a"ir'f}\vyyo5

E,

Ad(f)VC (f)COvd,
fieXt Xei'XGiv.

rj

yap

dyopevev

deiBcov,

kol avTov ufM aliroXeovTa BcSd^ac,

Tifjvav TCLV jjbiTvkav ^ Scoao) tcl

ft)

80

cf.

16.

53

hlha^Tpd tol alya,

top djxoXyea irXrjpol^

:

mss tw

avrpu)

Keyojv

and

ahras E, taking aTr^Kpidrju as 'parted from,' supplying \6you

^ ras avpiyyos Scaliger
mss Xoycav or \6yov and avra.
^ (xirvXav * youngest and smallest
mss ras crvpiyyas
E
mss fxirdXap,
others as Lat. mutilus that has lost her horns

'

'

'

ILLLTvXaV

77

aSi;

Se X"' fi6(TXos yapveraif aBv 5e

Valckenaer rightly omits.

ii8

x^

f^^^'

El'om

9. 7

THEOCRITUS
To

VIII,

69-87

and feed you every she^

every udder teem
lambs and store for cream.
for
Store
't,

Feed

till

Then Daplmis,

for his envoy, lifted

up

his tuneful

voice, singing

Yestermorn a long-browed maid.

Spying from a rocky shade
Neat and neatherd passing by.
'*
Cries '' What a pretty boy am I
Did pretty boy the jape repay ?
Nay, bent his head and went his way.
Sweet to hear and sweet to smell,
God wot I love a heifer well.
And sweet also 'neath summer sky
To sit wliere brooks go babbling by
But 'tis berry and bush, 'tis fruit and tree^
'Tis calf and cow, wi' my kine and me.
!

So sang those two lads, and this is what the goatherd said of their songs ^^ You, good Daphnis, have
a sweet and delightful voice. Your singing is to the
ear as honey to the lip.
Here's the pipe take it
your song has fairly won it you. And if you are
willing to teach me how to sing as you sing while I
share pasture with you, you shall have the little
she-goat yonder to your school-money, and I warrant
you she'll fill your pail up to the brim and further.'*
:

" Long- browed " the Greek is with meeting eye-brows.'

"'Tis berry and bush": the Greek is 'acorn adorns oak,
apple apple-tree, calf cow, and cows cowherd.'
:

'

119

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ft)9 fjbev

pcfcdcra<;,
ft)9

6 7ra?9

^X^PV ^^^ avaXaTO

ovtco^ eirl fiarepi

V6J3po<=;

kclL

TrXardyijae

oKolto,

Se KareafJiv^Or] ical dverpdireTO (ppeva Xvira

&Tepo^y OVTCO Kol

vv/bicf^a

BfiaOela^ d/caxoiro,

KTjK TOVTO) Trpdro^ irapd TroL/jieac Adcj)VL<; eyevro,

KoX

NvfjL(j)av dKpr}^o<; ecov ert

20

dfiadeiff

Ahrens

mss

^atSa

yafieOela^

yd/jiv.

yajjt,r}d7<T*

90

THEOCRITUS

VIII,

88-93

At that the lad was transported, and capered and

so capers a
clapped hands for joy of his victory
fawn at the sight of his dam. At that, too, the
other's fire was utterly extinct, and his heart turned
upside-down for grief so mourns a maiden that is
wed against her will.
From that day forth Daphnis had the pre-eminence
of the shepherds, insomuch that he was scarce come
to man's estate ere he had to wife that Nais of whom
;

he sang.
*'Nais": apparently the

nymph

to

whom Daphnis

wards swore the oath which, when he

Xenea, he died rather than break.

fell

in

lov^e

after-

with

121

IX. THE THIRD

COUNTRY SINGINGMATCH

This poem would seem

The

the last.

to

be merely a poor imitation

of
Daphnis and

characters are two neatherds,

Menalcas, and the writer himself.

We

are to imagine

There

the cattle to have just been driven out to pasture.

is

no challenge and no

stake.

At

the request

of the writer

that they shall compete in so7ig before him, each

herdsmen sings seven

and then

the writer, leaving

them equal,

what
tell

it

lines,

was.

tells

us

The

it

Daphnis
to

setting the

theme

be implied that he judged

how he gave them each a

writer

the

of

now appeals

to

the

gift

and

Muses

to

him the song he himself sang on the occasion j and he

sings a six-line song in their praise.

123

IX. BOTKOAIASTAI
BovKoXid^eo

Ad(f)Vt,

tv

S'

wSa? cip^eo

irpdrof;,

fioa^cof;

^ovalv

j(ot fjbev

dyia jSoaicoLVTO fcal ev (pvWoiat irXavcpvTO

dcf^evre^; eirL^,

aTeipaicn he ravpco^;,

aTL/jiayeXevvTe^;' ipXv he

fjbrjSev

tv j^ovKoXtdl^ev

eK t66v,^ ak\o)6ev Be rrorcfcpivocTo MemX/ca?.

^ABv fJbev d fioa'X^oi;

dhv he yd crvpLj^ %a)
he

ecTTL

fjiOL

AA*NI2
yapverat,

d8if 8e

yd

/3ov/c6\o^,

dhv he

/cr/yoop,

ySw?,

vhcop yjrvypov (TTt^d<;, ev he

Trap

vevaarau
\ev/cdv

e/c

ha/jboXdv

Xlsjr Ko/jbapov

Tco he

Kokd

hep/juara,

Tpcoyoiaa^ diro

ra?

cr/coTrtd^;

/jiot

d7rdaa<;

eriva^e,

Oepev^ (ppvyovro^ iyco roaaov /leXehaivcOf

OGCTOV epoyv to TTaTpo<;

jjlvOcov ical

ovTW^

Ad(j)vt<;

AiTva

jxcLTep efjid, /crjycb

decaev

fiuTpo^ dfcoveuv,

efxiv, ovto)<;

he M.vdX/ca^*

koKov dvTpov

evoi/ceco

tcoiXai^ ev ireTpaicnv' eyco he toc, oora ev oveipo)

(paivovTaCy TroXXa?
S)v

fjioc

Trpo<^

fJiev 069,

TroXXa? he

yipbaipa^;,

fcecpaXa /cal 7rpo9 Troal /ccoea fcecTai.

acpevres eiri E
mss ixphrcs virS (Vat. 915 eTr/) from 4. 4?
eV T6eiv Cholmeley from Ap. Rhod. 2. 531 (of time)
mss
and Schol. i^-noQ^v and %v irod'' %v
1

124

COUNTRY SINGINGMATCH

IX.THE THIRD

Be you the first

Sing a country-song^ Daphnis.
and Menalcas follow when you have let out the
calves to run with the cows and the bulls with the
barren heifers. As for the cattle^ may they feed
together and wander together among the leaves and
never stray alone^ but do you come and sing me your
song on this side and Menalcas stand for judgment
against you on that.
DAPHNIS (sings)
sweet the cry o' the calf^ and sweet the cry o' the
cow^
And sweet the tune o' the neatherd's pipe^ and I
sing sweet enow
And a greenbed's mine by the cool brook-side
Piled thick and thick with many a hide
From the pretty heifers wi' skin so white
Which the storm found browzing on the height
And hurled them all below
And as much reck I o' the scorching heat

As a love-struck lad of
So sang

me

his father's threat.

Daphnis^ and then Menalcas thus

Etna^ mother o' mine my shelter it is a grot,

A pretty rift in a hollow clift^ and for skins to
bed, God wot^
Head and foot 'tis goats and sheep
As many as be in a vision o' sleep,

my

^25

THE BUCOLIC POETS

V TTvpl Se SpvivM X^P^^
(f)ayol x^ifjiaivovTOf;'

X^ifiaro^
T0?9

Ad^viBi

e^^o)

^^ TTvpl

8'

avac

8e rot ovS" oaov copav

vcoSo^ /capvcov afivXoLO irapovro^,

Tj

fJLV

^^^*

iTreTrXardyrjaa

fxev

Kopvvav,

avri/ca Scopov eSco/ca,

fcal

tclv

fxou

7raTpb<;

Tpa(l>ev

dyp6<;,

ovK av tacc^ {JbtfjidaaTo ^ tKtq)v,

(TTp6[Jbj3o) KaXov oarpa/covy w /cpea^ avro^

avTO(l)vr], TCLV S'

TTjVfp he

So/cevaa^

(TiTrjOrjv irerpaio-iv ev ^\Kapiai<Ji

irevre

ra/jucop

irevr

ovcnv'

S'

iyKavax/jcrajo

ico'xXcp.

^ovfcoXi/cal yLoLcrat fidXa

%atyOT6,

(patvere S'

rav TOK iyo) TTjvoicrt irapcov detaa vofievaL*

fjLrjK6T 7tI yXdoaaa^ ciKpa^ oXoipvyyova (pvarj'^

TeTTt^

fiev

TemyL

(J)lXo<;, fivp/uLa/ct

a Motaa

o cp7]^tv, ejiiv o

cprjK<;

Ta9 fioL ira^

/cai coca.

86/10^. ovre yap vttvo^

elrj irXelo^;

eap i^amva^^ yXvKepcoTepov,

ovT

avdea'

roaaov

ifilv

Se /myppa^,

yiolaat

ovt

(piXar

ov<;

fxeXia-

ydp^

opevvTi^
yaOevcrat,'^ rovaS* ov

ttoto)

haXrjaaro KupKa.

" mss also oJSas rds

Adert
mss fioofidaaTo
Perhaps i^dwivoj/adj., ct Hipp.
mss (pva-ps
de Aff. 517. 19 (adv.) and i^d-niva adv. LXX, N.T., and
^ mss also ots (xkv
^ Schol. also bprire, opuffat
Byzant.
^ yadevcrai
mss and Schol. ya6vffi(v)
^

fjLtfjioi(Taro

(pvarT)

Wil

125

**

^^

THEOCRITUS
And an oaken

IX,

19-36

the winter days

at the blaze
And puddings in the pot
And as Httle care I for the wintry sky
As the toothless for nuts when porridge
fire

i'

With chestnuts roasting

is

by.

Then clapped I the lads both, and then and there

gave them each a gift, Daphnis a club which grew
upon my father's farm and e'en the same as it grew
albeit an artificer could not make one to match it
and Menalcas a passing fine conch, of which the fish
when I took it among the Icarian rocks furnished
five portions for five mouths,
and he blew a blast
upon the shell.
All hail, good Muses o' the countryside
and the
song I did sing that day before those herdsmen, let
it no longer raise pushes on the tip o' my tongue,
but show it me you

(the song)

is to cricket dear, and ant for ant doth

long,
hawk's the darling of his fere, and o' me the

cricket

The

Muse and her song

Of songs be my house the home
:

alway,

For neither sleep, nor a sudden spring-day.

Nor flowers to the bees, are as sweet as they;
I love the Muse and her song
For any the Muses be glad to see.
Is proof agen Circe's witchery e.
:

*' Pushes"
pimples on the tongue, the scholiast tells us,
were a sign that one refuses to give up what another has
:

entrusted to him.

127

X. THE REAPERS
The

characters

Milon, the

of

pastoral

this

man of

in the course

from

the lover

divi7ie Lityerses

at

The conversation

takes place

and leads

to

a love-song

and a reapmg-song from

When Milon

mentor.

called also

their reajnng,

of

he

is

calls

his

his

Lityerses, son

kindly

song the song of the

There was

using a generic term.

one traditional reaping-song 7vhich

least

reapers,

and Bucaeus,

experience,

Bucus, the lovesick youth.

mime are two

of Midas, of Celaenae

told

how

in Phrygia, after

entertaining strangers hospitably, 7nade them reap with

him

till

evening,

when he

bodies in the sheaves.

all

reaping-songs.

Demeter,
threshers,

addresses

cut off their heads

and hid

their

This apparently gave the name

Milon

itself

and reapers, and

song,
in

after

succession

prayer

to

to

biiiders,

to

lastly to the steward.

Both

songs are supposed to be impromptu,, and sung as the

men reap

on.

129

X. EPrATINAI H EPISTAI
MIAHN
0VT6 Tov

oy/jLov

djELV opOov hvva,

ft)9

TO TTplv

aye<^y

ov6' afia XaoTOfjLel^^ tcS TrXariov, aXX" airdXelTTr)

Mcnrep ois iroifwa^,

TTolo^ T^9

top iroSa /caKTO^

a<;

SeuXav rv koI

i/c /jLeaco

ervyjre,

d/juaro^ ^^<^fli

09 vvv apj(piJivo^ Ta9 avXa/co^ ovk aTrorpcoyet';;

B0TKAI02

MiXcov

o'yJrajmaTa, TTerpa^ airo/cofiiJi

ovSa/jid TOi

drepafivco,

avve^a iroOeaai riva rwv

dnreovTcov;

MIAnN
ovha/jid,

Tt9 Se it69o<^ tcov e/croOev

epydra dvopi;

B0YKAI02
ovhafJbd vvv crvv6/3a toc dypvirvriaat Sc epcora;

MIAHN
fjurjSi

ye

aXV

eycb S> ISJiLXcov epa [Mat

(Tv/ji/3air)'

')(^a\6Trov

X^P^^ Kvva yevaat,

B0TKAI02

130

a^^Sbv

vS/caTaco<;'

X.THE REAPERS
MILON

Husbandman Bucaeus^ what

ails ye now^ good

drudge ? you neither can cut your swath straight as
once you did^ nor keep time in your reaping with
your neighbour. You're left behind by the flock
How will
like a ewe with a thorn in her foot.
it be wi' you when noon is past and day o' the
wane, if thus early you make not a clean bite o'
your furrow ?

BUCAEUS

Good master
chip-o'~the-flint,

thee to wish for

good

early-and-late-wi' -sickle,

good Milon, hath

one that is away ?

it

Sir

never befallen

MILON
Never, i' faith what has a clown like
with wishing where there's no getting ?

me

do

to

BUCAEUS

Then hath

never befallen thee to

it

nights for love

lie

awake

o'

MILON

Nay, and God forbid

dog taste pudding.

it

should.

'Tis

ill

letting the

BUCAEUS

But

I've

ten days

been in

love, Milon, the

better part of

131

K 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

MIAHN
e/c

TTLuo) avT\eL<; brfkoVy eyco o

e^ct)

BOTKAI02
TOijap ra irpo Ovpav fiot airo

ouo a\t9 0^09.

cnropay

dafcaXa

Trdvra,
T69 Si

MIAnN
TV rdv TrauScov Xv/jLaiverat;
BOYKAI02

d UoXv^cora,
a TTpdv

dfidwT(T(Tt TTup^ ^Itttto/clcovc TTOTavXet,

MIAHN
evpe 0o<; tov dXiTpov*
fidvTL^ TOt TCLV

vvKTa

ej^ei^

nrdXai &v

')(poL^cd^

eTTeOvpbet^;,

d KoKafiaia,

BOYKAI02
p^co/jidadai

pH

dp'xrj

t&

TV<p\6<;

ov/c

S'

avro^

nXoi)T09,

dWd

fcal

dxppovTLCFTO^

''E/}G)9.

pirj Srj

p^eya puvOev*

MIAHN
ov pbeya pivOevpiar tv pubvov Kardj^aSXe to Xaov,
fcai Ti

Kopa^ (ptXtKov peko^ dpi^dXev.

dhiov ovto)^

ipya^fi* fcal pidv irpoTepov iro/ca piovcntco^ rjcrGa,

Mwcrat
TracS*'

T32

d)v

VLipi?>e<^,

ydp

;)^'

BOTKAI02
avvaeiaaTe Tav paSivdv pot

dylrrjade Oeai, /caXd

ndvTa

TvoecTe.

20

THEOCRITUS

X, 13-25

MILON
manifest thou draw'st thy wine from the
hogshead the while I am short of vinegar- water.

Then

'tis

And

BUCAEUS

that the land at

was seed-time hath not felt hoe.
so

it is

my

very door since

MILON

And which

o'

the lasses

is

thy undoing

BUCAEUS
'Tis Polybotas' daughter^ she that was at Hippocion's t'other day a-piping to the reapers.

MILON

Lord thy sin hath found thee out.

Thou'dst
wished and wished^ and now_, 'faith, thou'st won.
There'll be a locust to clasp thee all night long.
!

Thou
there's

bid'st

blind

Money-bags^

But
heaven besides Him o' the
Cupid for one. So prithee talk not

fair

men

fool

BUCAEUS
to play me fault-finder.

in

so big.

MILON
talk not big^ not I
pray be content^ go thou on
wi' thy laying o' the fields and strike up a song o'
love to thy leman.
'Twill sweeten thy toil. Marry,
I know thou wast a singer once.
1

BUCAEUS
Pierian Muses^ join with

For

all

(sings)

me

a slender lass to sing

ye Ladies take in hand ye make a pretty

thing.

"Since was seed-time": a proverbial exaggeration; for

he has been in love only ten days, and this is harvest- time.

^33

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Xvpav

Bo/ji^vfca 'xapieaaay

oXioKavcFTOVi iyax Se

ia')(yav

/caXeovri rv 7rdvT<;,

fjbovo^ /jLe\L)(XcopoVy

Kol TO cov fieXav iarX kol a ypaiTTa

dXX'

d at^ rdv fcvrtaov, o

a yepavo^ r&poTpov,

aWe

fjLOL

')(^pv(jeoL
Tft)9

vdfccvdof;,

rd it para Xiyovrat.
rav alya BtcoKet,

ejMira^ ev rol^ creep dvoL<;

\v/co<;

iyo) 8' eVl rlv jxefidvrjfiaL,

^9, oacra Kpolcrov iro/ca (pavrl TTeTvao-Qat,

dfKporepoi k dve/celfjueda ra

av\c6<;

kol

e^xpicra

fjuev

rj

Acj) poBura,

poSov

rj

rvya

fiaXov,
(T')(ri[Ma

S'

eyod

eV

Kacvd^

/cat

d/jL(j)OT6pocaLV

djJLVKKa^;,

Bofx^vKa ')(apiea(j\ ol
d (jxovd Se Tpvxi^o^'

fxev 7r68e<;

top

fjbdv

darpdyaXoL rev
Tpoirov ovk

)(^co

eLTTeiv,

MIAHN
rj

0)9

/ca\d<; dfjufxe^ ttocov

ev rdv ISeav Ta9

(OfiOL TOO iTcoycovo^,

Odaai

8rj

ov dXiOico^ dv<pVG-a,

tm Oeiw

iroXv/capTre

Airvepcra.

7roXuo-Ta%u,

Xdov
Hfifie

13*

doihd^;*

dp/jiovia<; i/jberpijaev.

kol ravra rd

Adfjuarep

eKekdOet BoO/^o?

mss

also

&fji.fjLt

tovto

to

'

THEOCRITUS
Bombyca

faii%

to other folk

Sunburnt and lean they

brown to me.

Of

X, 26-42

call

you may a Gipsy be

you you're honey;

and dark the lettered

flowers the violet's dark^

flag-flower tall^

But when there's nosegays making they choose them

of

first

all.

Dame Goat

pursues the clover, Gray Wolf doth goat

pursue.
and I O I am wild
Sir Stork pursues the plough
for you.
Would all old Croesus had were mine
O then
we' Id fi2:ured be
In good red gold for offerings rare before the Love-

Ladye,

You with your pipes,

Above with mantle

a rose in

hand or apple,

below,

fine,

new

I bedight
buskins left and

right.

Bombyca

fair,

your pretty feet are knucklebones,

andO!
Your voice is pop})y, but your ways
power to show.

they pass

my

MILON
Marry, 'twas no 'prentice hand after all.
Mark
how cunningly he shaped his tune! Alackaday,
what a dolt was I to get me a beard
But come
hear this of the divine Lityerses
(migs)
!

Demeter, Queen of

fruit

and

ear, bless

bless our

field;

" Gipsy "

Bombyca
and

she
34)
knucklebones,
listener like a
thing it is to
;

the Greek

" Knucklebones "

Syrian.'
and sings by profession (cf. 11. 16

is

pipes, dances,

'

flings her feet about as a player tosses the

lightly and easily, and her singing soothes the
" What a dolt was I "
narcotic.
what a
:

be young

'

135

THE BUCOLIC POETS

evep^ov T
(T(j:>

/cdpinfjiov ottl /juaXtara,

lyyer afjuaWoSerat ra Spdyfiara,

eiTrr)'

'

avejjiov tcl^ KopOvo^;

irapicov

fir)

avKivoL&vhpe^*^ dirociXeTO yovTO<^ 6

^opeav

Kol

6L7J

fJbia6o<=;.^

ro/jbd v/jup^tv

KoX ^e(j>vpov" ^Xeirerw TnaiveTai 6 crTa%i;9

ovto)<;

CTLTOV d\oiO)VTa^ (pevyeiv to p^eaapi^pLvov virvov

eK KoXapba^ d')(vpov reXWet TrjpbocrSe pbdXiara,

dp^eaOai

8' dp,(JovTa<;

fcal Xrjyeiv

Tov to

ov pbeXeSaivei

fiaTpd')(0}, TvalSe^, /3lo<;'

TTielv

KaWiov^

fcopvSaWcOy

evSovro^, iXivvaac 8g to /cavpa.

TM

6U/CT09

iyetpopLevco

S)

yap

lyyevvTa*

irdpeaTC

^TTLpieXTjTd

(piXdpyvpe

d(f>Oovov

tov

(pafcov

e-y^reiv*

prj ^TTCTdpLrjf;

Tav X^^P^ KaTairpiayv to

fcvpavov,

TavTa XPV p^ox^^yvTa^ ev dXicp dvSpa<^ deiheiv,

TOV he Teov ^ovKoie rrpeiret XipLrjpbv epcoTa
pbvOiahev
^

dirr)

to,

puaTpl

Brunck

mss

kut evvdv opdpevoiaa,

cfTrot

covdpes

mss

&vdpes

^ koI

^opeav kuI (e(()vpov means *' North-west," cf. Schol. Pind.

P. 10. a iffTL TTphs avaroX^y Koi fieffrjfiSpiav = South-east mss
^ cf. Pherecr. ap. Atheii. 10. 430 and Zenob.
^ Cecpvpoy
* KaWiov E, cf. 11. 44: mss kolWiov
2. 78
;

is

136

THEOCRITUS

X, 43-58

Grant our increase greatest be that

toil

therein

may

yield.

Grip tight your sheaves^ good Binders

'

by will say
These be men of elder-wood

all^

or passers-

more wages thrown

away.'

'Twixt Northwind and Westwind let straws endlong

be

laid

The breeze runs up the hollow and the

ear

is

plumper made.
For Threshers^ lads^ the noontide nap's a nap beside
the law^
For noontide's the best tide for making chaff of
straw

But Reapers they are up

lark to bed

wi' the lark^

and with the

To

rest the heat o' the day^ stands

Reapers in good

stead.

And

'tis

care

to be a frog,

my

lads,

and

live aloof

from

He

needs no drawer to his drink 'tis plenty everywhere.

Fie, fie, Sir Steward
better beans, an't please ye,
another day
Thou' It cut thy finger, niggard, a-splitting caraway.
;

That's the sort o' song for such as work i' the sun
that starveling love-ditty o' thine, Bucaeus,
would make brave telling to thy mammy abed of a

but

morning.
Elder- wood "
the Greek has **figwood," which was
cf. Shaks. Merry ^^^l;es 2.3.30
heart of elder.'
'* 'Tis
to be a frog"
the steward is stingy with the drink
as with the lentils.
'^

useless;

My

XL THE CYCLOPS
Theocritus

offers

consolatio amoris to his friend

the poet-physician Nicias

of

Miletus,^ with

studied under the physician Erasistratus.

introduction by

song the

way of

Cyclops sang

whom

After a brief

stage-direction, he tells
love

his

to

the

anterior to

poem was an

The

DistafF.

Cyclops reference
his beard,

and

There

his eye

is

'

it

the

may

tragic irony

it

prob-

well be
'

in the

when speaking of singeing

also in his mention

of a stranger from
^

to

early one;

him

sea-nym^h.

Metrical and grainmatical considerations make

able that the

he

of

the possible advent

overseas.

For another interpretation see the Introduction.

139

XI. ktkah^
OvSev iroTTov epcora

7r(pvfCt cj)dp/jLaKov

aX\o,

^t/cLa, ovT e7%/QtcrT0Z^, fup Sofcel, ovr iTTLTraarov,

i<ov(pov 8e tl tovto fcal dSv
Tj Tal TlcepiSe^;'
S' ov paBtov icrrt.
TV icdXo)^ larpov iovra
fcal rati; evvea Srj TrecpLXrjpiepov e^o'x^a MotVa^?.
ovTco jovv pdiaTa Sidy 6 Ku/cXc?)^/^ 6 Trap^ dplv,
d>p')(alo<^ UoXvcjyapiOf;, ok r]paTO ra? VakaTeia^;,
dpTi yeveuicrScov irepl to aTQjxa tw? /cpordcfxo^ t.

jiVT

eir

dv6pd)7roL^, evpelv

yLVOJ(TKiv S' ol/iai

S' ov /jid\oi<^ ovSe p6S(p ovSe KifcivvoL^,

opOai^ /lavicit^, dyeiTO Se TrdvTa irdpepya,
TToWdfCL Tol 6l^ ttotI tcouXlov auTol dirr]v6ov

7]paT0

IC

dW^

'^\cL>pd<; i/c /BoTdva^;'

avTO^

iir

6 Se

Tav VakdTetav detScov

d'iovo^ /caTSTdKero (j)V/cLOaaa^

i^ dov'^, ej(6LaT0v g^o^v vTrofcdpSiov eXfco^;,

KvTTyo^So? efc fieydXa^ to ol rjiraTi, ird^e ^eXepivov,
dXXd TO (pdp/jia/cov evpe, /cade^o/jievo^; 8' irrl
vyfrTjXd^ 9 ttovtov opojv deiSe

TotavTa'

'O XevKci VaXdTeia, tl top (^iXeoPT dTro^dXXr],

XevKOTepa ttuktu^ nroTihelp, aTraXcoTepa dppo^,
pbOGyoa yavpoTepa, ^uapcoTepa^ op.(f)aKo<i wyita?;
^

Mss

Tpa)

140

(piapwTepa

Scliol, also acpiyyavicorepa {i.e.

aipptyavoo-

2(

XLTHE CYCLOPS
It seems there's no medicine for love^ Nicias^
neither salve nor piaster,, but only the Pierian Maids.
And a gentle medicine it is and sweet for to use
upon the worlds but very hard to find^ as indeed one
like you must know^ being both physician and well'Twas this^ at least,
belov'd likewise of the Nine.
gave best comfort to my countryman the Cyclops,
old Polyphemus, when he was first showing beard
upon cheek and chin and Galatea was his love. His
love was no matter of apples, neither, nor of rosebuds nor locks of hair, but a flat frenzy which recked
nought of all else. Time and again his sheep would
leave the fresh green pasturage and come back
unbidden to fold, while their master must peak and
pine alone upon the wrack-strown shore a-singing
all the daylong of Galatea, sick at heart of the spiteful wound the shaft of the great Cyprian had dealt
him. Nevertheless he found the medicine for it, and
sitting

him down upon an upstanding rock looked

seawards and sang

O Galatea fair and white, white as curds in whey.

Dapper as lamb a-frisking, wanton as calf at play.
And plump o' shape as ruddying grape, O why deny
thy lover

141

THE BUCOLIC POETS

(f)oiTfj<;

SavO^

ot')(y 8'

ev6v^ lola

ouTCe)?, OK/ca y\v/cv<; vttvo^ e'XJj fie,

(fyevyet^ S* coairep

Tjpda-Oojp

jubv

oKKa j\vkv<; virvo^ avfj fie,

ol^ ttoXlov Xvkov aOprjaaaa,
,

eycoya reov^ Kopa, aviKa Trparov

avv /xarpl OeXoia vaKivOiva (j)vWa

rjv0<; ifjua

^ opo<; Spiyjrao-Oaif iyco S' ohov dyefiovevov.

iravcraaOai S' iatSdov tv /cat varepov ovS"
ira vvv
i/c

rlv

Svva/jLaL'

TTjvct)

ov

S'

en

ov pbd At

/jbeXei,

ovSev,
yivdjo-Kco 'X^apiecraa

&veicd

fjLOL

Xaata

Kopa, rivo^ coveKa <^evyeL^'

eVl Travrl

/juev 6(j)pv<;

30

/jberco'Tra)

ef a)T09 reraraL ttotl OSyrepov &<; jjna jmaKpa,

eh S' o(^6aXfjio^ vireart,^ TrXarela Be pU

eVl

'X^eCXet.

dXX^ ovTO^ TotovTo<; icov ^ord

KrjK TovT(ov TO KpdrLCTTOv

')(iXia

dfjLXy6/jLevo<;

TTiVCO'

j;>5/)/
\5>>>-v/
ovt ev uepeu
ov XeLiret

TVpo<;

ov

/jl

aKpo)'

x^Lficit)vo<;

avpicrSev

8'

ft)9

rapaol

S'

^oaKCD,

ydXa

>/>>?/
oTroopa,

ovr ev

virepa'xOee'^ alei,

ovrc^ eirlaTaiJiai S)Be J^v/cXcoTrcov,

Tiv re (fyiXov yXvicvfjuaXov dfia /crj/jbavrbv deiSco

TToXXd/CC

VVKTO<s

dcOpL,

Tp(j>CO

Si

6vhKa

TOL

z/e/3/9W9

irdaa^

40

fjbavvo(j}6pco<; ^

fcal

recraapa^;

afcv/juvoyf;

dpKTCOV.
1

haW

(or 5e{}0'?)

''hither,"

cf.

Ale. fr. 19 SeCre,

New

Sappho New Frag. 1,15 SaGr' mss 5' aW

2 vTr(frL Winsem
^ re and acidco E
mss cirea-Ti
he could
not play and sing at the same time
mss rb and aeibcop^ IJLavpo^opcos Schol. V. 1
mss afiPochSpws
Frag.

2,

St^Ct',

142

THEOCRITUS
soon enow thou'rt here,

XI, 22-41
trow,

when sweet

comes me over.
But up and gone when sleeping' s done

sleep

never

flees so fast

that dotli spy gray wolf anigh, as thou when

slumber's past.
My love of thee began, sweeting, when thou
mind it well
Wast come a-pulling luces wi' my mother on the fell;
1 showed ye where to look for them, and from that

Ewe

hour to this
ye true
nothing is.

I've loved

well

thou
One long
doth
And but

but Lord

to

my

you

wot pretty maid, pretty maid,

shun'st

me

love as
for

why

so.

shag eyebrow ear to ear

my

forehead o'er

go.

one eye beneath doth

lie,

and the nose

stands wide on the lip

Yet be as 1 may, still

thousand sheep.

this

feed

say, I

full

the milk to my hand's the best i' the land, and

cheese 'tis plenty also
Come summer mild, come winter wild, my cheeseracks ever o'erflow.
And, for piping, none o' my kin hereby can pipe

And

my

like

And

my

piping.

of thee

and me, dear sweet-apple,

in

one song

oft I sing.

Often at dead of night.

And

O, there's

gifts in store

for thee.

Eleven fawns,

all white-collars,
four for thee.

and cosset bear's cubs

143

THE BUCOLIC POETS

aXX' a^iKevao ttoO^ afie, icaX e^et? ovSev ekaaaov,
rav yXav/cav Se OoXacraav ea ttotI y(^6pcrov ope^06LV.

ahiov^ ev Tcovrpcp irap ifuv rav vv/cra Sia^69*

ivrl 8d(f>vac rrjvely evrl paScval Kvirdpiacrot,

ear I

Kiaa6<^,

fjiiXa^

ear

'y^vxpov v8cop, to pLOC

ecTTL

dpnTeko^;

jXvfcvfcap-

d TroXvSevSpeo^ Atrva

\V/cd<; K 'x^i6vo<; irorov d/JL/3p6cnop TrpotrjTL,

Tt9

Ka

To)vh

OdXaaaav
iywv

al he TOi avTo^

hpvo^ ^v\a

evrl

pLOC

ex^i^v
So/ceo)

f<^^^i'

viro

/cat

fcvp^aO^'^

Xacncorepo^

eXotro;
rjpiev,

d/cdpuarop

airohS)

TTVpfca opuevo^ S' vtto

KOI

TOP

ev

tgO?

/cat

6<p6aXpi6v,

rdv \lrvxdv dvexpipiav

too

puot

jXv/cepcoTepov

ovSev,

OT

oypbOi,

ovic eTefcev pu

/caTsSvp

0)9

ttotI

tip

pLaTrjp

/cat

^pd^yi eypvTa,

Tap X^pa

t6v^

e'^t-

Xriaa,
al

purj

TO

aTopba

X^9,

<^epop

he

tol

t)

/cpipa

XevKa
i)

pLdic(op

vvp pidp
et

Ka

diraXdp epvOpd irkaTa^dopC exotcrap,

icopiop, pvp av to ya petp puaaevpLaCf^

0)

Tt9 crvp pai irXecop ^ePo<; mS* dcj^i/crjTac,

C09 elSS), TL

TTox dSv KaTOLKelp TOP jSvdop

vpupLLP,

^ aSiov' E.
^ koI KvfxaB' Ahrens
cf. 10. 54
mss abiov
^ av r6 ya
from Schol,
mss 7) Kvfx.
velv /jLacrev/jiaA (i.e.
fxad-f^a-ofxai, which occurs in the Scholiast's paraphrase) Ahr
mss avTo ya v^lv fie/xad^vfiai {ye /nadevfAai)
:

58

aWa
(aarr^

ra }xkv Oepeos, to, 5e yiuerai eV x^^f^^^h

ovk &v toi ravra (pepeiv afia irdpr i^vudOrji/.

The reasons for rejecting these lines against the mss are too
long to be given here. See Class, Rev. 1912, p. 246.

144

57

60

THEOCRITUS

XI, 42-62

it be, the blue blue sea, to gasp an 't will

the shore,
come ye away to me, to me I'll lay ye'll find

leave
o'

And

no

ill

store.

sweeter night thou' It pass i' the cave with me

than away i' the brine
There's laurel and taper cypress, swart ivy and sweet;

fruit vine.

And

for thy drinking the cool water woody Etna

pours so free
For my delight from his snow so white, and a
heav'nly draught it be.
Now who w ould choose the sea and his waves, and a
home like this forgo ?
But if so be the master o' t too shag to thy deeming show.
There's wood in store, and on the floor a fire that
smoulders still.
And if thou would' st be burning, mayst burn my

soul an thou will,

Yea, and the dear'st of
eye.

That

O me

all

my

goods,

my

one dear

was not born with

fins to

be diving down to

thee.

To

Of

not thy lips, at least thy hand, and give

thee posies
poppies trim with scarlet rim or snow-white

kiss, if

winter-roses
if a stranger a-shipboard come, e'en now, my
little sweeting.
E'en now to swim I'll learn of him, and then shall I
!

And

be weeting
Wherefore it be ye folk

o'

the sea are so lief to be

living below.

145

THE BUCOLIC POETS

i^evOoL^, TaXdreia, /cal i^evOotcra \d0oio
cocnrep iyoov vvv

&he

TVpov

/cal

Ka9rjfjievo<^ ot/caS* direvOelv,

avv i/xlv dfxa kol yaX'

iTOiiiaiveiv B^ediXoi<;

TTCi^ai rdfjuaov hpifxelav ivelaa,

kol

fjLdrrjp dSifcel fxe fiova,

ovSev

irriiTO"^

KOL ravT dpbap

rdv

(paaco^^

d/jueXyeLV

oXco? TTort

^lXov

t\v

dfiap opevad

iir

Kal rco?

/c(j>a\dv

avra*

fiifjicj^oiuiat

euTrev

virep

XeTrrvvovra}

jxe

iroha^

dfjb(j)OTepo)(;

70

/jLev

a(j)v^iv, GO? dviaOfi, iirel Kr/ycov dvLco/jLac,

K.vfc\(i)yjr

ira rd^; (^peva^ eKTrenro-

}^v/c\(oyfr,

raaac;
aiK

Ta\dpco<^

v9a)v

re

ifKeKOi^

Kal

6aWov

dfid(Ta<;
TaL<;

apveaat

rd^a Ka

(^epoi<;,

ttoXv fxaXkov e'xpi^

V(OV,

rdv irapeolcrav
evprjaec^

TToWal

d/jueXye'

VaXdretav

rl rov (pevyopra Slcokl<;;

KCxXi^ovTi he irdaac,
hrfkov 6t iv

rd yd

e'jrel /c

rdv vv/cra /ceXovTat,

avTal<; v7ra/cov(jo:>,

Krjyoov T69 ^aivofiai rjpiev,

ovTCt) TOi Yl6Xvcj}a/jL0<? iTTOL/jLacvev

pbovaiahcov,
^

pdop Se Stay

Xenrvpopra Meineke

(p\a(rcOf

Schol.

146

mss
^

0aorco

Epicharmus and Oracle

dXkav,

caco^ /cal /caWtov*

avfjbiraiahev pue /copat

in

rj

el 'X^pvcrop eSco/cep.

XeTrrhp i6pTa

uIk

Hdt.

(i.e.
i.

SO

top epcora

ai,

174

cf.

mss

Mss

ov ovk)

uIk

(paau or

Wil,

cf.

THEOCRITUS
Come

forth

and away,

thou comest,

XI, 63-81

my

pretty fay, and

when

Forget, as he that sitteth here, thy ways again to go

Feed

flock wi'

me, draw milk

wi'

me, and

if 't

my

darling please.

Pour rennet tart the curds to part and set the good
white cheese.
'Tis all my mother's doing
she sore to blame hath
;

bin

Never good word hath spoke you

sees me waxing so thin.
I'll tell

her of throbbing feet,

eyne
I

am

o'

me, though she

I'll tell

her of aching

fain that

misery be hers sith misery be mine.

O Cyclops, Cyclops, where

Up, fetch you loppings
plying

The

for

be your wits gone flying ?

your lambs, or go a withy-

man, and that there's no

denying.
Milk the staying, leave the straying, chase not them
that shy
Mayhap you'll find e'en sweeter Galateas by and by.
There's many a jill says ' Come an you will and play
all night wi' me,'
And the laugh I hear when I give ear is soft and
sweet as can be
E'en I, 'tis plain, be somebody, ashore, if not i' the sea.
wearier's oft the wiser

Thus did Polyphemus tend his love-sickness with

music, and got more comfort thereout than he
could have had for any gold.

*' Throbbing
feet": headache and footache the latter
from waiting on the beloved's threshold were conventional
signs of being in love.

147
1.

XII. THE
The

BELOVED
to

a passion,

this

Jine poem,

Greeks sometimes exalted friendship

and such a friendship doubtless inspired

Theocritus acknowledges his indebtedness to the Ionian

lyrists

and

elegists

by using their

dialect.

The passage

rendered here in verse contains what at first sight looks

like

a mere display of learning, bid has simply

intention

Our

love will be fainous

posterity that the very

words for

it

among

this

so reinote a

will be matter

for

learned comment,^

149

XIL AITHS
"IIXu^69
7]\vde<;^*

S) (j)iK

KOVpe' TpLTT} aVV VVKtI

KCil Tjol

ol he iroOevvre^; ev i]fiaTi yrjpdo-Kovatv,

oaaov eap "X^ei/jucovo^, ocrov /jurjXov jSpalSiXoto

Tjhiov, oaaov ot? a^erepTj^; XaaLcoreprj dpv6<;,
ooaov irapdevLKTi 7rpo(f)epL rpLyd/jLOCO ^vvaiKos:,
oaaov i\a<ppoTepr] iJioa')(pv ve^po^, oaaov drjScov
avfjuiravTcov \cjV(pcovo<; doiSordTTj 7rT7)V(ov,

Toaaov

fji

av

ev(^priva<;

^avei^,

aKceprjv

S'

vtto

(f>7]ybv

rjeXiov (f)pvyovTO^ 68oL7r6po<; eSpafiov &<;

etO" ofjiaXol

TTvevaecav

iir'

d/jicpoTepouv

vojLv, eTreaaofiivoLf; 8e yvoL/ji0a

'

Sto) ^ hrj TLV6 TcoSe jxerd

(f)(od

Tov

S'

jjbev

etairvrfko^,

erepov

"EpcoT<$

iraaiv doiZrj'

irpoTepoiai

(jyair)

ti<;.

jeveadijv

^' ^n/jbv/cXald^ayv,

irdXiv, co? kv 6

aaa\b<;

etiroL,

aiTTjV,

dWrj\ov<^
'X^pvaeLot

S*

e^iXrjaav law ^vy^*

irdXiv

dvSpe^, or

VP^

^^^^ rjaav

avrecpiX'tja^

6 (pckij-

For punctuation cf. Sappho in Julian Epist. 59 p. 379

^ d(co
- afjL<poTpouv E
mss -oicriu
Ahrens
Hercher
* /aera irpoTcpoKTi Taylor from schol,
mss and schol. Boico
^ rhv ^repov attracted for 6 erepos
mss )Ut' afx(f>oTepoi(ri
^

150

XII. THE

BELOVED

Thou'rt come^ dear heart thou'rt come after two

days and nights^ albeit one will turn a lover gray.
As spring is sweeter than winter^ and pippin than
damson-phim as mother-ewe is shaggier than her
lambkin^ and maiden more to be desired than a
thrice-wed wife as the fawn is nimbler-footed than
the calf^ and the nightingale clearest-tongued of all
the winged songsters so am I gladded above all at
the sight of thee^ and run to thee as a wayfarer
runneth to the shady oak when the sun is burning
hot. And 'tis O that equal Loves might inspire thee
and me^ and we become this song and saying unto
all them that follow after
;

Here were two men of might

The antique years among,
The one Inspirant hight

tN A7nyclaean tongue,

The f other Fere ivoidd he

In speech of Thessalye ;
Each lovd each, even-peise
other golden days,

Whenas love-I love-you

All men did hold for true

ISI

THE BUCOLIC POETS

e^ ^ap TOVTO, irdrep J^poviSr], TreXoi, el ^dp, d^rjpw
dOdvaroty yevefj^; 8e ScrjKOcriyatv eireuTa
dyyeiXeiev ifjuoi tl<; dve^ohov eh A'X^epovra*
^
rj (TTj vvv (piXorrj^; koX tov ')(apievTO<; dtrea)
^

7rd(TC

Sid

(7ToiJbaTo<;,

8'

fxerd

rjlOeoiai /judXtara,

dX)C rjTOL TOVTCov fxev vireprepoL Ovpavicove<;'

eaaov6^^ o)(; iOeXovatv eyco 8e ere tov koKov alvecov
yfrevSea pivo^ virepOev dpairj^ ovfc dva^vcrco,

jdp Kai

Tjv

Ti

to

Sd/crj^;

fiev

a^XaySe?

vdv<^

edrj/ca^,

BiTrXdatov

S'

Mvrjaa^y

^%^^

S' e7rL/JLTpov

dirrfkOov,

NcaatOL Meyapi]e<; dptaTevovTe^ ipeT/xot^,

oX^LOt ol/ceiocTey tov Kttlkov co? TrepiaXXa
^

^ecvov eTLfjbijcraade

AtOKXia tov

alel oi Trepi tv/jl^ov

(j^tXoTraiSa,

doXXee^ etapt

TrpcoTcp

Kovpoi epiSfiaivovat (^iXrjfjiaTo^ cifcpa (pepeaOat.

09 Be K Trpoafjud^T] yXvKepcoTaTa'^ 'xeiXeon %e6X'^,
/3pt06pvo^ aTe(f>dvot(TLV erjv e? firjTep aTrrjXOev.
oX^io^, oaTt^ iracal cptXTJ/maTa fcecva ScaiTaT] TTOV TOV '^apOTTOV TaVV/JLTjSea TToXX
eTTL^MTaL
AvSij) laov eyeiv nreTpr) aTOfxa, 'X^pvaov oiroir)
irevOovTai fxr] (^avXo<^ T7Jtv/jlov dpyvpa/jLOt/BoL
^

3.

E,

%(r<jovB'

E,

cf. (X(rajULvccv

408, caaavTo
cf.

152

15.

139

Thuc,

Euphorion 99
mss -repa

mss

'^(Tcraro

^aaoi^d'

Pind. Fr. Oxyrh.

yAvKepcorara
'^

THEOCRITUS

XII, 17-37

O would to thee. Father Zeus, and to you, unaging

Host of Heaven, that when a hundred hundred years
shall be passed away, one bring me word upon the
prisoning bank of Acheron our love is yet upon every
Be that or
lip, upon the young men's most of all
no the People of Heaven shall stablish as they will
now, when 1 sing thy
for theirs is the dominion
praises, there shall no push-o'-leasing rise upon the
tip of this tongue for if e'er thou giv'st me torment,
thou healest the wound out of hand, and I am better
off than before, seeing I come away with over!

measure.

Heaven

rest you glad, Nisaean masters o' the oar,

you have done such exceeding honour unto
an Attic stranger that was among you, to wit unto
Diodes about whose grave, so surely as Spring
Cometh round, your children vie in a kissing-match,
and whosoever presseth lip sweetliest upon lip,cometh
away to's mother loaden with garlands. Happy the
justicer holdeth that court of kissing
God wot
he prays beamy Ganymed, and prays indeed, to
make his lips like the touchstones which show
the money-changer whether the gold be gold or
for that

dross.
Push-o'-leasing "
in the Greek the tell-tale pimples,
themselves called 'lies,' rise, not upon the tongue, but upon
the tip of the nose.
"Diocles" an Athenian who, while
living in exile at Megara, died in battle to save the youth
he loved.
'*

^5.

-HYLAS

XIII
Theocritus

tells his

friend Nicias in epic shape the tale

of the Apotheosis of Hijlas,

as

is

probable, the words

delicate

may

way of saying

well be an

aidhor of XII,

'

answer

XXIX,

'

the beloved

as

as
to

and

we

seem

you seem

of Heracles.
to think

'

to think', the

If,

are a

poem

a friendly rebuke of the

XXX,

T55

XIII. TAA2

Oi%

afxlv

TOP "E/oa)Ta

fi6voi<^

^'^^X'

^^

^^^'

^L/cca, MTLvc TOVTO Oecov TTO/ca T6/CV0V eyevTO*

dfjLLP TCL Koka TTpdrot^ KoXa ^aiverat rjfiePy
dvarol TreXo/JLeada to S' avpiov ovk iaopco/JLef;'
KOi ^AficfytTpiKovo^; o ')(^a\fC60fcdpSto<; vlo^,
09 Tov Xlv V7re/jitv TOP aypcop, rjparo iracSo^^,
Tov ')(apiePTo<;"T\a, tov tclp ifKoKajJuha (j)opVPTo^,
Kai Pip TTCLPT ihiha'^6 iraTrjp oocrel (f)lXop vlea,

oi^

oi

aWa

oorora fxaOcop dya06<; fcal doiBc/jLo^ avTo<^ eyepTO*

ovheiTOK ^9, ovt el fxeaop dfiap dpoiTo"^,

ovK OK'^ d XevKLTTTTO^ dpaTpe'Xpi ^ 69 A609 'Ac69,
OvS' OTTOK 6pTd\i')(^0L fJLLPVpol TTOtI KoItOP OpOiSP ^
(jeiQ-aixkpa^ irTepd ixaTpo<=; iir^ aWdXoePTC 7rTvp(p,
;^ft)pt9

S'

avTO) /caTOL Ovfiop 6 iTal<; ireiropaiiepo^ eh],

avTco ^ S' 6v eXjccop 9 dXaOipop dphp aTro^air],
ft)9

aW'

oTe TO xp^^^^op eirXeL /xera /cwa9 ^Idacop

S' avTcp dpt(TTr)<; avpeTTOPTO

Alaopi8a<;, ol
Tvacrap
^

cos

i/c

ttoXIcop irpoXekeypiepoi,

i3oKv/j.es,

doKct 11. 2, 6.pa

1.

Propert.

1.

4.

6,

like ^v

66 and
8,

3.

6.pa,

'as

18. 1, pv

5,

Ovid

&p o^eXo9

it seems we think,' of. a>s

Bion 2. 1 and ergo or igitur

Trist.

3.

2, 3.

9,

and
cf.

for the first person cf. Pindar P. 3. 107

^ auerpexoi Schaefer
mss opoiro
1.
12
:

opotev E, of.
so schol.

156

Hes.

tScut.

437

mss

tl,

bp^>^v

Am.

2.

^ 6.poiTo
:

mss

avra>

E,

-rp^x^i
avrSOey,

XIII. HYLAS
From what God soever sprung, Nicias^ Love was
we seem to think^ born for ns alone nor first

not^ as

unto us of mortal flesh that cannot see the morrow^

For Amphitryon's
look things of beauty beautiful.
brazen-heart son that braved the roaring lion^ he too
once loved a lad^ to wit the beauteous Hylas of the
curly locks^ and^ even as father his son^ had taught
him all the lore that made himself a good man and
brought him fame and would never leave him,
neither if Day had risen to the noon^ nor when
Dawn's white steeds first galloped up into the home
of Zeus, nor yet when the twittering chickens went
scurrying at the flapping of their mother's wings to
This did he
their bed upon the smoky hen-roost.
that he might have the lad fashioned to his mind^
and that pulling a straight furrow from the outset
the same might come to be a true man.
;

Now when Jason son of Aeson was to go to fetch

the Golden Fleece with his following of champions
that were chosen of the best out of all the cities in

157

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Xfcero

crvv

')(od

raXaepyo^ dvrjp

69 a^veiov ^IcoXkov,

avT(p Kare^aivev" T\a<^ evehpov 6? ^Apyoj,

S'

an^ Kvaveav ovy^ yyjraro l^vvhpofjbdhwv vav^,

dXka hie^dl^e, ^a6vv S' elcreSpa/jLe ^datv
alero^ w? jjue^a XalTfia' ac^'ou rodc^
dfio<^ S'

dvreXXovTt UeXetdSe^^,

dpva veov ^oaKovrt,

')(^oipdh^

earav,

io")(^aTtal Se

Terpafi/jLevov etapo^;

r^hrj,

rdfio^ vavTiXia<^ IxipLvaaKero Oelo^; acoT09

^pcocovy

KoiXav Se KaOtSpvOevre^

e? ^Apyco

'EXXdo-TTOVTOV IfCOVTO VOTCp TpUTOV cifiap deVTLy

etao) S' op/jiov eOevro YipoTTovriho^y

ev9a YLtavoyv

avXafca^ evpvvovrt ^oe? TpijBovre^ dporpa,

ifc^dvre^

S' iirl

Olva Kara ^vjd Sacra irevovro

SeceXivdv, ttoXXoI Se fxiav

Xetjjbcov <ydp

aropeaavro yajxevvav

cr^iv efcecTO, fieya

an^dhecrcnv oveiapy

evdev /SovTOfjiov o^ij /3a0vv r ird/jbovro Kvireipov.

K(p')(e6^

avT(p

^'TXa^ 6 ^avdh^

ot fjbiav d(Ji(p(o eralpoL del

yoKtceov ayyo^ '^X^^'

rj/jLV(i)

iv

')((jc>p(p*

Kal OdXXovra aeXiva

S'

^vfKJ^at

ev

otcrcop

haivvvTO rpdire^av,

Se Kpdvav ivoTjaep
Opva iroXXa ire^-ufcetf

')(Xcop6v

d/coLjUirjTOii
toOl

r dSta^vrov

teal iXtTevr)<; djp(jocrTt<;,

/Jbicraa) l^^vficpat

158

iinhopTnov

rdya

irepX he

Kvdveov re '^eXtSovcov
vSarc

iiScop

6' 'UpafcXrj'i fcal dcrTjiicf)l TeXa/jbcovt,

X^P^^ dpri^ovro,

Setval deal dypoicoraL^,

"there," E: mss roVe

THEOCRITUS

XIII, 19-44

the land, then came there with them to the rich lolcus
the great man of toil who was son of the high-born
Alcmena of Midea, and went down with Hylas at his
side to that good ship Argo, even to her that
speeding ungrazed clean through the blue Clappers,
ran into Phasis bay as an eagle into a great gulf,
whereafter those Clappers have stood still, reefs evermore.
And at the rising of the Pleiads, what time of
the waning spring the young lambs find pasture
in the uplands, then it was that that divine
flower of hero-folk was minded of its voyaging, and
taking seat in the 'Argo's hull came after two
days' blowing of the Southwind to the Hellespont,
and made haven within Propontis at the spot where
furrow is broadened and share brightened by the
oxen of the Cianians. Being gone forth upon the
strand, as for their supper they were making it
ready thwart by thwart but one couch was strown
them for all, for they found to their hand a meadow
that furnished good store of litter, and thence did
cut them taper rushes and tall bedstraw.
Meanwhile the golden-haired Hylas was gone to
bring water against supper for his own Heracles and
for they two did ever eat
for the valiant Telamon
together at a common board gone with a brazen ewer.
Ere long he espied a spring
in a hollow it lay,
whereabout there grew many herbs, as well blue
swallow-wort and fresh green maidenhair as blooming
parsley and tangling deergrass.
Now in the midst
of the water there was a dance of the Nymphs afoot,
of those Nymphs who, like the water, take no rest,
those Nymphs who are the dread Goddesses of the
;

159

THE BUCOLIC POETS

JLvPLfca

Kal M<xXt9 eap

7JT0L 6 Kovpo<;

opocoaa ^v')(eLa.

S*

eVeZ^e ttotco iro\v')(avhea Kpaxraop

/Sdyfrac iiretyo/xevo^' ral

Traadcov yap epco^ diraXa^

^ApyeUp
dOpoo^y

iirl iraihi,
(i)9

0T

iv %e/ol iraaai ecf^vaav

S'

(j)pva<;
8'

/carijpLTre

i^ecro^rjaev^

e? /meXav vScop

ovpavov

7rvpcro<; dir

darrjp

ijpLirev

50

ddp6o(; iv iTovTcp, vavrai^; Se t^9 elirev eraipot^;

*/cof</)OTep'

0)

OTrXw irXevaTiKo^

TralSe^ TTOielaO^

(ovpo^-^,

yovvaai Kovpov exotcrat

haKpvoevT dyavolai irape^\rvy^ovT iireeaaiv,
AjiKpLTpvcovLdSaf; Be Tapaaaopbevo^ irepl irathl
(p'X^eTO, MaLcoTLCTTl \a/3a)V evKafxirea ro^a

^vficfyaL fiev cr^ere/ooi? iirl

poTToKov, TO ol alev i^^dvSave Be^irepd %6tp.

fcal

T/0I9 /jLv'^T\av

dvaev, oaov ^a0v<; rjpvye Xaipbo^*

dpaca

Tpl<; S* dp' o Trat^ virdKovcrev,

i^ i/8aT09, Trapeoov 8e pidXa

crp^eSoz/

1/cto (pcovd

etheTO Troppw.

go

\l^

62

V/3pov ^Oey^afjieva^ t^9 iv ovpecnv

o)fjiO(f>d'yo^

i^ 6vvd<^ eanrevaev eroipLOTdTav

Sacra*

'Iipa/c\e7]<^

iirl

TOiovTO^ iv drpLTrTOiacv dfcdv9ai<;

iratSa ttoOmv hehovrjro, irdXvv

B^ iTreXd/ji/Bave'^^oypov*

a')(eT\LOL ol (^iXeovTC'^, aXdypievo^

oaa

ipboyrjcrev
^

ovpea fcal hpypLov^;, rd S* ^\daovo<^ varepa iravr ^9.

vav^ yijjbev^ dpjiev e')(Oiaa pLerdpaia tcov irapeovrcov,
^

i^earS^Tjaep

KoiXvx^eu

mss

ovpos

61 ws

"

Jacobs,

cf.

TrAevariicos
^

y^/xeu

5' oTTf^r'

2.

137

mss

mss

Hermann mss
:

or d/x0ewvpos E
:

fxev

7}vyevios airoTrpodL Xls ecranovoras

Omitted by the best ms and by the

introduction of simile,

160

i^ecpo^ricreu

also iryevarLKos

cf.

14, 39.

schol.

for asyndetic

THEOCRITUS

XIII, 45-67

country-folk, Eunica to wit and Malis and Nycheia

with the springtime eyes. And these, when the lad
put forth the capacious pitcher in haste to dip it in,
with one accord they all clung fast to his arm,
lo
because love of the young Argive had fluttered all
And down he sank into the
their tender breasts.
black water headlong, as when a falling star will
sink headlong in the main and a mariner cry to
his shipmates ^ Hoist away, my lads; the breeze
freshens.'
Then took the Nymphs the weeping lad
upon their knees and offered him comfort of gentle
speech.
Meantime the son of Amphitryon was grown
troubled for the child, and gone forth with that
bow of his that was bent Scythian-wise and the
cudgel that was ever in the grasp of his right hand.
Thrice cried he on Hylas as loud as his deep throttle
could belch sound
thrice likewise did the child
make answer, albeit his voice came thin from the
water and he that was hard by seemed very far away.
When a fawn cries in the hills, some ravening lion
will speed from his lair to get him a meal so ready ;
and even so went Heracles wildly to and fro amid the
pathless brake, and covered much country because
of his longing for the child.
As lovers know no
!

flinching, so endless

was the

toil of his wandering by

Jason's business was but a
by-end. And all the while the ship stood tackle
aloft, and so far as might be, laden, and the heroes

wood and wold, and

''

all

Tackle aloft": with the sail hoisted but not yet turned
cf. Alcaeus N.F. 1. 15.

to the wind,

161

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ovpov

8' rj/jLiOeoi

IJbaiv6fjbevo<;'

ovTQ)

fJiev

'UpaKXeTjv

jneaopvKTWv e^e/cdOaipov

^oXeTTO^;

yap

eaco deo^ rjirap afivaaev,

KdWLaTO<^^ T\a<; pbaKapwv dpiO [xelTai'

S'

rjpwe^ eicepTOfJieov \i7rovavTav,

ovvfCv r/pcorjae rpLa/ccvrd^vyop Apyco'

ire^a
^

162

S'

eh KoX%ou9 re

ovpSv E,

cf.

IL

2.

153

/cal

mss

a^evov

la-ria

3l

XtceTO

^dcnv.

correction of ovpov

THEOCRITUS

XIII, 70-76

passed the night a-clearing of the channel, waiting

upon Heracles. But he alas was running whithersoever his feet might carry him, in a frenzy, the God
did rend so cruelly the heart within him.
!

Thus came fairest Hylas to be numbered of the

and the heroes to gird at Heracles for a
deserter because he wandered and left the good ship
of the thirty thwarts.
Nevertheless he made the
Blest,

inhospitable land of the Colchians afoot.

*' The channel "
the hollow in the sand
ship would be launched.
:

down which

the

163

M 2

XIV.

-THE LOVE OF CYNISCA

The

I.ove of Cynisca

The

scene

The

is

neither

is

a dialogue of common

Egypt nor

Sicily,

of whom has been

and in the ensuing

characters, middle-aged moi, one

crossed in love, meet in the road,

conversation the lover

tells

the story

of

his quarrel with

Cynisca, and ends with expressing his intejition

for a soldier abroad.

enlist in the

His friend suggests

army of Ptolemy, and

who

of going

that he should

gives that

flaitering testimonial, ivhich betrays the

poet

life.

perhaps Cos.

monarch a

hand of the

rising

seeks for recognition at court.

I6S

XIV.-KTNI^KAS EPOS
AnxiNA:s
^aCpeiv TToXXa rov avhpa Svcovi'X^ov,
erriNixos

dWa

Tocavra

auxina:^

rnNixos
Ti Se TOi TO fxekn^fia;

j(^p6vio<^'

TTpdcrcroiJie^

ou%

&)9 'kcpcrra Sv(i)vi')(e,

TONIXOS
^ft) /jLvcTTa^

TToXu? ovTO<;, avcTTaXeoc Se kiklvvol,

TOiovTO^ iTpdoav Tt? dtpi/ceTO TJv6ayopiKTd<;y

a)%po9 /cdvvTToSrjTO^*

A6r]valo<i

(f>aT

rjfjbev,

AI2XTNA2
rjpaTO p.av koI ttjvo^;

rnNixos
eyLtli/

hoKel, otttS) akevpoo.

AnXINA2
iraicrZeL^ o)ydd^

if/SpiaSer

i66

e^x^V
Xaao) Se

i/ie S'

jiavei^

')(^apiecraa

iroKay

K.vvicrKa

Opl^

dvd

XIV.THE LOVE OF CYNISCA

AESCHTNAS

VERY good day to master Thyonichus.

THYONICHUS

To Aeschinas the same.

AESCHINAS

Well met

Well met

it is

THYONICHUS
but what ails ye

Luck's way's not

AESCHINAS
way^ Thyonichus.

my

THYONICHUS

Ah

why

thou'rt so lean and the hair o*

thy lip so lank^ and thy love-locks all-to-bemoiled.
Thou'rt like one of your Pythagoreaners that came
t'other day^ pale-faced and never a shoe to's foot
hailed from Athens^ he said.
!

that's for

And was

AESCHINAS
he^ too^ in love ?

THYONICHUS
Aye^ marry^ was he with a dish

o*

porridge.

AESCHINAS
Thou'lt be ever at thy quips^ good lad. With me
'tis the pretty Cynisca^ and she's playing the jade.
And I doubt 'tis but a hair's-breadth betwixt me and
a madman.

167

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ernNixos
TOiovTO^

fjuev

ael tv (puTC Kla^iva, aG-vyS?- o^v^,

eOekcdv

TTCLVT

Kara /catpoV

ofjico<;

elirovy ri

to

Kaivov;

AI2XINA5
^npfyelo^ KY]ycbv Koi 6 S(7cra\b<; iTriroSicofCTa^
^Ayt^;^ ical Yi\evvLKo<^

eirivoiJb<;

Svo

ev %/)Ci) Trap' efxiv,

jjuev

6 (TTpaTicoTa^

KareKO'y^ra veoaao)^

drjXd^ovrd re 'xplpov, dvcp^a he ^i/3Xcvov avroc^;

evcohr],

reropcov ereodv, cryehov

l3oX/3oTiva,^ KO')(Xia<; i^apeOrj,

rjhrj

ct)9

aTTo XavS)'

7J<;

ttoto^; dSv<;.

Se TrpolovTO^^, eSo^' eiTiyjfiaQai ciKpaTov

MTLVO<; i]0X' efcacTTOf;' eSec julovov S)tlvo<^ eiTrelv,

(j)a)VvvT<; i7rLvofjL<;, to?

d/JifjL(; fjbev

8'

ovSev irapeovTO'^

ifiev. riv

iSeSoKTo*

eyeiv

fie

hoKel^

v&v;
'ov (pOey^fj

Xvkov

elSe?;' eTrac^e

tl<;,

'w?

(To<f>6^^

elire,
/crj(j)d7rT

^
'

ev/jbapeox;

Kev

dir"

avTd<; koi

Xvyyov

earc Avko<;, Avko<^ eari, Ad/3a rco yeLTovo<; vlo^,

evfjudicrj^, diraXo^^, iroXXol^ So/cecov /caXo^ rj/Luev
TOVTco Tov KXvjJievov /carerd/ceTO rijvov epcora.
yd/JLLV TOVTO Sl ft)T09 ejevTO TTo^' dcrvya ovrco^;'
ov fjiav e^rjTa^a pudrav el^ dvSpa jeveicop,
rjOT]
(OV TToaco^ rot reaaape^ ev pauei 7]fjie<;,
'
dSev dir dpyas,
p^o) Aapicratof; ' tov ejnov Xv/cov
cf.
Men. Her. 20.
and 27 iro-x! affvxq- ovrios
^o\$oriva E
cf. Athen. 318e
mss "^Attis
where ^o\^oriv7) is changed by editors to BoX^irivr) mss
^ K7}<pa7rT(o) schol
mss Kijcpar
^o\06s ris from po\^6v rivu
^

kcrvxq-

'^Ayts

Wil

i68

THEOCRITUS

XIV, 10-30

THYONICHUS

my Aeschinas;

'Faith, that's ever

than might be ; will

come, what

have

all

something hastier
own way. But

his

is it ?

AESCHINAS

There was the Argive and I and Agis the jockey

out o' Thessaly, and Cleunicus the man-at-arms
I'd killed a pair of pullets,
a -drinking at my farm.
look you, and a sucking-pig, and broached 'em a
hogshead of Bibline fine and fragrant four years in
the cask, mark you, and yet, where new's best, as
good as new and on the board a cuttlefish and
cockles to boot i' faith, a jolly bout.
To't we went, and when things waxed warmer
'twas agreed we should toast every man his fancy
only we should give the name. But when we came
to drink, the wench would not keep to the bond like
How, think you,
the rest of us, for all I was there.
Wilt be mum ? says one, and in
I liked of that ?
^ O well said
cries she,
jest, ^ Hast met a wolf?
and falls a-blushing like fire Lord you might have
One Wolf there is, look you,
lit a candle at her face.
master Wolf the son of neighbour Labas, one of your
tall and sleek sort, in some folks' eyes a proper man.
'Twas he she made so brave a show of pining for out
And I'd had wind o't too, mind you, softly,
o' love.
somehow, and so-to-speak but there I never raised
inquiry for all my beard's so long.
Be that as it may, we four good men were well in,
when he of Larissa, like the mischief he was, fell

'

'^

'

'

**

Hast met a wolf? " the sight

make a man dumb.

of a wolf

was said proverb-

ially to

169

THE BUCOLIC POETS

(deaaaXt/cov

rt

fxeXio-fjia,

Kaicai

eKKaev i^airiva'^ OaXepdorepov

rj

<^peve^*

irapa

he

fjuarpl

TTapQevo'^ ^aT7j<^ koXttco eTTiOvfJurjaacra,

rv v(ovL')(e, irv^ eVl /coppa^

rfKaaa, KaWav avOc^;, aveipvaaacra he TreirXco^;
e^co airwyeTo Oaaaov 'e/Jiov kukov, ov tol apeo-fco);
TOP

TCifJbo^

eydov,

aXXo9

Toc yXv/CLcov v7roKoX7rLO<? ;

OdXire

ttjvm rea

(f>iXov,

fjidcrraKa hoiaa

LcraL<;

dXXov

lota a

hoLKpva fjuaXa peovn,^

refcvotaLV vircopocpLQco'c

')(^eXihcbv

ay^oppov Ta')(^ivd Trererai /Slop dXXov dyelpecv

ooKvrepa fiaXaKd<; diro hi(ppafco<^ ehpa fie rrjva
I9v hi dfi(j)Ldvpa) KoX hiKXiho^y a 7r6he<; djov
alvo^ Orjv Xeyerai tl<; e/Ba /cal Tavpo<^ ^ dv vXav^
eiKahi* * Tai o ofcroo, rat o evvea, rai be oeK
'

oKXcLi,
adfjiepov evhe/cdra* 7roTiOe<; he/ca^ /cal hvo

^ /jir]pe<;,

dii dXXdXcov ouS' el pa/cc(TTl fceKappLat,

olhe. Av/co^ vvv irdyra^ A{)K(p koI vv/cTb<; dvOncrar
afifjie<; S' ovre Xoyco tlvo'^ d^iou ovt dpLdfirjroi,

e^

Si

hvaTTjvoL yieyapr]e<; dTL/jLordrrj evl

Kel

fxev

diroo-Tep^aipLi,

rd

/jbOiprj,

iravra

tcev

el^

heov

epirot.

Ahrens
mss rd or 7a (xd fxaXa cf. Megara 56
^ tHa koX ravpos some mss and
Schol mss 5' ola
^ et/riSt E
Schol others el3aKv ravpos or e^a Kevravpos
^ Se/ca koI dvo E
mss 5uo koI deKU or 5uo Kot
mss eTwari
5uo (following the corruption etKari above)
with the passage
cf. Ar. Nub. 1116.
^

Tea

bo7(ra

170

THEOCRITUS

XIV, 31-50

a-singing a Thessalian catch beginning ' My friend the

Wolf; whereupon Cynisca bursts out a-weeping and
a-waihng like a six-year-old maiden in want of a lap.
Then you know me, Thyonichus, I up and fetched
Whereat
her a clout o' the ear, and again a clout.
she catched up her skirts and was gone in a twink.
Hast
I not good enough, my sweet mischief?
ever a better in thy lap ? Go to, pack, and be clipping another. Yon's he thou weep'st apples over.'
Now a swallow, mark you, that bringeth her young
eaves-dwellers their pap, gives and is gone again to
get her more ; so quickly that piece was up from her
cushions and off through door-place and through
Aye, 'tis
door, howsoever her feet would carry her.
an old story how the bull went through the wood.
Let me see, 'twas the twentieth o' the month.
to-day's the eleventh.
Eight, nine, ten
You've
only to add ten days and 'twill be two months since
we parted and I may be Thracian-cropped for aught
Ah 'tis all Wolf nowadays Wolf hath
she knows.
the door left open for him o' nights ; as for me,
I forsooth am altogether beside the reckoning, like
'Tis true, if I
miserable Megara, last i' the list.
would but take my love off the wench, all would
But alack
how can that be ? When
go well.

'^

Am

Add

ten days and 'twill be two months " the meaning

week it will be the 20th of the next month but
one ; ten is a round number, for in Greece the weeks were
of ten days, of. <tx^^6v 10. 12. The carouse took place, say, on
the 20th April ; in another * week it will be the 20th June.
"Thracian-cropped": cf. 1. 4: the Thracian barbarians
wore their hair long.
'* Megara": the Megarians,
upon
asking the oracle which was the finest people in Greece,
were told that Thrace had fine horses, Sparta fine women,
and Syracuse fine men, but Argos surpassed them all ; and
as for Megara, she was out of the reckoning altogether.
*'

is

'

in another
'

'

171

THE BUCOLIC POETS

vvv

TToOev;

Be

fiv<;,

(l)avTly

^vaovcy^e,

yev/uieOa

7ri(Tcra<;,

X^'^^ ^^ (papflCLfCOV i(TTiV d/jL7)')(^aV0VT0<; pCOTO<^,

ovK olSa, TrXav St/z-o? o Td<; enriyjoiXKOi^ ipaaOel^
eK7T\ev(ja<; vytrj(; eiravrjv6\

i/jub^

aXuccdoTa^,

ifKevaovjjiai Kriycbv hiairovTio'^' ovre /cdKurro^^

ovre irpdro^

tcr(o<yy

n^

o/aaXo^ Si

6 aTparicoTa^.

THNIXOS
axpeXe

jxev %ft)pe?z/

Alo")(iva,

el S'

Kara vodv
dpa tol

ovro)^

reov,

&v

eireOvfJieL^^

8o/cl acrr dirohafjielvy

fitadohora^; UroXe/JLalo^ iXevdepco olo^ dpicrro^^,

AUXINAS

rdXXa

dvrjp ttolo^ t^9 eXevOeptp olo^ dpicTTo^;

S'

60

THNIXOS

vyvd)ficov, <^iXoiJiov<jo^i epcort/co^;,

eh

dfcpov aSu9,

Tov (^iXeovra, rev ov (f)tXeovr ere fxaXXov,

jroXXd 8tSov<;, alrev/jievof; ovfc dvavevcov,
ola ')(prj ^ao-iXrj'' alrelv Se Bel ovk eirl iravrl
elScb<;

iroXXotf;

klcryiva,
XcoTTo?

war

dKpov

ec

rot /card Be^tov Mfiov dpecr/cec

nrepovdaOai,

eir

d/jL(poTepoL<;

Be

I3ej3aiccb<;

ToXfiaaei^; eiTiovra jxeveiv

Td')(p^

eh AcyvTTTov,

Opaavv

donrtBLcorav,

diro Kpordcjycov ireXopbecrOa

irdvre^ jrjpaXeot, fcal eiria^epco e? yevvv epirei

Xevfcauvcov 6 %/}oz^09* Troielv rt Bel, a^ yovv ')(X(opov, 70

172


THEOCRITUS

XIV, 51-70

and what may

no getting away
be
from, 'faith, I know not save that Simus that fell in
love, as the saying is, with Mistress Brassbound and
went overseas, he came home whole a mate of mine
he was. Suppose I cross the water, like him your
tastes pitch, Thyonichus
the medicine for a love there's

mouse

not maybe o' the highest, so is

the lowest, but 'tis e'en as good as another.

soldier's life, as

not
I

o'

would

Aeschinas.

'tis

it

THYONICHUS
thy desire had run smooth,
so be thy mind is made up to go

indeed

But

if

thy ways abroad, I'll e'en

master a freeman can have

thee the best payKing Ptolemy.

tell
;

AESCHINAS

And what

sort of

a freeman can have

man, pray, is

this that

is

the best

THYONICHUS

A kind heart, a man of parts, a true gallant, and

the top o' good-fellowship knows well the colour of
a friend, and still better the look of a foe like a
true king, gives far and wide and says no man nay
albeit 'tis true one should not be for ever asking
alms, Aeschinas.
(in mock-heroic strain)
So an thou
be'st minded to clasp the warrior's cloak about thee,
and legs astride to abide the onset of the hardy foeman, to Egypt with thee. To judge by our noddles
we're all waxing old, and old Time comes us grizzling
line by line down the cheek.
We must fain be up
and doing while there's sap in our legs.
;

" When mouse tastes pitch " the mouse that fell into the
caldron of pitch was proverbial of those who find themselves
" Mistress Brassin difficulties through their own folly.
bound " : contemporary slang for the soldier's shield.
:

WOMEN AT THE

XV, THE

ADONIS-

FESTIVAL
The

scene

of

mime

this

is

Alexandria , and the chief

characters are tivo fellow -countrywomen

GorgOy paying a morning

t7vo-year-old

call,

the author,

finds Praxinoa,

superintendiiig the

child,

of

ivith

her

spinning of her

maids, ajid asks her to come with her to the Festival

of Adonis at the palace of Ptolemy II.

makes some demur, hut at last washes and

Praxinoa
dresses

her visitor and their two maids.

sallies forth with

and

After

sundry encounters in the crowded streets, they enter the

palace,

and soon

Dirge which

is

of a
Aphrodite and a
forecast

of Ptolemy

I.

after, the

prima donna begins

the

a wedding-song containing a

really

dirge with

an

address

to

reference to the deifcation

The song

describes the

of

the

scene

bride

the queen
the offer-

ings displayed about the marriage-bed, the two canopies

of greenery above it, the bedstead with its

of the Rape of Ganymede, the coverlets

representation
jvhich

emvrap

of Adonis and Aphrodite, the image of the

holy bridegroom himself and ends with an anticipation
the effigies

of

the choral dirge

to

be sung on the

morrow

at

the

funeral of Adonis.

175

XV.-2TPAKOSIAI H AAONIAZOTSAI

roprn
''EivSoL

Tlpa^tpoa;

nPAHINOA
TopyoL (f>L\a, 0)9
0avfjb

on

ejjbl^aXe

Kal vvv

')(^p6vcp*

oprj Stcppov

rjvOe^,

evhoL.

^vvoa avra.

kol TTonicpavov,

roprn

/cdWtara,
nPAHINOA

e')(6L

Ta<; oXe/jidTCO

^ -x^f

roprn
^a9* /jloXl^

Yipa^LVoa, TToWco jaev o^Xco,

vjjl/jllv

iacodrjv,

itoWmv

he TeOpiir-

7TC0V'

iravra icpr)irlh6<^, iravra ')(Xa/jLuS7](j)6poc dvhpe^;*

d S' 6S09 drpVTO^' TV S* e/cao-rdro) 0)9 ivaTTOiicel^'^.

nPAHINOA
ravd^

7rdpapo<;

IXeov, ovK OLKrjaufy ottco^

dWdXai^y
^

'6cr(Tov

176

yen'ove^

ekajS^

oyjjie^

d'ircodeu
e/x'

mss

aSe/xarw (so Greg. Cor. ), aSeieKaaTdrco ws ivatroii(e7s E, cf. 1. 45

uiid ws
where 1. 13
mss kxaarepoi

a\e/j.droo Stephaiiiis

(eKaaroTepu))

/irj

ea^ara 7a9

iTOT epiv, (j>6ovepov Kaicov, alev ofiolo^,

luLd{p)TOv, dSa/xa(r)TOL

Tvrdhv

eir

rrfvo^'

airoiK&is

'

'

XV.THE WOMEN AT THE ADONISFESTIVAL

GORGO

(jvith

her maid Eutychis at the door, as the maid

Eunoa opens
Praxinoa at

home

it)

PRAXiNOA (j^unningforwaj^d)
Dear Gorgo at last she is at home. I quite
thought you'd forgotten me. (to the maid) Here,
Eunoa, a chair for the lady^ and a cushion in it.
!

GORGO (refusing the cushion)

No, thank you, really.
PRAXINOA
Do sit down.
GORGO (sitting)
O what a silly I was to come What with the crush
and the horses, Praxinoa, I've scarcely got here alive.
It's all big boots and people in uniform.
And the
street was never-ending, and you can't think how
far your house is along it.
PRAXINOA
That's my lunatic came and took one at the end
of the world, and more an animal's den, too, than a
place for a human being to live in, just to prevent
you and me being neighbours, out of sheer spite, the
He's always the same.
jealous old wretch
I

177

THE BUCOLIC POETS

jjir]

roprn
rbv reov dvSpa, ^iXa, Acvcova roiavra

\e<ye

TO) [MLKKoy TrapeovTO^*

opr] ryvvac, C09 iroOopfj tv,

Odpaec Zo)7rvpLov, jKv/cepbv

aladdveraL to

Tetco<^'

ov Xeyec air^vv}

nPAHINOA
vol rav TTorviav.

/3p6c[)0<;,

roprn

KoXo^

d7r(j}ug,

nPAHINOA
diT^v^
'

fjidv TTjvo^ TCL

TTpoav

viTpov koX

TraTTTra,^

<j>vko<^

\6yo/jL<; Se

nrpoav 0rjp

drrb <7/capd<; dyopdcr-

'

Setv

'^v0 (pepcov

dXa^

dfji/jLLV,

dvrjp Tpto-fcacSe/cdTra^^v^.

roprn
%ft)/i09

ravra

^ ep^et, (j)d6po<;

e'7TTahpd^[ji(o<^ /cvvdSa^,

dpyvpico, Acofc\ei8a<;'

ypacdv dTroTiXjuaTa

Trrjpdv,

Trevre itokw^ eXayS' exOe^, dirav pvirov, epyov

aX)C

Wl

eV

rdv Trepovarpiha Xd^ev,

TOdfjLire'X^ovov /cal

^dfjL^ Tco /SaatXrjOf; e? d(f>VL(b TlToXe/jLaiO)

0aa6/jL6vaL top " KhrovLv'

aKovw

XPV/-^^ /caXov tl

rdv ^aaiXiaaav,

KOGfjuelv

nPAHINOA
ev 6X/3lco
^

ZtaTTvpLou

\4yei

mss

7.

7'

10

(diminutive of Zc^Tupos) Buecheler

mss also \4yw

ayopdcrSeip

Trdi/ra

Char,
ravrd

178

oX^ta irdvTa,

Ahr ens

mss ayopdaBoop

-ndinra

^
;

Wil from

baby-language,
ravTo.

Ahrens

mss

Et.

cf.

-levy

Mag.

Theophr.

mss ravr or

THEOCRITUS XV,

11-24

GORGO

My
names
{to

dear, pray don't call your good Dinon such

See how he's staring at you.
before Baby.

the child) It's

all right,

Zopy,

my

pet.

not

It's

dad-dad she's talking about.

Upon my word, the

PRAXINOA
child understands.

GORGO
Nice dad-dad.
PRAXINOA
yet that dad-dad of his the other day the
other day, now, I tell him ' Daddy, get mother some
soap and rouge from the shop,' and, would you
believe it ? back he came with a packet of salt, the
great six feet of folly

And

GORGO
Mine's just the same. Diocleidas is a perfect
spendthrift. Yesterday he gave seven shillings apiece
for mere bits of dog's hair, mere pluckings of old

handbags, five of them, all filth, all work to be done

over again.
But come, my dear, get your cloak

and gown. I want you to come with me {grandly)

to call on our high and mighty Prince Ptolemy to
see the Adonis.
I hear the Queen's getting up
something quite splendid this year.

Fine

folks,

PRAXINOA
fine ways.

{hesitating)

179

THE BUCOLIC POETS

roprn

rv tw

(ov 6069, (ov 667re9 fcai LOoLcra

epireiv

&pa k

j^ltj

loovti,

ecrj.

nPAHINOA
aep^ol^ alev eoprd,

Evvoa, alpe to

vPfp^a

kol eV ixecrov alvohpvTTTe

ttoXlV al yaXeat p^aXaKco^ XPV^^^'^'' ^<^^e^-

6e<;

KLvev

hrj,

(f)p

Oaaaov

vBaro^;

vScop.

irporepov

cei,

a he

oTfid/jia ^

S09

(pepci.

o/jlco^;,

/jltj

Srj

iroXv,
30

XacrrpL'

e7%6t vScop,

Svarave, tl pev to '^tTcovLOV dpSec^;

Trade' ofcola 6eol^ iSoKet,

TOtavra vevipbpat,

d K\a^ Ta? pueydXa^

ira

\dpvafco<;;

c5Se

cj^ep"

avrdv.

roprn

Upa^LVca, pdXa tol to KaTairTV^e^ ipTrepovapia

TovTo irpemeC Xeye p,oc, Trocraco /caTe/3a tol dc[>*
laTco;

nPAHINOA
pbvdarj(;

p,rj
Tj

hvo* T0i<;
^

5e cr/nafxa

Schwartz,

180

cf.

Vopjol' ifkeov dpyvpico KaOapS) p^vav

3' pyot<; fcal

G.

Hermann

Herodas

6.

10

Tap
mss
mss

'xjrv^dv TroTedrjfca.
5'

is

pa/ua

dirA-qcrre

Xaarpi

E.

"

THEOCRITUS XV,

25-37

GORGO
but sightseers make good gossips, you know,
if you've been and other people haven't. It's time we
were on the move.

Yes

PRAXiNOA {still hesitating)

always holidays with people who've nothing to
(suddenly making up her mind) Here, Eunoa, you
do.
scratch-face, take up the spinning and put it away
with the rest. Cats always will lie soft.
Come,
Quick, some water
(to Gorgo)
bestir yourself.
Water's wanted first, and she brings the soap, (to
Eunoa) Never mind give it me. (E. pours out the
powdered soap) Not all that, you wicked waste
Pour out the water. (E. washes her mistress's hands
What do you mean by
and face) Oh, you wretch
That's enough, (to
wetting my bodice like that ?
Gorgo) I've got myself washed somehow, thank
(to Eunoa)
Now where' s the key of the
goodness,
(Takes out a Dorian
big cupboard ? Bring it here.
pinner a gown fastened with pi?is or brooches to the
shoulders and reaching to the ground, with an overfold
coming to the waist and puts it on with Eunoa s aid
over the inner gai^ment with short sleeves which she wears
It's

indoors)

GORGO

(referring to the style

of the

overfold)

Praxinoa, that full gathering suits you really well.

Do

tell

me what you

gave for the material.

PRAXINOA

Don't speak of it, Gorgo

golden sovereigns, and I can
;

soul into
*'

making

it

Wicked waste

it

was more than eight

you I put my very

tell

up.
"

the Greek

is

" pirate- vessel.

181

THE BUCOLIC POETS

roprn
rot,
dire^a
Kara jvcofiav

dWa

nPAHINOA
c^epe

TOdfJbire'X^ovov

koI

/xoi

Kara

6o\iav

tclv

Koaixov
ov/c

dix^iQe^.

d^M

tv

reKVOv,

SaKvei

fiop/jicb

40

iTTTTO?.

SaKpv,

ocrcra OeXei^;^ %ft)Xoz/ S'

^pvyta, tov

p7rcofjL<;,

TCLV

ov Sec tv yevecrOai,

/jlckkov iralahe

Xa^otaa,

Kvv eaco /cdXeaov, rdv avKeiav aTTOfcXa^ov.

6eoi,

S)

OCTGO^

6')(\0^'

770)9

KoX

ITOlCa

TOVTO

irepdcrai
'X^pr)

TO KaKov;

TToWd
i^

ft)

TOL

0)

fjLvpjUiaK<;

UToXefiate

dvdpiOjJbOL Koi dfieTpot.

TreTroLTjTai

KoXd epya,

iv ddavaTOL^ 6 Te/ccov* ovSel^; fcaKoepyo^;

SaXeiTac tov iovTa Trapepircov AlyvTrTLcrTiy

ola irplv i^ diraTa^ KeKpoTTjjxevoi dvSp<; eTrataSov

dWd\oi<; o/jLokoL ^a/cd jraiyvia 7rdvT<; epeioi?dhiaTa Topyoi, tl yevoijiieda; toI iroXefxtaTal
Xttttoi

tw

jSacnXrjOf;.

opdo^ dvecTTa 6

^vvoa, ov

dvep

rrrvppo^^

(f^ev^fj;

(piXe,

'IS*

w?

fit] jxe

dypio<;,

SLa')(p7]aLTai tov

dovdOrjv fieydXco^;, otl fiot to ^p6(po<i

1

182

mss epioi, explained

Ahrens mss l^vdov

pLoi

2 cv^oi

by

7raT7Jar}<;,

fcvvoOaparj^

dyovTa,
jJueveL

Hesych.

evSot.^
as

Kaivoi

50

THEOCRITUS XV,

38-55

GORGO
Well,

all I

can say

most successful.

is, it's

PRAXINOA
very good of you to say so. (to Eimod) Come,
put on my cloak and hat for me, and mind you do it
properly
[Ewioa puts her cloak about her head and
shoulders and pins the straw sun-hat to it), (taking
up the child) No; I'm not going to take i/ozi. Baby.
Horse- bogey bites little boys, (the child cries) You
may cry as much as you like I'm not going to
have you lamed for life. (^0 Gorgo, giving the child to
Come along. Take Baby and amuse him,
the nurse)
Phrygia, and call the dog indoors and lock the frontIt's

door.
(in the street)
How
Heavens, what a crowd
we're to get through this awful crush and how long
Talk of an
it's going to take us, I can't imagine.
(apostrophising) I must say, you've done
antheap
us many a good turn, my good Ptolemy, since your
We have no villains
father went to heaven.
sneaking up to murder us in the streets nowadays in
the good old Egyptian style. They don't play those
awful games now the thorough-paced rogues, every
one of them the same, all queer
Gorgo dearest what shall we do ? The Royal
!

Don't run me down, my good man. That

Stand back,
Look, what temper
He'll be the death
Eunoa, you reckless girl
of that man.
Thank goodness I left Baby at

Horse

bay's

rearing.

home

183

THE BUCOLIC POETS

roprn

epav

TOL o

9 %coyoaz^/

nPAHINOA
Xirirov
i/c

Kavra avvayeipofiai rjhr],

Koi tov y^vy^pov o^iv ra /jLoXio-ra SeSoiKco

7rat8o9.

cnrevSco/jLe^*

6j(Xo^

iroXv^

afifjicv

eTTLppel.

roprn
ef av\a<;

S)

fidrep;

rPAY^
iyoov, TKva,

roprn
elra irapevOelv
vpLape<;;

rPAT5
69

KoXkicna
^/37;cr/xct)9

Tpoiav

7r6cp(i)/jiV0L

TjvOov ^ Kyciioi,

iraiScov rreipa Orjv iravra reXeiraL.

7rpe(T/3vTC<;

roprn
aTrw^ero decnri^aaa,

nPAEINOA
irdvra yvvacKe^ taavn, koX 0)9 7iev<;

r)fydye6^ '^Hpav,

roprn
Odaat Tlpa^Lvoa, 'irepl ra^ 6vpa<; oaao<; o/ntXo^,

^ Of. Xen. Cyr. 4. 5. 37, where aa-vpraKra chai is opposed

to x^P"*' Aa^Serv, ibid. 8. 6. 19 (Tvvayelpeiv crrparkap.
Plat.
Prot. 328 d ifiavrhv warirepel ffvvayelpas

184

THEOCRITUS XV,

GORGO
We've got well behind
They're all where they ought to be,
Praxinoa.

It's all right,

them, you
now.

56-65

see.

PRAXINOA (recovering)
fortunately I can say the same of my poor
wits.
Ever since I was a girl, two things have
frightened me more than anything else, a horrid
Let's get on.
slimy snake and a horse.
Here's
ever such a crowd pouring after us.

And

GORGO

an Old Woman)

{to

Have you come from the

palace,

mother ?

OLD WOMAN
Yes,

my

dears.

GORGO

Then we can get there

all right,

OLD WOMAN
took
Troy,
my pretty
Trying

where

there's a will there's a

can

we ?

don't they say

way ?

GORGO
That old lady gave us some

oracles, didn't she

PRAXINOA (mock-sententiously)

My
all

dear,

women know

everything.

They know

about Zeus marrying Hera.

Do

look, Praxinoa

GORGO
what a crowd there

is

at the

door!

"I can say the same": the Greek has a pun on

assembling troops and collecting' one's wits.
"Gave
us some oracles": i.e. her sententious remarks were about
*

3.S

'

useful as oracles generally are.

185

THE BUCOLIC POETS

nPAHINOA
deairecFLos. TopjoCy Sb<; rav %e/)a fior Xa/3e /cal tv
Euz^oa Eutu;y^So?* 7roT%' avra, fjurj
7r\avadfj<;,

eiaevdo) /!<;' airpX^ ^X^^ ^vvoa

heikaia, ^[^(a fiev to OepiaTptov tjotj

Trdcrat
otjjioi

a/juciv,

a/LC

eay^idTaii Topjoc,
evSal/jLcov

ttottm A^o?,

wvOpwire, (fyvXdaaeo

l tl

yevoLO

70

Too/Jb7T')(^ov6v fiev,

HEN02
ovK

eir

ifuv

fjuev, o/jlco^

Se <pv\a^evfiai.

nPAHINOA
o')(Xo<;

a)devv9^ &a7Tp

aOpco^'

f/69.

EEN02
0dpaL yvvat' ev

fcd\(p

el/jie^.

nPAHlNOA
Kl<;

&pa^

d/jL/jie

K7]7rtTa, (piX* dpSpayv, ev

TrepLo-reWcov.

(f)\L/3Tac

ivv6a

KdWt(TT'

Ka\(p

eirj<^

')(pr]crTco fcolfCTipfjLovo<^

ajJbjjLLV

dy & SecXd rv

v8oL irdaac^ 6

rdv vvov

dvhpo^,

/3cd^v,

elir

diro-

roprn

Upa^LVoa, TToray* wSe. rd TrocKiXa irpdrov ddprjaov,

Xeirrd koL

186

ct)9

%a/)tez^Ta* OeSyv irepovdfJiaTa (jyaael^.

THEOCRITUS XV,

66-79

PRAXINOA
your arm, Gorgo and you
Give
Marvellous.
take hold of Eutychis' arm, Eunoa and you hold on
We'll all go
tight, Eutychis, or you'll be separated.
Mind you keep hold of me, Eunoa.
in together.

me

Oh dear, oh dear, Gorgo my summer cloak's torn

For Heaven's sake, as
{to a stranger)
right in two.
you wish to be saved, mind my cloak, sir.
!

FIRST STRANGER
I

what happens

really can't help

but

do

I'll

my

best.

PRAXINOA

The crowd's simply enormous

they're

pushing

like a drove of pigs.

FIRST STRANGER

Don't be alarmed,

madam

we're

all right.

PRAXINOA

end of your
been taking of
us. (to Gorgo) What a kind considerate man
Poor
Eunoa' s getting squeezed, (to Eunoa) Push, you
coward, can't you ? (thei/ pass in)
You deserve to be

days,

my dear

all

right

to the

for the care you've

sir,

That's
said

all

when he

GORGO

All inside, as the bridegroom

right.

shut the door.

(referring, as

dais, to the draperies

they move

forward towards the

which hang between the pillars)

come here. Before you do anything

upon your looking at the embroideries.
How delicate they are and in such good taste
They're really hardly human, are they ?
Praxinoa, do

else I insist

'*
Summer cloak "
the longest day.

the festival was probably held upon

187

THE BUCOLIC POETS

nPAEINOA
iTOTVi ^KOavaia* irolai (T(\> eirovaaav epiOot,
iToloL ^(poypdcpoi rd/cpi/Sea ypafM/jLar
ft)9

ervfjL

eyLti/ri/^',

avTO<;

eo-TaKavrt, koI co?

ivBtvevvrr

ervfju

ov/c ivv(f)avTd, aocpov tol^ XPV/^^ dvOpcoTro^;.

dp<yvpea<; fcardfceLTac

S* &)? 0arjTo<; eir

dpfjLOc^

eypayjrav.

irpdrov

^dWcov

tov\ov

6 Tpt(f>lXr}TO<; "AS(ovL<;, o

fcrjv

fcara-

lepordcpcov

diro

^K'X^epovn ^iKelTai,

ETEP05 HENO:S

iravaaaO^

o)

dvdvvra KCOTLWotcraL

SucrravoL,

Tpvyove^* iicKvai(jevvTt TrXaTecdaSoLo-at diravra,

nPAHlNOA
TToOev &v9pco7ro<;; ri he tlp, el KcoTiXai

fjba,

TTaadfxevo^ eTTLracro-e,
fe)9 eihf)(;
ft)9

fcal 6

KOi TOVTO, Kopivdcac

3eWpo(j)(bp'

AcopLcrSev

8'

(pvrj,

eL/jLe<;

dvcodev,

HeXoTrovpacrtarl

e^ecm Sokm

MeX^TwSe?, 09
irXdv ev6<;, ovk d\er/co.

/jLT]

elfjbe<^;

^vpaKoaiat^; e7riTdaaeL<;.

XdXev/jL<;'

to?9 Acopteeo-o-t,

dfioyv KapTepo<^
[jlov

jllt]

Kevedv

etrjy

dTro/xd^rji;,

roprn
aiya TLpa^cvoa- pbeWec rov "Ahoaviv deiSetv
d Ta9 'Ap76ta9 Ovydrrip, 7ro\mSpL<; docS6<;y
dTL<;

Kol irepvTiv^ top IdXe/juov dpio-revcre,

2 ^p^oj" Kaibel,
Soph. A7it. 343 mss ri
Callim. fr. 44, Ap. Rhod. 1. 972
mss KALa/nco with
^ ir^pvTiv Reiske
apyvpcas supply Khivas
mss irepxriv or
^

roi schol. to

cf.

(Tircpxtv

188


THEOCRITUS XV,

80-98

PRAXINOA
the weavers that made that
Huswife Athena
material and the embroiderers who did that close
How realistically
detailed work are simply marvels.
the things all stand and move about in it they're
And
living
It is wonderful what people can do.
then the Holy Boy how perfectly beautiful he looks
lying on his silver couch, with the down of manhood
{religioso) the thricejust showing on his cheeks,
beloved Adonis, beloved even down below
!

SECOND STRANGER

Oh
cooing,

dear, oh
the

{to

dear, ladies

bystanders)

do stop that eternal

They'll weary me to

death with their ah-ah-ah-ing.

PRAXINOA

My

word where does that person come from ?

business is it of yours if we do coo ? Buy your
slaves before you order them about, pray.
You're
giving your orders to Syracusans. If you iniist know,
we're Corinthians by extraction, like Bellerophon himself. What we talk's Peloponnesian. I suppose Dorians
may speak Doric, mayn't they ? Persephone let's
have no more masters than the one weVe got. I shall
do just as I like. Pray don't waste your breath.
!

What

GORGO

Be quiet, Praxinoa. She's just going to begin the

song, that Argive person's daughter, you know, the
'^accomplished vocalist" that was chosen to sing
Don't waste your breath" the Greek has 'don't scrape
'*
the top of an empty measure.'
Accomplished vocaHst "
the Greek phrase is Epic, perhaps a quotation from an
advertisement or the like.
**

189

THE BUCOLIC POETS

n,

(jyOej^ecTal

adcj)^

olSa, fcaXov

StaOpvirTeraL

TTNH A0IA05
AeaTTOcv, a To\yco(; re
aiTTeivov T

/cal

^IBdXcov

''F^pv/caf ')(^pV(Tco7ri^oLa

olov TOL Tov "AScovLV

ciTT

devdo)

SvcoSeKaTO) jjLoXaicaiTrohe^

/JL7]vl

^dpStarac

fia/cdpcov ^ilpat

i(f>LXr]cra<;,

^A(f>pooLTa,

Aj)(epovTO<;

dyar^ov ^flpaiy

(f>lXat,,

dXXd

TroOeivaX

ep'^ovTat TrdvreaaL /SporoU alel tl (^opevaai,

rv

YLvirpi Aicovaia,

dv0pd)7TO)v 0)9

jxev

dOavdrav

/jiv9o<;, iiTOLr)ora<^

d/j./3pocriav e? crTi)6o<;

dirb 0vaTd<;,

^epevLKav

aTroard^aaa yvvacKo^*

tIv Se x^pi^o/jiiva, TroXvayvvfie /cal iroXvvae,

d l&pevLfCLa 0vydTr]p EXeva ei/cvla

Kpcnvoa rrdpTeacTL /caXoh drirdXXei
Trdp ol^ Mpia /ceirai, oaa Spvo^ d/cpa

Trap

S*

aTraXol

/cdwot

"AScovtv,

(pepoprac,

Tre^vXaypievoi

iv

raXa-

piaKOL^
dpyvpOi<;, Xvpio) Se pbvpoy y^pvcreC

ecSard

6^

aXd^aarpa'

oaora yvvaiKe'^ eVl TrXaddvco iroveovrac

dv9ea pLiayoLaai XevKcp Travrola piaXevpw,

T diTo yXvKepo) /jLiXcro^; rd r iv vjp^

6(Tora

iXalo),

TrdvT avT(p Trererjvd koX epTrerd recSe Trdpeari.

Xpvffuiri^oLara

Xpvac^ irai^oKTa

mss

190

Trap /xeu ol

Ludwich,
^

Mss

cf. KaWcoTrt^co and

XP^^^''^^^
^ Trap
also juaKaKol irSBas

'

ot

i^ss

THEOCRITUS XV,
the dirge

last

year.

something good.

99-118

You may be sure sheW. give us

Look, she's making her bow.

The Dirge
Lover of Golgi and Idaly and Eryx' steepy hold,
O Lady Aphrodite with the face that beams Hke gokl.
Twelve months are sped and soft-footed Heav'n's
pretty laggards, see.

Bring o'er the never-tarrying stream Adonis back to

thee.

The

Seasons, the Seasons, full slow they go and come.

all they bring, and so they

But some sweet thing for

are welcome home.

Cypris, Dion's daughter, of thee anealed, 'tis said.

that was born of woman is e'en immortal

Our Queen
made

And now, sweet Lady of many names, of many shrines

Ladye,

Thy

guerdon's giv'n

Helen

for the

Queen's daughter, as

fair to see.

Thy lad doth

dight with all delight upon this holyday;

fruit the orchard bears but is here

For there's not a

for his

hand

to take.

And cresses trim all kept for him in man}^ a

And Syrian balm in vials of gold and

silver tray.

O, there's
every cake
That ever woman kneaded of bolted meal so fair
With blossoms blent of every scent or oil or honey
;

rare

Here's

all

and

outlaid in semblance

made

of every bird

beast.

"Last year": the day of the festival was apparently

regarded as the first day of Adonis' six months' stay upon
the earth, the other six being spent in Hades.
'Anealed "
*

'anointed.*

191

THE BUCOLIC POETS

')(Xcopa Se CFKLCbhe fxaXaiccp jBpiOovT
SeS/jiavd^*

avvrjOcp

ol Se re Kcopoc vTrepTrcoTMvraL ''Epwre?,

oloL drjEovcSijef; de^o/juevdv eirl BevSpco^

TTcoTcoPTat irrepvycov TretpcofjuevoL o^ov dir^ o^co.

^vo<;,

ft)

alerol

')(pvcr6<;,

ft>

olvoxoov ILpoviSa Atl iralha

7ropcf)vpOL Se rdirr^Te^;

d MtXaro?
'

Sk \evKO) eke(^avTO^

epel

dvw

(j)povT^.

/jbaXa/ccoTepoL virvo)*

rav ^a/nlav fcara^oaicwv

;Yft)

(TTpcoTaL KKiva rflScovLSc T(p KaXQ)

TOP

KuTrpt?

fjLev

TOP

6%^,

S'^

djjbd*

pohorrra'XV'^

''AS(OPL<;,^

6KTco/caLB/CT7j<;

ov KPTl TO
pvp

ippea/caiSe')^ 6 yafi^p6<;'

Tj

l^vTTpi^

fjbdp

TTVppd,

^lXtj/jl, tc 01 TTCpl ')(ei\ea

exotcrcL

top

avTd<;

p^a^yoera)

cipSpa'

doyOep

S' dfi/jL6'^

olaev/JLef; ttotI

Xvaaaai

pip djia hp6cr(p

KVfMaT

eV

ddpoai

e^co

diopt iVTvoPTa,

he KOfxap Kal eVl cr^vpd /coXttop dpelaai

^

aTTjOeaL ^aLPOiJLepoL<^ Xtyvpa^; dp^evfieO^

'

epTret^f
^

S) cj^uX*

X^(i>pa. Se

"ASoyptf /cal epddSe

Keh ^A^epopTa

(TKid^e (xaKaKc^ ^pidovr^ (dual)

and Jebb on Soph.

doiSd<;'

1676:

avvT]6(v

E,

cf.

1.

mss

x-^^pa^ Se
^ ae^ojx^vciv (gen. pi.) eVl
(TKiddes fxaXaKcf ^piBovres avqdca
^ aUroi :
mss also
mss -vq)V
devBpwy
^iv^p(^ Ahrens
75,

18.

5,

0.(7.

^ rov fi\v and rhv 5'

Ahrens mss ^AAa
E (there were two coverlets, but one wedding-couch) mss
^ ap^evfi^d^ G. Kiessling
mss ap^wniee'
rhv fxhv and tclv b'

aleTU)

ajxd

192

THEOCRITUS XV,
Two

19-136

green they have plight ye, with dainty

dressed,
dill well
Whereon, like puny nightingales that flit from bough
to

testers

bough

Trying their waxing wings to spread, the Love-babes

hovering go.
How fair the ebony and the gold, the ivory white

how

And

fair.

eagles twain to Zeus on high bringing his cup-

bearer

Aye, and the coverlets spread

than sleep
Forsooth Miletus town
Samian sheep,
^'

The bridal bed

making is

for

may

for

ye are softer spread

say,

or the master of

Adonis spread of

my own

Cypris hath this for her wrapping, Adonis that for

his."

Of eighteen

years or nineteen is turned the roselimbed groom

His pretty lip is smooth to sip, for it bears but flaxen
;

bloom.

And now

she's in her husband's arms,

and

so we'll

say good-night

But to-morrow we'll come wi' the dew, the dew, and
take hands and bear him away
Where plashing wave the shore doth lave, and there
with locks undight

And bosoms

bare

shrilling lay

"

all

shining fair will raise this

sweet Adonis, none but thee of the children of

Gods and men

"Miletus, Samian sheep": Milesian and Samian wool was
famous.

193

THE BUCOLIC POETS

7]iJLi6eo}V, o)<;

(pavTLf /novcoraro^.

TOVT 7raO

OVT Alfa?

OV0*

'^EfCTcop

ovt

Ayafie/Jivcov

o jmeya^j ^apvfJbdvio^ ^pco^,

'H/cd^af;

jepaLTaro^;

ecKaTi

Tralhwv,

ov

IIaTpoK\r]<;,

ov IIvppo^ diro Tpola^ ttoXlv

ivOcov,

ov6* ol

en

TTporepov KairiOai

ov Il\o7r7]LdSaL re

/cal

XXaOi vvv, ^lK! "AScovl,

vvv r]vue^

fcai

fcal

AevKoKicove^;,

"Apyeo^; dfcpa HeXaayot,

fcal 69

Aowvt, kul

veov ^,

evOvfjirjcraL^

acpiicrj,

ofCfc

cpiXo^

?7fe69.

roprn
Tlpa^ivoay to
oX/Sua

&pa

oaaa

o/jlo)(;

dirav, rreivdvTL 8e

yepaiTcpos

rh OrjKv there is the

general and particular.

194

ci)9

OrfKeua'^

j^vkv

dvdpiaTO^

"AScov dyairaTe

Mss also

taaTi, iravoX^ia

/ceh ol/cov.

X^^hp 0^0^
ycilpe.

y^prjiia (TocftcoTaTOP

(})cov6l,

Aio/cXeiSa^;,

/xT^Se 7roTev6r)<;,

/cal 9 %at/)oz^Ta9 dcpLKvev.^

Mss

also vewra

and

veco

a 6r]\ia

common confusion in 146 between

* Mss a(plKv and acpiKuev


THEOCRITUS XV,

137-149

'Twixt over world and underworld doth pass and pass

agen

That

Agamemnon, nor the Lord

cannot

o'

the

Woeful Spleen,
first of the twice-ten children that came of
the Troyan queen.
Nor Patroclus brave, nor Pyrrhus bold that home
from the war did win,
Nor none o* the kith o' the old Lapith nor of them
of Deucalion's kin
E'en Pelops line lacks fate so fine, and Pelasgian
Argos' pride.
Adonis sweet, Adonis dear.
Be gracious for another year
Thou'rt welcome to thine own alway.
And welcome we'll both cry to-day

Nor the

And

next Adonis-tide."

GORGO

O Praxinoa what clever things we women are

I do envy her knowing all that, and still more having
such a lovely voice. But I must be getting back.
It's Diocleidas' dinner-time, and that
man's all
pepper I wouldn't advise anyone to come near him
even, when he's kept waiting for his food.
Goodbye, Adonis darling and I only trust you may find
us all thriving when you come next year.
!

*'The Lord

o'

the

'*
Woeful Spleen": Ajax.
The first
"All pepper": in

of the twice-ten children"; Hector.

the Greek

'

all

vinegar.'

195

o 2

XVI.

The

traditional

Graces^

-THE

name of

may have

CFIARITES

this

poem.

been really the

The

title

Charites or

Theocritus had.

given to the whole volume of a small collection

poem

for which

this

dedication.

In

loving age^

and asks for

it

now

rvas

as

a special

he bewails the indiffere7ice of a moneythe

patronage of Hiero, then

general-in-chief afterwards king,

Simonides had the patronage

he would have said had this

of

written

of poems

the great lords

of Syracuse, even as

not

of the first Hiero, as

Hiero then been king, hut

of Thessaly,

297

XVI. XAPITES H lEPflN

Alel TOVTO Ato9 KovpaL<^

fxeKei, alev aoihol<;,

aOavdrov^, vfivelv a^yaOwv KKea dvSpcov,

yiovaat /jiP 6eal evri, Oeov^ deal deiSovrr
a/x/xe? 8e jSporol otSe, (BpoTov^ ^porol deihcofjbev,
Ti<; yap tmv oiroaoL y\av/cap vaiovcnv vii dS),
r}/jbTpas j^dpira^; ^ Trerdaa^ vTroSe^erai olko)
dcr7racri0)<;y ouS' av6i^ dScop7JTov<; dTroTrijubyjrety
vfJLvelv

ac Se (7KV^6fiPac yv/juvol^; irocrlv ocKaS" taai,

TToWd

TcoOd^oLcrai, or d\i6iav oSov yvOov,

fie

ofcvTjpal 8e irdXiv Keved<^ ev irvOfjuevi ')(7fKov

'i^'^Xpol^ ev yovdrecrcTL /cdprj fxifJivovTi

^aXotaaL,

ev6^ alei cr^Lcnv eSpac, eTrrjv aTTpafcroL LKcovrat;

tS)v vvv TOioahe;

Ti(;

ovK

olS*'

Ti<;

ev elirovra (^iKrjaeL;

ov yap er dvSp<;

eir

epyjiaaiv

alvetaOat airevhovri, vepL/cyvrac

Tra?

8'

'7rdpo<;

viro /cepBecov

V7T0 fco\iT(p '\elpa<^ e^coz^ iroOev otaerai ddpel

dpyvpov, ovSe Kev lov

d\}C vdv<; /jLvdelrar
avTO)

8'

co?

jJbOL

TL yevoLTO ^;

rifi^Tepas

Xdpiras

dirorpi'^lra^ tlvl hoiT],

*

dircorepco

ybvv

Kvdfjba*

6eol rifjLcoacv dotSov^;.

schol.

rj

ra

olicua

Troirifxara

ri

yvoiTO ; E, cf. Theophr. Char. 14. 2 KoyKrafxeuos rah \l/7}(t>ois

Koi K<pd\aLov TToiriaas ipoorau rhv irapaKaOri/xevou' ri ylyverai;
what does it come to ? ; mss ri or ri
'

198

'

XVL THE CHARITES

'Tis ever the care of Zeus' daughters and ever of
the poets to magnify the Immortal Gods and eke
But
to magnify the achievements of great men.
the Muses are Gods^ and being Gods do sing of
Gods^ while as for us we are men^ and being men let
us sing of men.
Now who of all that dwell beneath the gray dawn,
say who, will open his door to receive my pretty Graces
gladly, and not rather send them away emptyhanded, so that they get them home frowning and
barefoot, there to fleer at me for sending them a
fool's errand, there to shrink once again into the
bottom of an empty press, and sinking their heads
upon their chill knees to abide where they ever
lodge when they return unsuccessful from abroad }

Who,

present world will let them in,

the present days will love one that

I say, in this

and who

in

hath spoke him v/ell } I cannot tell. The praise

once sought for noble acts is sought no more pelf
reigns conqueror of every heart
and every man
looks hand in pocket where he may get him silver
nay, he would not give another so much as the offscrapings of the rust of it, but straightway cries
^^ Charity
What comes thereout for
begins at home.
;

"Charity begins at
further than the knee.'

home":

in the

Greek 'the shin

lies

199

THE BUCOLIC POETS

dWov d/covcrat;

Tt9 Se Kev

a\i^

7rdvT(ratv^'0/jb7jpo<;.

20

'

ovTO<; doiScov Xft)(7T09, 09 6^

occrerai ovSev,

e/jLif

evho6i

BacfjiovcoL, Ti Se K6pSo<; 6 juuvpLOf;

ov^ dhe ttXovtov

iceifxevo^;

dXKa

TO

7roWov<;

(j)poveovcnv ovaais,

'^vx^y ^^ ^^ '^^^

jjuev

%/3i;cro9

Sovvac doiScov

'^^^^

dWcov

ev ep^au iraSiV, iroXKov^ Se koX

dvOpdoTTcov, alel he 6eol<^ iTn^co/jbca pe^etv,

fjLTjSe

^etvohoKOv KaKov

efjupbevai,

jjbeiXi^avT dTTOTre/JLylrai,

i'Trrjv

dXKa rpaTre^a

eOeXcovrc

veeaOai,

fjudXtara Tieiv iepov<; virof^rjTa^y

ISliovcrdoyv he

6(^pa Kol elv ^Kthao

fcefcpv/JL/jievo^

e(j^Xo9 d/covayf;, SO

yjrvxpov 'A%e/90Z^T09,

/jLTjB^

dfc\e7](; jJbvpr]aL iirl

a)cri

Ti9 jJba/ceKa t6tv\co/jL6vo<; evSoOc ^^Ipa^

d^V^ e/c Trarepcov irevtav dKrrjiJbova /cXaLcov,

TToWol ev KvTioypio hopLot^ KOL dva/cTO<; ^AXeva
^

dp/juaXtdv efMpuTjvov epberprjaavTO Trevearar

TToXXol Se ^KOTTahaiaiv eXavvofievot ttotl aaicov^

pboaxpi crvv Kepaalatv e/nv/CTJaavro
fjbvpia S' d/jb irehlov

o-(f)LV

0V/JLOV 69

TMV ^So9,

eirel

jXv/cvv e^e/cevcoaav

TToWovs

rd iroXXd

Wil

/cat

mss iroWovs

oX^ta
S'

rrjva Xl7t6vt<;
^

Mss

arvyvoio yepovros Hemsterhuys from Propert.

mss (TTvyyov ax^pouros

200

40

evpelav ax^hiav arvyvolo jepovro^,^

d/JLvaaroL 8e
1

Kpavvcovtov ivhidao-Kov

eKfcpLra piijXa (^tXo^eivoLaL Kpecov8ac<;'

7T0LpLeve<^

dXX^ ov

/Soecrcn,,

iOeXovTi
3.

18.

24

THEOCRITUS
me?

'Tis the

enough

me

for

all.

XVI, 20-42

Gods that honour

Him

rank

poets.

Homer
who

best of poets,

is

of

shall get nothing."

Poor simple fools what profits it a man that he

have thousands of gold laid hj? To the wise the
enjoyment of riches is not that, but rather to give
first somewhat to his own soul, and then something,
methinks, to one of the poets to wit, it is first to
do much good as well to other men as to his
!

kinsfolk, to

make

offering of sacrifice

unceasingly

upon the altars of the Gods, and, like one hospitably

minded, to send his guests, when go they will,
and secondly and more
kindly entreated away
than all, it is to bestow honour upon the holy
interpreters of the Muses, that so you may rather
be well spoken of even when you lie hid in Death,
than, like some horny-handed delving son of a poor
father bewailing his empty penury, make your moan
;

beside chill Acheron's brink without either name or

fame.
Many indeed were the bondmen earned their
monthly meed in the houses of Antiochus and King
Aleuas, many the calves that went lowing with
the horned kine home to the byres of the Scopads,
and ten thousand were the fine sheep that the
shepherds of the plain of Crannon watched all
night for the hospitable Creondae ; but once all the
sweet wine of their life was in the great cup, once
they were embarked in the barge of the old man
loathsome, the joyance and pleasure of those things

was theirs no more

and though they

left

behind

201

THE BUCOLIC POETS

SetXoL^; iv vefcveacn fiaKpovf; al5)va<; Klvto,
el

aloXa (f^covecov
TToXvxopSov iv avSpdat Otjk

6elo<; dotSo<; 6 K^^i-o?

/Jbrj

^dp/StTov 69

ovo-

/jLaCTTOV^

eXkaypv

oirXoTepoL^, Tt/Jias Be Koi oorcee^

Xiriroi^

01 (TcpLcrLV ^ lepcov aT(j)avr]<popoL rjvdov dycovcov,

Ti^

S*

dv dpiaTTja^ Avklcov

Upca/JLiSa^;
el

OrjXvv diro

rj

irore, rt? KOjjLowvTaf;

K^vkvov eyvat,

'^poL7]<;

(^uXoTTiSa? TTporepcov v/jLvrjaav dochoi;

/JLT)

ouS' 'OSfcreu9 eKarov re koX eiKocn

fjbrjva^

dXadeh

7rdpTa<; eir dvOpcoTrov^;, ^AtSap r et? ea')(aTov evOoyv

^(W09

KOI cnrrjKvyya

(f)vycov

oKoolo K.vK\co7ro<;

hrjvaiov K\eo<^ ecr%ez^, ia-tydOr]

Koi /3oval ^cXoltlo^

Ei;yL6a609

8^

dv

d/jL(f)

vcjyopjSb^;

dyeXaiai^

epyov e^cov, avro^ re TrepicrTrXayxyo^ AaepTTj^,

el

o-cj)a<;

fJiTj

ifc

ISAoLadv

')(^pi]fiaTa

dXk*
oacF
rj

covaaav

lao<;

dyadov

/\eo<;

dotSaL

epx^rao dvOpcoTrotat,

8e ^(oovre^; djuLaXSyvovat Oavovrcov.

yap

dvefjio^;

vSan

^ldovo<; dvSpb<;

6 fib'xOo'^

eV

'X^epaovSe /card

vii^etv

aovi KVjxaTa jxeTpelv,

^

yXavKd<^ aXo9

o)06l,

OoXepdv ScaeiSei irXivOov,

KoX (pcXofcepSeia jSe^Xa/xfievov dvSpa irapeiirelv*

')(aipeTco ocTTi^ toco<;, dvdpLd/jLo<; Se ol etrj

dpyvpo<^y alel Se irXeovwv e'xpi

avrdp

TToXXcov
^

Te

"qjJbLovoDv

Kara Buecheler

Trape\de7v

202

ip.epo<;

eyco rc/jidv re koi dvOpooircov

avrov,

^iXorara

/cat LTTTrcov iTpocrdev eXoL/jLav,

mss

fiera

^ irapeiireip

mss

also

THEOCRITUS

XVI, 43-67

them all that great and noble wealth, they had lain
among the vile dead long ages unremembered, had not
the great Ceian cried sweet varied lays to the strings

and famoused them in posterity, and had not the

coursers that came home to them victorious out of
the Games achieved the honour and glory which
called the poet to his task.
Then too the lords of the old Lycians, then the
long-haired children of Priam or that Cycnus that

was wan as a woman, say who had known aught of

them, had not poets hymned the battle-cries of an
Moreover Odysseus had wandered his
elder day?
hundred months and twenty through all the world,
come to uttermost Hades alive, and gone safe from
out the cave of the fell Cyclops, and then had never
enjoyed the long and lasting glory of it all and
;

as well great-heart Laertes himself as Eumaeus the

hog-ward and Philoetius the keeper of herded kine,
all alike

had been under

silence

man of
good fame men may

them of the

lays of a

had

it

not profited

Ionia.

get of the Muses, but

Yes ;
riches be wasted of their posterity after they are
But seeing one may as well strive to wash
dead.
clean in clear water a sun-dried brick, as well stand
on the beach and number the waves driven shoreward of the wind from the blue sea, as seek to win
by words one whose heart is wounded with the love
of gain, I bid all such a very good day, and wish
them silver beyond counting and long life to their
craving for more.
For myself, I would rather the
esteem and friendship of my fellow-men than hundreds
of mules and horses.
"The great Ceian": Simonides.
"A man of Ionia":
Homer.
"Sun-dried brick": when wetted this becomes
clay again.

203

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Si^7]/jLat

S\ oTiVL Ovaroyv

/c')(^apLafjiVo^

(Tvv Motcrat9* %a\6'7ra6 'yap ohol

Kovpdwv

rekeOovaiv

ovpavo^ ovS* eviavrov^*

TToXXol KLVTjCTOVaiV 6Tt TpO')(OV dfJiaTO^

ecraerai ovro^ dvrjp, 09 ifxev
rj

dot8ot<;

dTTObvevOe Ato^ fMeya jSovXevovro^;,

ovTTco [xrjva<; dycov e/ca/M

p^a<;

evOco

'A%^Xeu9 oacrov

/jueya^;

rj

X'TTITOI,

doihov

Are^/OT/crer'

/Sapv^ Aca^

iv TreSlo) Xt/jLoevTO^;, 061 ^pvjo'^ rjpiov "l\ov

rjhr]

vvv ^oivifce^

AcXv^a^ ^

d'\(Qoievoi

ev

deXiq) hvvovTi

ippijaacv
/Sacrrd^ovcTL ^vpaKocnoL fieaa hovpa

0LKvvT<;
7]Srj

vir^

S'

atcpov a(j>vpov

aafcieaat j3pa')(bova^ LTetvoiCTiV'

avTol^ 'lepcov Tvporepoi^

fcro9 rjpcDGacn

^(opvvraiy iTTTreLat Se Kopvv a/adovatv

ai

yap Zev Kyhiare irdrep

/ccopa

6\

fj

etc

darv

darea

Trap" vSacrt Avacfi\6La<;,

vdcroLO /caKal irepb^lretav dvdyfcat

^aphovLOv KaTa
r6/cvoL<; r/S'

dyyeWovra^
duo iroWSyv*

KVfJia (^ik(ov pbopov

dbkoyoiaiv dpiQpbri'TOV'^

Se irporepoicn irdXtv vaioiTO 7roXiTaL<;,

Svafjievecov ocra %erpe9 eXco^rjaavTO

dypoX

S'

ipydi^oiVTO reOaXore^;,^ al

/jidXcop ')(cXLdSe<;
dfjb

dfiaros

Wil
^

mss

cTKidovaiv

^oe9

S'

dicpa^,

dvdpiO/jiOi

mss

dyeXaSbv

'-^

apfiaros
:

epyd^oiVTO (passive) redaKores

204

Kar

^ordva hiaTTLavOelaai

Trehiov ^Xa'x/pvrOy

Ai^vas

^AOdva

/cal ttotvl

(TVV fjbaTpl TroXv/cXdpcov ^^(pvpatcov

etXrj'^a^ fiiya
i')(9pov^

Weipai,

also

Ai\v/3as

(TKeirdovaiv

mss aypovs

5'

avXtv

Kuiper
"*

mss

aypol

S'

ipy. redaAoras

THEOCRITUS

XVI, 68-92

so now I am on my way to seek to whom in

the world I with the Muses may come and be
with the Muses, for 'tis ill travelling for
welcome
your poet if he have not with him the Daughters
Not yet are the heavens
of the Great Counsellor.
wearied of bringing round the months nor the years
many the horses yet will roll the wheel of the day
and I shall yet find the man who therefore shall
need me for his poet because he shall have done as
doughtily as ever did great Achilles or dread Alas by
the grave of Phrygian Ilus in Simoeis vale.
For lo the Phoenician dweller in the foot of
Lilybe in the west shudders already and shakes
the Syracusan hath already his spear by the middle
and his wicker targe upon his arm and there like one
of the olden heroes stands Hiero girding his loins

And

all

among

men, a horse-hair plume waving on his

And I would to thee, renowned Father, and
crest.
to thee, Lady Athena, I would to thee. Maiden who
with thy Mother dost possess by Lysimeleia's side
the great city of the rich Ephyreans, I would that
his

evil necessities

may

clear our island of hostile folk

and send them down the Sardinian wave with tidings

of death to wives and children, a remnant easy to
number of a mighty host and I pray that all the
towns the hands of enemies have laid so utterly waste,
may be inhabited again of their ancient peoples, and
their fields laboured and made to bring forth abun;

dantly, their lowlands filled with the bleating of fat

and the twilight

flocks in their tens of thousands,

the western angle of Sicily, the promontory of

*' Lilybe"
Lilybaeum. The reference to the coming campaign against
" The
the Carthaginians dates the poem in the year 274.
Maiden " the maiden is Persephone, the mother Demeter,
:

and the

city Syracuse.

205

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ip'^ofievai aicvK^alov eirKTTTevhotev ohirav'
veiol S' eKTToXeoiVTO

aviKa tttc^

ttotI cnropov,

TToi/jbeva^ ivhiov<; TrecpvXay/jievoi; v^\r69t BevSpcov

d^eZ iv afcpefioveaaiV' apd')(VLa

XeiTTa SiaardcracPTO, 0od<;

S'

8' et9 ottX' apd')(i>ai

ert

/jltjS*

ovop! elrf

v'y^rfkov S' ^lepcopL /cXeo? (popeotev doihol

Koi nrovTOv %kv6l/colo irepav

da<pd\T(p hrjcraaa
69

fji'v

vjjLvelv
ft)

o9i ifkaTv

T6l')(p<;

^efjiipajjii^ ip,/3acri\vo-6P,

TToXXou? 5e Alo<; ^iXeovn koI dXkov^

iycoy

Ovyaripe^;,

fcal

toI<;

irdai

Gvv Xaocat

/jleXol

%LK\dv ^Apedoiaav

fcal aZ^yLt^raz^ ^lepcova,

^dpire^ 6eai, w yiivveiov

^FiTeofcXecoL

^Op^ojjievov (ptXeoLaac
dKX7]T0<; iiev eycoye

d'7re')(66jjiev6v

fjcevoifjii tcev,

irore %rj^ai^,

e? he

Oaparicra^ MoLcratat crvv djieTepaiG-iv

/caXXei^jrco S' ouS'

dv6p(07roL<; dirdvevOev

col/jl

dv,'^

yap HapiTcov dyaTrarov

tl

v/jl/jl'

KaXevvrcov

del

^apireacnv

dfi eirjv,

^
be ploughed not here and there only
^KiroXioLvro E,
mss iKiroyeoiuro, iKirAeoivro,
but throughout the landscape
*

'

iKTcKeoiPTo

"loifi

ai'

Wil

mss

loijLLau,

iKOLjuau

" Eteoeles " this early king of Orchomenus in Boeotia, was

said to have been the first to offer sacrifice to the Graces, and
Thebes had reason to hate the same Orchomenus because a
:

206

THEOCRITUS

XVI, 93-109

warned to hasten his steps by the homeherds and I pray likewise that
innumerable
going of
against the time when the cricket is fain to sing
high in the twigs overhead because of the noontideresting shepherds, against that time, the time of
sowing, none of the fallows be left unturned of
the plough, and as for the weapons of war, may
spiders weave over them their slender webs, and of
the war-cry the very name be forgot. And the glory
of Hiero, that may poets waft high both over
the Scythian main and eke where Semiramis reigned
within that broad wall she made with mortar of
pitch and of these poets I am one, one of the many
beloved by the daughters of Zeus, which are concerned
all of them to magnify Sicilian Arethuse with her
people and her mighty man of war.
O holy Graces first adored of Eteocles, O lovers of
that Minyan Orchomenus which Thebes had cause to
hate of old, as, if I be called not, I will abide at
home, so, if I be called, I will take heart and go
with our Muses to the house of any that call.
And
you shall come too
for mortal man possesseth
nothing desirable if he have not the Graces, and 'tis
my prayer the Graces be with me evermore.
traveller

certain Erginus in revenge for the murder of his father had

made Thebes tributary to Orchomenus Theocritus hints at a
wish that Hiero may follow the example of Eteocles in the
matter of patronage, and Syracuse prevail over Carthage as
;

Orchomenus did over Thebes.

"The Graces" he plays on
two meanings of the word Charites, thanks or gratitude or
favour, and the Graces who were the spirits of beauty and
excellence and handmaidens of the Muses.
:

207

XVII

THE PANEGYRIC OF PTOLEMY

PANEGYRIC of Ftolemy

from 285

to

247,

The

II, PIdladelphus ,

who reigned

references to historical person-

ages and events, coupled with a comparison with

point to 273 as the date
like

Alexander,

traced

of

poem.

The

Ptolemies,

descent

from

Heracles.

the

their

XVI,

of Lagus, was deified about 283, and

queen Berenice between 279 and 275,
Ptolemy

I,

son

his

20Q

XVIL ErKflMION EJt nTOAEMAION

Ai09 ap')(rji)iJicrda /cal e? Ala Xyyere M.oioraL,
ddavdrcov rbv apccrrov iirrjv alhwfjieO^ dotSat^;'
dvSpcov 8' av nToXe/xato? evl irpdoTOKJi Xeyeo-dco

'E/c

fcal TrvfJiaTO^ /cal jxeaao^'

jdp

rrpocfyepecFTaTO^

dvSpMV.
7]pa)6<;,

Tol nrpoaOev dcp^

pe^avre^ fcaXa epya

avrap

rj/ubtdecov

eyevovTO,

ao^MV ^Kvpriaav doiScov'

Kokd elnrelv

iyoj IlToXe/natov iTrtcrTdfievo^

vfjivrjcraiiJi'

^'I8av 69

v/jlvol

Se kol dOavdrcov yepa^ avrcov,

TToXvSevBpov dvrjp v\aT6fJL0<^ iXdchv

TraTTTaivei, TrapeovTO^ dSrjv, iroOev cipher ao

TL TTpcoTov /caTaXe^co

eirel

irdpa /xvpia

epyov

elTrelvy

olac 6eol TOP dpiarov iri/jLTjaav /3acnX/]cov.

6f

irarepfDV

olo<; fiev erjp

reXeaac pbiya epyov

Aay(zi8a<; UroXefjiaLo^y ofca (fypealv iy/cardOoiro

^ovXdv, dv ovK dXXo^ dvrjp olo^ re

vorjauL,

TTjvov KoX fia/cdpecrat irarrjp ojjlotljjlov WrjKev

ddavdroL^;, fcai ol yjpvaeo'=; So/ao^ ev Aio<;

Se8fji7]Tar

irapd

S'

OL/c(p

avrov ^AXe^avSpo^; ^uXa

eSpcdeL, llepaaiaL /3apv^ ^eo9 aloXofiLTpa^,

2IO

alddcfxed'

mss

aetSc^^er or aSwjuev

el8a}<i

XVII. THE PANEGYRIC OF

PTOLEMY

With Zeus let us begin^ Muses^ and with Zeus I

pray you end when the greatest of Gods is shown
honour in our song but for men firsts midst and
last be the name of Ptolemy
for he is of men the
:

chiefest.

The heroes

that

came of demigods of yore found

skilly singers of the glorious

and

in like

hymn

raise the

deeds which they did

manner a cunning

teller of praises shall

to Ptolemy, seeing Iiymns

meed even of the Gods above.

Now when the feller goes up

to thick

make the

woody Ida

he looks about him where to begin in all that

plenty and so I, where now shall I take up my
tale when I might tell of ten thousand ways wherein
the Gods have done honour to the greatest of kings
;

.^

'Twas in the blood.

First what an achiever of
mighty exploits was Ptolemy Lagid when his mind
conceived a device such as no other mind could
come by Whom now the Father hath made of
equal honour with the Blessed
a golden mansion
is builded him in the house of Zeus, and seated
friendly beside him is the Lord of the Glancing
!

God of woe to the Persians, Alexander,

" 'Twas in the blood " the Greek is 'twas from his fathers,'
fathers meaning parents, as in Longus 4. 33
Theocritus
deals first with his father Ptolemy Lagid and then with his
mother Berenice.
Baldric, that

'

211
p 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

avTia

8'

'Y{paic\rjo<;

eSpa fcevravpocpovoio^

'iSpvrat arepeolo rerv^jjieva i^ ahdfiavTO^,

v6a avv aXkoiaiv 6a\ia<; e%et OvpaviBacort,

')(aLpa)v vlcovcov Trepicoatov vlcopotaiv,

OTTL

(Tcpecov K.povLSa<; iJie\e(jov

aOdvaroi he KoKevvrat
dfjicfyco

yap

eol

i^eiXero

jrjpa<;,

verroSe^; yeyacoTe^;,

irpoyovo'^ <j(^iv o /caprepb^ 'Upa/cXeiSa^,

d/jL(poT6pot S' dpiOp^evvraL e? (7')(^aTov ^Upa/cXija.

/cal eTrel

Tft)

haiTr^Oev Xoi iceKQpr]p.evo^

veicTapo^ v68p.oto
tS> fiev

Tw

TG^op

(f>L\a<; 69

rjhr)

Sw/i' dXo^oco,

re (^aperpav,

eScofcev vTroyXeviov

Be (TiSdpeLov cr/cvraXov Ke'xapaypbevov o^ol^'

ot S' 69 dpL^poatov 6d\a/jL0P \evicocr(f)vpov^^il/3a(;

oirXa Koi avrop dyovai yepetrjTap Alo^; vcop.

ola 8 ep TnpvTalaL TrepifcXeird ^epepifca
errpeire drjXvrepai^y o(j)eXo<^ pueya yetpopbepotcn.^

ra

piep l^virpop e^oicra

Atcopa^ Trorpta Kovpa

icoXiTOP 9 evddhri pahipd^ eaepbd^aro

TO) oviro)

TLph

(j>aPTl

')(elpa<^'

dSelp rocrop dpBpl yvpaiKoyp,

ocraop TTep UToXepbolo^; edp icpiXrjarep dfcocTip.

rj

pbdp dpref^iXelro nroXv irXeop' coSe

Oaparjaa^ a^erepoiCTiP

/ce Tratcrl

eiTLTp&iroi olfcop aTrapra,

OTTTTore icep (fycXecop /3aLpr) Xe')(o<; 69 (piXeoicra^,

daropyov

Be yvpaucb<; iir dXXorpi(p pqo^ alec,

patBtoL Be yopai, retcpa

^

hpa KevTavpo(p6voio

o\

Heinsius

plural

mss

mss

G.

deoi

S'

ov TToreoLicoTa irarpL

Kiessling
^

mss

yeipofievoLai

^dpuKc

ravpocp.

E, generalising

yeit/a/xeyaKTi

212

THEOCRITUS

XVII, 20-44

while over against him is set the stark adamantine

seat of Centaur-slayer Heracles, who taketh his
meat with the other Sons of Heaven, rejoicing
exceedingly that by grace of Zeus the children of
his children's children have old age now lift from
their limbs and they that were born his posterity
For unto
are named and known of the Immortals.
either king the valiant founder of his race was a son
of Heracles both in the long last reckon Heracles
And therefore now when the same
of their line.
Heracles hath had enough of the fragrant nectar
and goes from table to seek the house of the wife ]ie
loves, he gives the one his bow and hanging quiver
and the other his knaggy iron-hard club, to carry
beside him as he goes, this bush-bearded son of
Zeus, to the ambrosial chamber of the white-ankle
;

Hebe.

Then secondly for his mother how bright among

dames discreet shone the fame of Berenice what a
Of whom the lady
boon to her progeny was she
possessor of Cyprus that is daughter of Dione laid
taper fingers upon the sweet soft bosom, and such,
;

they say, did make her that never woman gave man so
great delight as Ptolemy took in his love of that his
wife.
Aye, he got all as much as he gave and more;
for while the wife that loves not sets her heart ever
upon things alien, and has offspring indeed at her
desire albeit the children favour not the father, 'tis
when the love of the marriage-bed is each to each
that with good courage one may leave, like Ptolemy,
all his house to be ordered of his children.
O Lady
" The wife that loves not " this refers to no definite woman,
which would be not only in the worst taste but certain to
defeat the object of the poem, the winning of Ptolemy's
:

213

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KciWec apiarevovaa Oedwv ttotv ^A^poStra,
TTjva

(Tol

eveiSrj^;

aXXd

/jbejLieXrjTO*

creOev S' evefcev Bepevi/ca

A')(epovTa ttoXvcttovov ov/c eirepaaeVy

dpird^acra, TrdpoiO'

fiiv

Kvaveav koX arv^vov det

vaov

69

TvaaLv

KaTeOr}/ca<;, ea9 8'

S' r}7no<;

aSe ^porot^ fjia\aKov<;

iroOeovn

rc/jidf;'

50

jiev epcora^
jjuepifjuva^,

/cvdvocfypv, crv \ao(f>6vov Aio/nijSea

fuayofieva TvSrjt

dXka

vaa fcarekOetv

direhdaaao

irpoaTTveiei, fcov(f>a^ Se StSol

^Apyeia

iirl

TropOfirja KafjLovTcov,

YLaXvhdaviov dvhpa,

re/ce?,

eTL^ ^aOvKoXirof; dfcovTicrrdv 'A^eXTja

AlaKiSa

UrjXTjt,

ae

8'

alx/^V^^ HroXe/xate

al^lx7]Ta IlTo\fiaL(p dpii^rjXo^; ^epevL/ca,

Kai ae Koft)9 dTiraXke ^p(j)0(; veoycWov eovra,

8e^a/jiva rrapa jxarpo^, ore irpcorav tSe^ dS),

ev6a jdp WiXeiOviav i^cocraro Xvctl^covov

'AvTiyova^ Ovydrrjp /3/3apr]fjLva oohivearaiv*

a Se

TrapiaTaTO, /cdS

ol ev[Jbeveoiaa

vcohvviav Karex^ve

dyairaTO^ eyevro,

TToi^

apa

iravrcov

o Se irarpl iot/ccof;

Koca9

S'

oXoXv^ev Iholaa,

Se KadaTTTO/ubeva ^pe(j)0^ x^ipeacn (piXacatv

<f>d
^

/jueXcov'

S*

6X/3c Kovpe yevoio, tlok; Se fie roacrov, ocrov nrep

AdXov
iv he

214

irL/ubacrev

jjbta

KvavdfJurvKa ^ot^o<; ^AttoXXcov

rcfia TploTrov

TpioTTOp SO

mss

KaraOelo KoXcovap

Stephanus perhaps rightly

Tpioiros

gQ

THEOCRITUS

XVII, 45-68

Aphrodite, chiefest beauty of the Goddesses, as

'twas thou that hadst made her to be such, so 'tv/as
of thee that the fair Berenice passed not sad
lamentable Acheron, but or e'er she reached the
murky ship and that ever-sullen shipman the ferrier
of the departed, was rapt away to be a Goddess in
a temple, where now participating in thy great
prerogatives, with a gentle breath she both inspires
all mankind unto soft desires and lightens the cares
of him that hath loved and lost.
Even as the dark -browed Argive maid did bear unto
Tydeus Diomed of Calydon the slayer of peoples,
but and even as deep-bosom'd Thetis bare unto
Peleus Aeacid javelineer Achilles, in like manner, O
my liege, did renowned Berenice bear to warrior
Ptolemy another warrior Ptolemy.
And when thou first saw'st the dawn, she that took
thee from thy mother and dandled thee, poor babe,
on her lap, was the good lady Cos for there in Cos
island had the daughter of Antigone cried aloud to
the Girdle-Looser in the oppression of pain, there
had the Goddess stood by to comfort her and to shed
immunity from grief upon all her limbs, and there
was born in the likeness of his father the beloved
And when she beheld him, good Cos broke
son.
into a cry of joy, and clasping the babe in her loving
arms '^Heaven bless thee, boy,' said she, ^and grant
I may have all as much honour of thee as bluesnooded Delos had of Phoebus Apollo and not I
only, but Heaven send thou assign equal privilege to
;

patronage.
The phrase is simply a foil. Theocritus means
that Ptolemy I would not have abdicated had he not had his
wife's love and ail that that entails.
the Argive maid " ;
Deipyle.
*

'

215

THE BUCOLIC POETS

laov Acopteeo-ai

apa vdao^

0)9

rph

eetTrev o

ToSe

S' yyjroOev

fxeya^ alero^

CLTTO vecj^ecov

Z7]v6<; TTOV

jepa^ eyjv<; eovaiv

veficov

accrto^; 6pvL<;,

A^l Kpovicovc /neXovTt

aafJLa,

alholoi ^aaikrje^' o

3' e^o^o'^,

6v Ke ^CkrjGr)

yeivojievov tcl irpoyra^ 7ro\v<; 8e ol

TToXXa? Se Kpareet
fjLvplaL aireipoi

efcXaye (pcova

yata^;,

re koX

oX^o^

oiTahel,

7roWd<; 8e da\daaa<;.

Wvea

fjuvpta

(f)C0T(ji)v

oKhrjaKovcnv o^eWofxevai Acb'^ Ofijipcd*

aX}C ovTi^ TOO- a (pvi oaa '^(dayiaXa KtyviTTO^^,
NelXo^ avalSXy^MV Stepav ore ^coXa/ca OpvirTei,
ovSe Ti9 darea roaaa jSporcov e%66 epya SaevTcov.

Xrj'iov

Tpet9

ol

fJiV

TpL<; S*

apa

iToXiwv efcarovrdhe^ evSeS/jurjvTac,

'^iXidSe^ rptcrcral^ iirl fivpLaSeaai,

SoLal Se Tpidhe^, /juerd Se a^iatv ivvedSe^ rpel^'

tS>v TrdvTcov UroXefialof; dyrjvcop i/ii/3acnXevt,
fcal flap

^ocvi/ca^ aTTorefjiveTat ^ Kppa^ia^; t

Kal Sf/06a9 At^va<; re tceXaivoiv t AWlottiJcov

IIapL(f)vXoLai

re irdcn Kal

al^l-^V'^cu'^

aajxaiveiy AvKiot<; re (piXoTrroXe/jLoiaL

Kal vdaoi^ K.vKXdS(Tcnv*

iTOVTOV iTTLTrXcoovTi,

KiXiKeaaL
re Kapaty

iirei ol vd<; dpicrrac

ddXaaaa

Se irdaa Kal ala

Kal TTorafiol KXdSovT<; avdaaovrai TlroXe/jiaitp,

Ua}jt,<pv\oL(Ti

Stephanus

2l6

mss

Schrader
mss naiii<pu\loi<ri
^piCTot, through misunderstanding
:

ol

api<XTa\

THEOCRITUS

XVII, 69-92

the neighbour Dorian cities in the joint honour

of the Triopian Hill for Apollo gave Rheneia equal
Thus far the Island; and lo from
love with Delos.'
the clouds above came thrice over the boding croak
of a great eagle. And 'faith, 'twas of Zeus that sign
for Zeus Cronion, as he watches over all reverend
kings, so especially careth he for a king that he hath
loved from his earliest hour.
Such an one is
attended of great good-fortune, and wins himself
the mastery of much land and of many seas.
Ten thousand are the lands and ten thousand the
nations that make the crops to spring under aid of
the rain of Zeus, but there's no country so fruitful as
the low-country of Egypt when Nile comes gushing
up to soak the soil and break it, nor no country,
neither, possessed of so many cities of men learned in
labour. The cities build ed therein are three hundreds
and three thousands and three tens of thousands,
and threes twain and nines three, and in them the
lord and master of all is proud Ptolemy. Aye, and of
Phoenicia and Arabia he taketh to him a hantle, and
eke of Syria and Libya and of the swart Aethiop's
country and he giveth the word to all them of
Pamphylia and all the warriors of Cilicia and to the
people of Lycia and warlike Caria and to the Cyclad
Isles he giveth it
and this because he hath a noble
navy sailing the main, so that all the sea, every land,
and each of the sounding rivers doth acknowledge
his dominion, and full many are the mighty warriors
all

"Rheneia": an island near Delos ; Triopum is a promontory of Caria where the Dorian Pentapolis of Cos and the
neighbouring cities celebrated a common worship of Apollo
and other Gods. The Pentapolis was apparently asking
Ptolemy

for

some privilege at

this time.

217

THE BUCOLIC POETS

TToXXol

S' LTTTrrje^;,

tfoWoI 8e

fiiv

aairihioyTai

^(aXtcCp fJiapjJiaipovTL aeaayiJievoi a/jLcpayepovrat,

6\/3(p

fjuev

Trdvra^

eir

a/map

Tocraov

fcara^piOoi ^acnXrjaf;'

ice

eKacTTOv

e?

d(j)Pov

ep'X^erai

olfcov

\aol

irdvToOe,

ov jdp

S'

TL<; SrjLoyv

epja irepiareWovTai^

7ro\v/<7]Ta ISielXov viTepj3d<^

7re^09 eV

dWoTpiai(Ti (Soav eardaaro

ovSe

atytaXovSe

Ti<;

6om

KcofiaL^y

e^dXaro vao^

100

^ovalv dvapaio^ hlyviTTiaiGi'

dcoprj'X^Oeh iiTi
TOLO<; dvrjp

6K7]\ot,

TrXaTeeaortv iviSpVTac Trehioiai

^avOoKOfjLa^^

eTncrTdfievo^

TiToXefJialQ^,

Sopv

TrdWetVy

eTTiTrajx^ pbekei Trarpchia Trdvra (^yXdaaeiv

oV dyaOcp
ov jidv
fjiv

rd

Se tcTeaTi^eTai avTo^,

ye So/jlco evl ttlovl ^pvab^

are ttXovto^ del Ke^vrau pboyeovTcov

d')(^pel6^

p jjbdicwv

dWd

/SacrcXTJi,

TToXvv fiev exovrc Oewv epcfcvBee^;

alev dirap^ofjbevoio orvv

TToWov
iToWov

S'

ol/coc,

dWoiaiv yepdeaat,

l^6i[xoiai SeScopTjrac iSacnXevaLy

Be TTToXiecraiy iroXvv

ovSe Aicovvaov tl^ dvrjp

S'

iepoi)^

dyaOolaiv

eTaipoi<;,

Kar dy&va^

Xkct e7riaTd[ievo<; Xiyvpdv dva/JbeXyjrat dotSdv,

(p

ov Soyrivav dvrd^tov o^iraae Teyya^;.

yiovadoov

S'

viro^TjTai deiSovTi YlToXefiatov

dvT evepyeala^. tl 8e fcdXXiov dvSpc /cev etrj

6X/3l(p rj /cXeo<; eaOXov ev dvOpdoiTOLcnv dpeaOai;
TOVTO fcal ^ArpeiSaiaL piever rd Se puvpia Trjva,
^

2l8

TrepLar^WovraL

mss

also TrepicTTeWouffiv

no

THEOCRITUS

XVII, 93-118

full many the burnished brass-clad

targeteers afoot that rally for the battle around his
standard.
For wealth, his would outweigh the wealth of all
the princes of the earth together, so much comes
into his rich habitation both day by day and from
every quarter. And as for his peoples, they occupy
their business without let or hindrance, seeing that
no foeman hath crossed afoot that river of monsters
to set up a cry in alien townships, nor none leapt
from swift ship upon that beach all mailed to make
havoc of the Egyptian kine, of such noble sort is
the flaxen-haired prince that is throned in these
level plains, a prince who not only hath cunning to
wield the spear, but, as a good king should, makes it
his chiefest care both to keep all that he hath of his
father and to add somewhat for himself.
But not to
no purpose doth his gold lie, like so much riches of the
still-toiling emmet, in his opulent house ; much of it
for never makes he offerings of firstfruits but gold
is one
is spent upon the splendid dwellings of the
Gods, and much of it again is given in presents to
cities, to stalwart kings, or to the good friends that
bear him company. Nay, no cunning singer of
tuneful song that hath sought part in Dionysus' holy
contests but hath received of him a gift to the full
worth of his skill.
But 'tis not for his wealth that the interpreters of
the Muses sing praise of Ptolemy rather is it for
And what can be finer for a wealthy
his well-doing.
and prosperous man than to earn a fair fame among

a-horseback and

This it is which endureth even to

the sons of Atreus, albeit all those ten thousand
his

fellow-men

219

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ocraa jaeyav Uptdfioto Sofiov fcredTicraav eXoz^re?

ovKen v6aTo<;,
mv^ ti Oeppua Kovia

depL TTa Kefcpvinat, o9ev iroXiv

/jLovvo^ oSe irporepcov re seal

120

aTL/3o/ieva icaOvuepOe iroScov eicfJidcraeTai t^vr],

fiarpl (piXa /cat rrarpl dv(oSa<^ eiaaTO vaov'^'

iv

avToij^

S'

')(^pV(Tw

iTepi/caWea<; yS' iXecbavrc

HSpvrai irdvTecTcnv eTrf'^OoviOicriv

TToWa

Se iTiavOevTa /3oS)v oye

dpcojoij'^.

fjirjpia

Kaiei

jXTjal TrepLirXofievotaLv epevOofJuevcDV iirl

avTO^ T

l(^6i[ia

vv/ji(j)tov

iv fieydpoiCTi

/Sco/mv,

T aXo^^o^, tcl^ ovtl^ dpei(ov

yvva irepi^dWer dyoarfo,

eK OvfLov (TTepyoiaa KacriyvrjTov re nrocnv re.

odhe

Kol ddavdrcov

tepo'; jd/jio<;

130

i^ereXeadr],

om Te/cTO Kpeiovaa Tea ^aacXija^ ^OXv/jLttov

v Se Xe;^09 ^ aropworiv laveiv 7.avi kol ^'Yipa
^(elpa^ <^oi(3rj(ja(ja /ivpoL<;

Xalpe ava^

en

irapOevo^ ^Ip^9.

UroXe/Lbale' aeOev

S'

iyoy

la a ical

aXXo)v
fjivdaofjiai 7]p.i6ewv, So/ceo) S* eiro^ ovfc diT6j3X7]TOV
<f)6e<^/c^opai

dperdv j

i(Tcrop.epOL<;*

jmev

esc

Aio<;

aWev,'^

re

KOL

ai)V

BriggS

niSS re/ceajv or tok^oov

mss also ayvhu 5 (Ahr.

and Ep. Bion. 92
'^

220

017^0^ Se)

alrev

mss

ti

also e|ets

'^

e^'

5e ?^Xos

aet as in JSpig.

20

THEOCRITUS

XVII,

19-137

possessions that fell to them when they took

Priam's great house, they lie hid somewhere in

whence no return can be evermore. And

that which none before hath
done, be he of them of old, be he of those whose

that mist
this

man hath done

footmarks are yet warm in the dust they trod he

hath builded incense-fragrant temples to his mother
and father dear, and hath set therein images of them
in gold and ivory, very beautiful, to be the aid of all
And many are the thighs
that live upon the earth.
of fatted oxen that as the months go round he consumes upon the reddening altars, he and that his fine
noble spouse, who maketh him a better wife than
ever clasped bridegroom under any roof, seeing that
she lovethwith her whole heart brother and husband
in one.
So too in heaven was the holy wedlock
accomplished of those whom august Rhea bare to
be rulers of Olympus, so too the myrrh-cleansed
hands of the ever-maiden Iris lay but one couch for
the slumbering of Zeus and Hera.
;

And now

farewell.

Lord

Ptolemy

and

will

speak of thee as of other demi-gods, and methinks

what I shall say will not be lost upon posterity ; 'tis
excellence ask from none but Zeus.
this

221

XVIIL THE EPITHALAMY OF HELEN

This

Both

is

a short Epic piece of the same type as

begin, as

suggesting

is

XXV
are

they

that

previous ; bid

and Ovid,

do

this, like the

and Bion

II, with

consequent

XIII.

a phrase

upon something

ergo or igitur of Propertius

no more than a recognised way of beginning

a short poern.

The

iidroduction, unlike that

contains no dedicatioii.

The

here imitates certain passages

thalamy of Helen.

He

scholia tell us

of

of XIII,
'Theocritus

Stesichorus' first

seeins also to

Epi-

have had Sappho's

book of Wedding-Songs before him.

223

XVIII. EAENHS Eni@AAAMIOS

'Ez^ iTOK

apa ^Trdpra ^avOorptxt

irapdevLKal

OoXXovra

'Trap

WLeveXdco

KOfiat^ vd/ccvdov exoto-CLi^

TTpoade veo^pdiTTW daKafJuay X^P^^ icrrdcravTO,

ScoSeKa rat it par at 7r6\LO<;, /jueya XPVH'^ Aa/catvav,
dvL/ca liVvSapiSa KareicXd^eTO

'EXevav

jubvaarevcra^;

aeihov

S'

apa irdaat

6 vecorepo^ 'Ar/oeo? vlmv.

e? ev jieXo^ eyfcpOTeoicraL

TToacrl TTepLTfKiKTol^;, vtto S'

OvTCo

8r)

&

Smjjl

ok

airevSovra

^ el<^

KaO^

vfxevaiodL,

(f^CXe ya/ju/Spe

Xiav ^apvycopaTO^, rjpa

rjpa iToXvv tiv eirive^,

fxav

ta^e

TTpcot^a /careSpaOe^

Tjpd T^9 ecTdX

eifheiv

rdv dyaTrardv

</)tXf ttz^o?,

10

euvav Kare/SdXXev

&pav avTov ^XP^^

TV,

TralBa

S'

idv avv Tratal ^uXoaropycp irapa fiarpl

TTUiaSeiv 9

^advv opdpov,

67rel

/cal

eva^ Kal 9

aco

Keh
^

6T09 i^ 7609, Mci^eXa, rea d

'6k'

Wil

Mej/eAae red

224

mss

'6t*

'

^ 1^1^09 <x8e.

MeyeXa rea a Meineke

mss

XVIIL THE EPITHALAMY OF HELEN

It seems that once upon a time at the house of
flaxen-haired Menelaus in Sparta^ the first twelve
maidens of the town^ fine pieces all of Laconian
womanhood^ came crowned with fresh flowering
luces^ and before a new-painted chambL^* took up the
dance^ when the younger child of Atreus shut the
wedding door upon the girl of his wooing^ upon the
daughter of Tyndareiis^ to wit the beloved Helen.
There with their pretty feet criss-crossing all to the
time of one tune they sang till the palace rang again

with the echoes of this wedding-song

What Bridegroom

If

dear Bridegroom
thus early
abed and asleep ?
Wast born a man of skiggardye^
Or is thy pillow sweet to thee^
Or ere thou cam'st to bed maybe
Didst drink a little deep ?
thou wert so fain to sleep betimes^ 'twere better
!

sleep alone^
And leave a maid with maids to play
By a fond mother's side till dawn of day^
Sith for the morrow and its morn^
For this and all the years unborn^
This sweet bride is thine own.

7^2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

o\/3l ydjjil3p\ a<yad6<; Ti? eirerrrapev ep'Xpi^^vco

TOt
69 ^TTcipTav airep ayXXot apicTTee^ co?
/jlouvo^ V rj/jLL0eoi<;

avvaaio,

l^poviSav Ata irevOepov

e^-eZ?'

T^avo^ TOi dvydT7]p viro rav fiiav i/cero ^(XaLvav,

oXa ^ Ar)(aiidhcdv yalav iraTel ovhepJi dXka,

rj

fxeya /cd tl t6/coct, el fiarept tl/ctol

d/jb/ji^

ral

TTuaat avvofidXiKe^,

)(pt(Tafji6vat<;

o/jlolov*

8p6/jbo<^ (ovto<;

dvOpiarl irap FiVpcorao XoerpoL^;,

TeTpdfct<; e^rjfcovTa fcopai, OrjXv^

Tav ouS'

ah

20

rjv ^

t9

d/jiO)/jLO<;,

veoXaia

eVel ^' 'EXeva irapt-

crcoOfj.
dd)<;

dvreXXotcra /caXbv Ste<pave^ irpoaconrov,

TTOTVia Nv^, are XevKov eap

Sihe /cat

'x^pvaea

TTceupa fjieya
rj

'EXeva Stacpaiver iv

Xaov^ dveSpafie

/cdirq) K:viTdpi(Tao<^

(SSe

')(ei[JiO)vo<;

rj

fc6a/jL0<;

djjilv,

dpovpa

dpfxaTi @crcraXo<;

Kal d po86')(po)^ ^EXera Aa/ceSaufjiovL

Toi

mss

S'

at

or

'yap

-^i/

^ Sie^ai/e Ahrens
the corruption u]v
\aou Eichstaedt mss juLyd\a ar
:

226

dvevTO^*

tTTTTo?*

tcodjxo^,

mss hv, a correction of

^ ^i'ya
mss 5(6</)a(j/6

30

THEOCRITUS

XVIII, 16-31

When

thou like others of high degree cam'st here

thy suit a-pressing,
Sure some good body, well is thee, sneezed thee a
proper blessing
For of all these lordings there's but one shall be son
of the High Godhead,
Aye, 'neath one coverlet with thee
Great Zeus his daughter is come to be,
A lady whose like is not to see
Where Grecian women tread.
And if she bring a mother's bairn 'twill be of a
wondrous grace
For sure all we which her fellows be, that ran with
her the race,
Anointed lasses like the lads, Eurotas' pools beside
O' the four-times threescore maidens that were
;

Sparta's flower and pride

There was none so fair as might compare with

Menelaiis' bride.

Lady Night,
rising

passing bright the face

'tis

o'

the

day

white spring o' the year

winter is no longer here
But so shines golden Helen clear
Among our meinie so gay.
the crops that upstand in a fat ploughland do
"Tis like the

When

And

make

to see.
a cypress the garden where she grows,
a Thessaly steed the chariot he knows ;
But so doth Helen red as the rose
Make fair her dear countrye.
it fair

And
And

*' The white spring"

company.

white with flowers.

**

Meinie";

227
Q 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ovT Ti9

i/c

ToXapco Travcaoerat epya TOiavra,

ovT ivl 8acSa\(p TrvKtvcorepov drptov larw

fcepKiSi av/jLirXe^acra fiaKpcov era/ju eK fceXeovrcov*

ov

fjbav

ovSe \vpav

tl<;

eiriaTaTai &Se KpoTrjaai

"KpTjJiLv aeihoicra fcal evpvcrTepvov

0)9 ^EXez^a,

& KaXa
d/jb/jL(;

8'

ojufiaaiv i/iepOL ivri,

err

6? Spofiop rjpi /cal e? XeL/JLcovta

arecpdvco^; Spe-KJrevfievaL

r}S?;,

({)vWa

dSv irveovra^,

Tov<; 'EXei^a fie/jivajLievaL co?

40

fya\a6r]va\

[laaTov iroOeotaai,

dpve<; jeLva/jieva<; o'io^

TTpdra

K6dvav,

')(apieaaa Kopa, tv jxev ol/ciTc;

oj

pylrVjbie<;

iToXXa

rS? irdvTe^

TOL aT(j)avov Xcorco

'^(^afjial

av^ojUbivoLO

irXe^aaat aiaepav /caTaOi]aopL<^ e? TrXardvLarov,

TTpdra

^ S*

dpyvpea^ i^ oXmSo^ vypov akeic^ap

Xa^vfievai ara^ev/jLe^; vtto a/ccepav TrXardviaTOV'

ypajjufiara

iv

S'

(pXoiM

yey pdyjrerai,

009 TrapLcov

Ti<;

dvvifir),

AoypiaTL'

XciipoL^

Aaro)

mss

228

ovde

Xvpav

ae/Sev

fju ,

^KX6va<;

(pvrov

pvfKpa, %a6yOOi9 evirevOepe yapuj^pL

fjiev hoir],

irparai

'

Aarco Kovporpo^o^

mss

also

orijBev

oh KiBapav

and

e/j.iii\

Hermann

50

vpujuicv

^
:

irpoLra

mss

Reiske

aelSov

and

THEOCRITUS

XVIII, 32-50

And never doth woman on bobbin wind such

thread

as her baskets teem.

Nor shuttlework so close and fine cuts from the

weaver's beam,
Nor none hath skill to ply the quill to the Gods of

Women

above

As the maiden wise

desh'e and love.

in

whose bright eyes dwells

maid of beauty, maid of grace, thou

art a huswife

now
But we shall betimes
meads where

all

to the running-place
flowers do blow.

i'

the

And

cropping garlands sweet and sweet about our

brows to do,
Like lambs athirst for the mother's teat shall long,
dear Helen, for you.
For you afore all shall a coronal of the gay groundling trefoil

Hang

to a shady platan-tree,

and a

vial

of running

oil

His offering drip from a

silver lip

beneath the same

platan-tree.

And

a Doric rede be writ i' the bark

For him that passeth by to mark,
'^I am Helen's
worship me/
;

And
And

'tis Bride farewell, and Groom farewell, that be

son of a mighty sire.
Leto, great Nurse Leto, grant children at your

desire,

"Quill":

Women"

the

plectrum of

the Greek has

the lyre.

"The Gods

of

Artemis and Athena.'

229

THE BUCOLIC POETS

evT/cpiav, Ku7rp^9 Se, Oeci Kutt/o^? laov

aXXaXcop,

ZeL'9

Si,

l^poviha^

Zv<;

epaadat
d(pOtTOV

oXj^ov,
0)9

eh evTrarpiha^; iraktv evffrj*

dWa}uov arepvov (j^cXorara Trveovre^

6^ evTrarpiSdv

evBer 9
/cat

TTodov*

vevfieda

eypeaOat Se Trpb^ aco

KafjiiJie<^

69

opOpov,

/jir}7n\cW7](r0,

iirei

/ca

7r/)aT09

aotSo<;

i^ vvd<; KeXaSyay avaa^iov evTpiya Seipdv,

230

THEOCRITUS

XVIII, 51-58

And

Cypris^ holy Cypris, an equal love alway.

And Zeus_, high Zeus^ prosperltye
That drawn of parents of high degree
Shall pass to a noble progenye
For ever and a day.
Sleep on and rest^ and on either breast may the

love-breath playing go

Sleep nov/^ but when the day shall break

Forget not from your sleep to wake
For we shall come wi' the dawn along
Soon as the first-waked master o' song
Lift feathery neck to crow.
;

Sing

Hey

for the

and thanks

to

Wedding, sing Ho for

him that made it !

the

JVedder,

231

XIX. THE HONEY-STEALER

This

little

Bucolic

poem, probably belongs to a later date than the

ivriters,

merely owing

to

and was brought

its

resemblance

into

to the

the

collection

Runaway Love

of Moschus,

233

XIX. KHPIOKAEHTHS
Tov KkeiTTav
KrjpLov

etc

hdicTvXa

tfot "^pcora /ca/ca

at/JiiSXcov

irdvO^

Kevraae [lekLaaa

avkevjievov, liKpa he yeip&v

vTrevv^ev,

S'

aXyee koX yep

rav yav iiraTa^e kol aXarOy ra S' ^AcfypoSlra

^ oSvvav /cat /ie/iCjbeTO, ottl ye tvtOov
Orjpiov earl /jbeXtcraa /cal aXi/ca rpav/iara iroiel,

fcal

hel^ev eav

ya

fjLdT7]p

jeXdaaaa*

tl

S';

he

rpav/jbara

ov/c

iacrl

cao<;

ljbe\iaaai<^,

09

TVT0o<^

[lev

e6c9,^

Ta

raXUa^

'

iTOiel^;
^
niss tolv
kav Wil
Wil thinks probable

234

mss

hs

Valckenaer

ct^s

inss

^ets

x^*'

raXUa Porson

mss

XIX.THE HONEY-STEALER
When

the thievish Love one day was steaHng

honeycomb from the hive^ a wicked bee stung him^
and made all his finger-tips to smart. In pain and

hand and stamped and leapt

upon the ground^ and went and showed his hurt to
Aphrodite^ and made complaint that so a little a
beast as a bee could make so great a wound.
Whereat his mother laughing^ What ? cries she^
art not a match for a beC;, and thou so little and yet
able to make wounds so great ?
grief

he blew on

his

'

'

235

XX.THE YOUNG COUNTRYMAN

NEATHERD-, chofing becausc a

protests that he is a

make

to

down upon her

the curse

form

is

ascribes

that

love to country-folk,

of

and

peijjetual celibacy.

dumb

characters,

calls

This

the shepherds

Stylistic co7isiderations belie the tradition

it

Gods

a ynonologue, but preserves the mime-

by means of

line 19.

wench disdains him,

handsome fellow, and

have been known

spirited poejn

city

of

which

to Theocritus.

237

XX. BOTKOAISKOS
^vvLfca jiC iyeXa^e OeXovrd fjiiv aSv (ptXTJaaCf
i7n/cpTOfiotaa rdS^ evveirev ' epp air ifieto,
^ovfc6\G^ S)v ideXei^; jjie Kvcrai rdXav; ov /jbefid0rj/ca
dypoifcco^; (ptXeeiv, aW' darc/ca ^elXea 6\i(3eiv.
Tvye fxev Kvaar]<^ to fcaXov aro/jia firjS^ ev
fjLT]
fcai fi

oveipoi'^,

ola

/BXerfrec^,

oinrola XaXec^,

ft)9

dcm/ca

7raL(jheL<^,

'^etXed TOL voTeovTi} %eyoe? oe tol ivrl fieXaivai,

KaKov

/cat

i^ocrSei^.

diz"

(pvye,

ifxev

/jlt]

fie

[loXvvr]^.^

TOidSe fjLvdi^otaa
tcai

fJb

Ta9

diTo

T/ol? et9

eov eirrvae KoXiroVy

fC(j)aXd<;

ttotI

tco ttoSg

avve^e^

elSe

^(eiXeGi [Jivjddi^oiaa kclL ofi/jiaaL

Xo^d

/SXeTrocaa,

KoX iToXv TO, jiioptpa 07]Xvv6TOy /cat Ti aeaaph^^

Kol (70J3ap6v jLi eyeXa^ev.
ifiol S' d(j)ap ei^eaev

%poa

/cat

yd

fjbev

OTTL
^

(^OLvi'xdriv viro

J3a

/JL6

rcoXyeo^

XtiTolaa*

opydv,
Tov 'XapUvTa Kaicd

fie

voi^ovTi

Sauppe

mss

o)^

cf>epoL>

poSov epaa,

8'

fMCo/jbtjaad^

v7ro/cdp6iov

eraipa.

votriovn

7 ws Tpv(pephv KaXeeis, us KcariXa ^7]iuaTa cftpdcrdeis'

o)S f-iaKaKhv rh yh'eiov ex^'^? ^^ aBca x^'^'^^^'
As Wil sees, these lines cannot belong here.

238

6
9

XX.THE YOUNG COUNTRYMAN

When
mischief

thee

kissing

would have kissed her sweetly, Eunica

fleered at
!

I
is

me and
What ?

flouted
kiss

me

me

sayings

'

Go with

a miserable clown like

never learned your countrified bussing

in the fashion o' the town.

have such as thee to kiss

his dreams.

Lord^

my

how you

will

my
not

pretty lips^ nay^ not in

look

Lord^

how you

Lord^ how you antic

Your lips are wet and
talk
your hands blacky and you smell rank. Hold off and
!

begone, or you'll befoul me

spit thrice in her bosom, and
!

'

Telling this tale she

all

the while eyed

me

from top to toe, and mowed at me and leered at me

and played the jade at me, and anon did right
broadly, scornfully, and disdainfully laugh at me.
Trust me, my blood boiled up in a moment, and my
face went as red with the anguish of it as the rose
with the dewdrops. And so she up and left me, but
it

rankles in

cavil at

my

heart that such a filthy drab should

a well-favoured fellow like me.

239

THE BUCOLIC POETS

irQifxeve^y

apd

elVare

[loi

to Kpriyvov ov fcaXo^

T^9 i'^arrlva^ fie deo^; /Sporbv

Kol yap

/.iol

20

TO TrdpGiOev eTrdvOeev ahv tl tcdWo^

ttotI

fctacFo<;

0)9

aWov

ifijii;

erev^e;

epiav

TrpejJLVOv,

iirv/ca^ev

VTnjvav,

ycLiTai h ola akXiva irepX fcpoTai^yoicn icdyyvTO,

KoX \evKov TO piTco7rop

GfipiaTd

jiiOL

iir'

o^pvai Xd/xTre

jieXai-

ttoWov ^AOdva<;,

jXavf<:a<; ^(^cipOTrwTepa

KOI oTopiaT av TrafCTa^ y\a<^vpd>Tpa^ ktjk

aTopud-

Tcov Se

eppee

jioi (jycovd

dhv Be

jXv/cepoyTepa

rj

pLe\ifcr]pov*

TO pieXtcrpia, fcal rjv crvpiyyi pLeXioSa),

Kr]V avX(p XaXecOy ki)v SccvafCLy /crjv TrXayiavXco,
KOI irdcrac /caXov pie /car' Spsa (^avTl yvvaiKe^,
80
Kol Trdaau pue (pcXevvTr Ta 8 dcTTi/cd pu ov/c
pbot

i(piXr](Tev,

/3ov/c6Xo<; epipit, napeSpapLe kov TroTdKOve?

ov KaXo^ ^i6vvao<^ iv dj/cecrt Tavpov^ eXavvet;
ov/c eyvco 8\ otc YLvirpi^ eir dvepi pirjvaTO jSovTa
KOI ^pvyioi^ evopLevaev ev mpeaiv; ov tgv ^ "AScovtv
ev SpvpLOLCTL (jyiXyae fcal iv SpvpLCcatv etcXavaev;
^FjvSvpLLcoif Se tl<; rjv; ov /SovkoXo^; ov ye ^eXdva
/BovfcoXeovTa (piXTjaev, dir OvXvp.7roy Se pLoXotaa
AdT/MOV dv vdiro^ rjXde icaX el^ ed iraihiKa vevae ^;
KOL TV 'Pea fcXaiet^; top jSov/coXov. gv)(1 8e /cal tv 49

dXX* oTi

av iraKras

o-TOyUar'

from below
or

tcripw
^

ou

240

y\a(pvpci)Tpa

aicTcis

ktjk

iJLX.i

mss

fc7]p

or

x^

mss
mss
'^

av

(TTOiaa 8'

Wil (but
e'/c

pov)

or arofia ^ Kal vtt'

niss yXuKepdorepou

cf.

Zlcgler
e.g.

mss /jlcKlmss -ukovel

Gerhard Auser-

/asxlimpou

TTOTCLKove

ravpov E,

n.
:

THEOCRITUS XX,
me

19-40

master Shepherds see you not here

a proper man, or hath some power taken and transmewed him ? Marry, 'twas a sweet piece of ivy
bloomed ere now on this tree, and a sweet piece
of beauty put fringe to this lip the hair o' these
temples lay lush as the parsley this forehead did
shine me white above and these eyebrows black
below these eyes were beamy as the Grey-eyed
and the
Lady's, this mouth trim as a cream-cheese
voice which came forth o' this mouth was even as
honeycomb. Sweet also is the music J make, be it
o' the pipe, be it o' the babbling hautboy, be it o'
the flute or the crossflute.
And there's not a lass in
the uplands but says I am good to look to, not one
but kisses me, neither
but your city pieces, look
you, never a kiss got I o' them, but they ran me by
and would not listen because I herd cows.
Doth not the beautiful Dionysus ride a bull i' the
dells ? Wist she not Cypris ran mad after a neatherd
and tended cattle i' th' Phrygian hills ? And the same
Cypris, loved she not Adonis in the woods and in the
woods bewailed him? And what of Endymion ? Was
it not a neatherd the Lady Moon loved when he was
at his labour, and came dowi> from Olympus into
Latmos vale to bov/ herself over him of her choice ?
Thou too, great Rhea, dost bewail a neatherd and
didst not e'en thou, thou Son of Cronus, become a
Tell

true,

lesene Vasenhilder 47 : mss iropnu through misinterpretation

^ ov rhv Is. Vossius
of e\aui/i, of. 5. 116, Ar. EccL 39
^ AaT/xLou
mss avrht/
Musurus : mss XaQpiov
traidiKa
:

vevae

Wil

mss

TratSl /ca^euSe

241

THE BUCOLIC POETS

T^poviSa Sia rralSa ^07]v6fiov

0)

Yivviica he fjiova

top JSov/coXov ovk

a KfySeXa? /cpeaacov
fji7]fCTL fJLr^o
jjLi]T

ical

l^virpi,

^7?5'

h.
:

S'

fjLrjre

/car

dcrrv

dvd vvKra Kadevhoi}

Wil mss y.y)V a or ^iTjSe

mss (l)i\4ois and icaOevdois
:

icjyiXacrev,

KvirpcSo^; rjSe %\dva<;,

tov dSea

iv opei (piXeoc, p^cova

Ahrens

242

a/

6pvL<^ i7r\dy'^6rj<;

^ (^ix^oi

and

KuOevdoi

THEOCRITUS XX,

41-45

wandering bird for the sake of a lad o' the kine ?

Nay, 'twas left to mistress Eunica to deny a neatherd
her love, this piece that is a greater than Cybele and
Wherefore I beseech
Cypris and the Lady Moon
thee, sweet Cypris, the same may never more
whether in upland or in lowland come at the love of
her leman, but may lie lone and sleep sole for
!

the rest of her days.

243

XXI.THE FISHERMEN
The

2^oet begins ivith

and passes qnicJdy

a dedication

to his story.

in the

manner of XI,

Two ^fishermen

lie

awake

on the shore, and one of them

at night in their cabin

tells

a dream he has just had of the catching of a golden fish.

He

asks his friend what the

fears he

may have

to

break his dream-oath that he would

be ajisherman no longer.
it

was no oath he

is

that his only 7vealth

go

to

show

Theocritus

dream may mean, for he

took,

and

is

To

this the friend replies that

that the

of the

sea.

moral of the dream

Many considerations

that the traditional ascription

is

of

the

poem

to

mistaken.

245

XXI. AAIEIS
A

Trevta Atocj^avre /nova ra^; Txva<; iyecper

avraTM

fioxOoio SiSdcrKaXor ovSe yap evhecv

avhpaaiv ipyarivaiat tcaKal irapexovrt
p^epifivai.
fcav oXiyov vvkto^ tl^ iTTL^piaarjai}
top vttvov
al(j>vihov 6opv/3evo-tp ecfjiardjuiepac
fieXeScopat.

Ixdvo^ dypevTTjpe^ 6/xcix; Svo Kelvro yepovre^

o-rpcoaap.evoL ^pvov avov viro TrXe/crac^ fca\v^a>at,
'

tCfc\ifievoi /coLT(p ttotI (f)vXkiV(p'

eyyvOi S' avrolv

Kelro jd TMV
^ de\7]piaTa,
rcl KaXaeiaKot,
X^JP^y
TOi KaXa/xoi, rdyKiarpa, rd cfyvfccoevrd
re Xlva,^
opfital Kvproi T Kal ire axoivwv \a/3vpcv0oc,
Mptveoi KcoTra ^ t yepcov t in ipeiapiaaL Xep^^o^;vepOev rd^ K(f>aXd^ (j>opp.o^
ISpaxvr
etpara
TTvaaoi,^
.T^.

0VT09 7-0^9 dXievcTiv 6 ird^; Tropo^,^ ovro^ 6 ttXovto^.

ov f^'XcS\^ ovxl 6vpav exov,'^ ov Kvva- irdvra
ireptaad
ravT eSoKet Tr/votr d ydp irevia (T(f)a^ irTJpec.^
ovSeU S' iv peo-ao) yeiTcov ireXev a ^ he irap avrdv
6Xi^Qp.eva 1^
KaXvlSav
Tpv(f>6pov
Trpoaevaxe

OdXaaaa,
Tn0pl(T(Tr)(TL

M iisuriis
h.

mss

Reiske:

mss

-$r)(T6iaL

(already suspected

by Wil),

ofPhilolim,

cf.

Mosch.

Joxirn,
p. 315: others
KWTra
btroth-Kiessling
mss Ka>a
^
(coats),
ct. TTVKuds, TTi^/ca, (ifivacros,
06dos

/r. 3. 7,

SeAfyra
^

246

Ta>u

x^tp^y

ralp (or rah) x^polu or toIs x^ip^crcrtv

/'^^

Headlam
mss K^ya

-K^'acroi

Fritzsche

thick
irdaoi,

XXLTHE FISHERMEN
There's but one stirrer-up of the crafts^ Diophantus^
and her name is Poverty. She is the true teacher
of labour

for a

man

of

toil

may not

much

so

as sleep

Nay^ if he nod ever

his slumber broke suddenly

for the disquietude of his heart.

then

so little o' nights^

is

short by the cares that beset him.

One night against the leafy wall of a wattled cabin
there lay together upon a bed of dry tangle two old
Beside them were laid the instrucatchers of fish.
ments of their calling tlieir creels^ their rods, their
hooks^ their weedy nets and lines^ their weeis and
rush-woven lobster-pots^ some net-ropes^ a pair of
oars, and upon its props an aged coble.
Beneath
their heads lay a little mat^ and for coverlets they
had their jackets of frieze. This was all the means
and all the riches of these poor fishermen. Key_,
door, watchdog, had they none all such things were
ill-store to the likes of them, seeing in that house
:

kept Poverty watch and ward neither dwelt there

any neighbour at their gates^ but the very cabinwalls were hemmed by the soft and delicate up;

flowing of the sea.

Musurus

mss

^ iropos Koehler
mss ttouos from
Buecheler mss ovBels S' from below
mss ov x^^p^^
ovxt Bvpav Briggs
mss
^X^^^ Kaibel
s
ravT Wil
mss Traj^r'
a yap Reiske
mss aypa
6?x'
^ ir^Kev
Tf]pi Ahrens
mss ereprj
a Reiske
mss irei/ia
^^ exi^o^ivo. Reiske
from above
mss -vav

line

20

TrlAoi
"^

ov

irixroi

/rAeTS'

247

THE BUCOLIC POETS

avvev apfia SeXaz^a?,
T0U9 S' dXtel^ ip/etpe (f)i\o<; ttovo^, K /3\^dpo)v Se
v'TTVov aTTCoad/jiei'O^ acperepat^; (ppealv rjpeOevavhdv}
KovTTM TOP jxeaaTOV

Spo/jLov

A2J>AAinN
'y^revhovT

&

(j)i\ 7rdvT<;, octol

TO) Oepeo^; fJuvvOeiv, ore

TjSrj
Tj

pbvpi

rd^ vv/cra^ ec^aarcov

Tafiara

/jua/cpd

(pepovatv.

icrelSov oveiparay fcovSeTTco dd)^,

XaQofJiav, Ti TO

y^povov toI^

')(pi]fxa

e^ovTt;

vvfCT<;

ETAIP02
^

/jb/ji(f>y to /caXhv depo^' ov jcip 6 Katpo^

rrape^a tov kov Bpofiov
top vitvov
fcOTTTOtaa fiaKpdv Tav vvfcra Trotyl tol?

Kcr<pa\i(j0Vy

dWd

avTOfidTco<;

(j)povTl<;

A2<i>AAinN

dp e/iade^ Kpiveiv hok evvirvia;

ov

OeXo)

(T6

TODjuico

yap

"X^priaTa

elSov,

(pavTdcrfjiaTO^ rjfiev dfioipov,

ETAIPO^
ct)9 KoX Tav dypav, TcoveipaTa irdvTa fiepi^ev,
ov jdp a el/cd^co fcaTa tov Xoyov,^ ovto^ dpLaT0<^
iaTlv oveipoKpiTa^, 6 hihdaKaXo^ iaTL Trap*

dWco^^ Ka\

(T)(p\d ivrr

yap

tl

TTOieiv

Kv/naTt

Ki[ievo<; iv (bvX\oL<; ttotI

dv

vov^;

e)(oi tl^

Ka6evhcdv;

/jbi^Se

dXhJ dvo^ iv pdfjbvcp TO re Xvyyiov iv TrpvTaveuGy

(jyavTL yap dypvirvcav^ TdS' exetv.
Xeye* OTnroTe
VVICTO^
oyJTLv

a-Kwadix^vos

avdav

TToievvTi

mss
^

a''

8'

mss
^

elicd^co

the corruption of \oyov

^
^

al

an incorrect gloss on x6yov

248

xp^^oj/

fxavvev eTaip(p,

(pcXet'^

and rip^^ev E
mss (^5au

H. Voss

I.

Martin
jii

ew ^e

irds t/?

mss

aTTcocrdjuevoi
j]

roi

Trofel

viicd^r],

and

ijp0ov

xp^^ou ral

^^^

Hermann

mss

a correction following

E mss voov, originally

^XKws Musurus mss &K\os

Koyov
^

^gg

'

THEOCRITUS

XXI, 19-38

ov ever the chariot of the Moon v/as halfof its course, the fishermen's labour and trouble
did rouse them, and thrusting slumber from their
eyelids stirred up speech in their hearts.

Now

way

ASPIIALION

seems they speak not true, friend, that say the

summer nights grow less when they bring us the
long days. Already I have had a thousand dreams,
and the dawn is not yet. Or am I wrong when I
say how long the watches of these nights are }
It

FRIEND
Asphalion, the pretty summer deserves not thy
'Tis not that Time hath truly and in
fault-finding.
himself over-run his course, but Care makes th}^ night
long by curtailing thy slumber.
ASPHALION

Hast ever learnt to interpret a dream ? I've had a

good one this night, and am fain thou go shares in't.
FRIEND

and e'en let's share all

For shall I not be making conjecture
our dreams.
of thee according to the saying, the best interpreter
of dreams is he that learns of understanding ?
And
what's more, we have time and to spare, for there's
little enough for a man to do lying sleepless in a
greenbed beside the sea. 'Faith, 'tis the ass in the
thorns and the lamp in the town-hall, and they are
Come, thy dream for a
the morals for waking.
friend, look you, is always told a man's dreams.
Aye,

w^e sliare our catch,

(TXoAa ePTi Reiske

'dypcLP
\4ye'
:

mss

mss

(txoKovtl

oinrore

E,

cf.

15.

aypvrruiav

32 and

24.

Reiske
130

mss

iras tls eq) y (piXel E

\4yeo (or A6'7w) ttotc
mss rd tls
(T(ro Be Kcyei (from Xey^iv originally a gloss on fidvvev)
"^

'
'

The morals for waking "

i.e.

proverbial for keeping awake.

249

THE BUCOLIC POETS

A2<l>AAmN

SecXtvov

{pvK
el

fcariSapdov

o)<;

Tfv fjictv

/ji/J.V7],

TToXvatTo^,

Ta<;

yaarpo^

eV

elvdkioiai 'ttgvoktiv

67766 SeLTTPevPTe'^ iv oypa,

icjyecSofieO')

iv nrerpa /le/jLacora, KaOe^Qfievo^

ly6{}a^,

eic

KoXdjULoy

elhov ifjuavrov
iBofcevov

Se irXdvov Karecreiov iBoyBdv,

fcai Ti^ TO)v Tpa<pepcJov

mpe^aro' koX jdp iv

v7TVGi<;

iracra kvcdv cipKOv'^ fiavreverac, 1^(6 va KTj^odv,

%a>

TOd^Kiarpcp 7roT(f)veTOy koX peev

i-ikv

TGV /caXa/jiov

ra %6pl

eW

vtto rco /CLVTJfjbaros dy/cv\ov el^ov

S'

rjvvaa

S'

S)v

evv^a,

kol ov (j)vyovTO<; erecva,

rov deOXov, dveiXKvaa yj^vaeov l^Ovv,

TTavra tol ^pvao) ireTTV/caafievov

el')(k jxe Sei/jia,^

Jloo-eiBdo^vi ireXei TrecfyLXTj/nevo^; ly^Ov^

jjbrjTi

V %<^

7]p/jia S'

Tov

d^Mva^

jxe^yav l')(6vv cK^avporepQicTL aihapoi^^

VTrofu/jivacr/coyv rS) Tp(i)/iaTO<; rjpijjL

fcal vv^a<; ^^(^dXa^a,

[XTj

evpvv

TeivojJLevov, nrepiicXddfjievoVf

peXeTo^^

TTCO?

alfjuay

yXav/cd^

avTov iycbv

/cei/jiJjXcov ^A/ji(pCTpiTr)<;,
e/c

rooyKiarpco aTreXvaay

iTore Tco crTOfJiaTQ^ TctyicidTpia y^pvGov eypiov?

fiev e7rL(7ra<; acra

M/JLoaa

dXXa

KovKen

KaXdyperov

dTreLpcorav,^'

Xolttov virep ireXdyov^; iroha Oetvac,

ixevelv iirl

yd^

/ecu rco ')(pvaa)

^aacXevcrecp,

^ KaXdjULCti Valckenaer
^ apicov = ^picrov E, cf.
mss -cov
^ tS
Herwerden Lex. Suppl. mss aprov or ^prw
x^P^ E
mss Tw xh^
^hpvv a-yoova
^^^ asyndeton cf. Longus 3. 34
^ ^^AeTw E, cf. Hipp. e.g. 554.
cf. 25. 274 and //. 23. 253
^ ^pejia Eldik
31 to treat' a patient: mss ^\v eAw
mss
^ ^f Mus
ap' e/xe
mss 5e or (re
mss <r^/za
he7^a Miis
:

250

THEOCRITUS XXI,

39-60

ASPHALTON

When

I fell

asleep last niglit after

my

labours

o*

'twas not
fulness,
you mind,
and
short
we supped early to give our
was hard at my work upon a
commons dreamt

the sea
seeing

for

faith,

if

bellies

rock, seated watching for the fish and dangling my

piece of deception from my rod's end, when there
for m.ark you, I
rose me a right gallant fellow
surmise a fish as a sleeping dog will a bear , well
hooked too, for 'a showed blood, and my rod all
bended wi' the pull of him, bended straining and
bowing in my hand, insomuch that I questiojied me
sore hoAV I was to deal -with so great a fish with
Howbeit I gently
so w^eak tools to my hand.
pricked him to mind him o' the hook, and pricking

him have line, and w^hen he ran not away

showed him the butt. Now was the prize mine.
I drew up a golden fish, a fish smothered in gold,
let

such indeed that I feared me lest he were a fish

favoured of Poseidon, or mayhap a treasured posaye, and unhooked
session of sea-green Amphitrite
him very carefully and slow lest ever the tackle
should come away with gold from his mouth.
Then, standing over, I sang the praises of that my
glorious catch, my seaman made landsman, and sware
rid nevermore set foot o' the sea, but I would rest
And
ashore rather and king it there with my gold.
;

"^

Mus

exoieu

E,

cf.

12.

23

^ rhv fxev
mss exovri or ^xotrra
mss kuI rhu ix\v TTiarevaaaa

Ribbeck

Pers. 44

vrjcridoras

**

mss

iiricrras acra

i(a\dypTOP

/caAa y rhu
:

mss

aireipwrai^

Hermann;

cf.

Timoth.

ijTrrjparou

Let him have line

"

not, of course,

from a

reel.

251

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ravrd

fjue

rv

/cd^rjyecpe,

rav (yvcofiav opKov jdp

S* o)

^eve \oiirov epetSe

iyco rov eircofjioaa

ETAIP02

Odppei}
(Tvye

fcal

/jlt]

ovk

rpeaarji*;'

yap

ovhe

cofxocra^*

1^0 vv

ypvaeov co? IfSe? elSe?" Tcra S' ev ylrevSeai

eu yap fjurj /cvcocracov tv ra %a)pta ravra *
6\in<; Tcov VTTVcop'

OdppfA

0-1^76

|nl^

eUes evpes
others fiv (or
fi7]

others, giving

Mus

mss

kv

34

i|/eu5e(7i

jU-e

yap

E mss
:

it

to Asph.

mss avye
viaats

h-) y\/ev^eaiv vxpis

Kol xp^o'^^oLcriy

252

10.

cf.

fxaTevei^,

^dret tov crdp/ctvov Ixd^v,

(TV ddvrj<; Xijjbcp fcal 'X^pvcreiotcnv

(jbTj

voxtl^'

E,

mss

rv ra

oveipoi<;.

mss Oappw
E mss
263 and 17." 60

rap^ca
^

"ides

eUes

25.
eV \pevdeaiv 6^/^is
cf.

Mus

Kairoi xp^(^^^^^^

"^

70^

mss tovto or tovtov


THEOCRITUS
with that
for

you

awoke.

to lend

that oath

XXI, 61-67

And now, good

me

friend,

your understanding

it

remains

for troth,

sware

FRIEND
Be of good cheer never you fear that. 'Twas no
swearing wlien you sware that oath any more than
'twas seeing when you saw the golden fish. Howbeit
for if you
there's wisdom to be had of empty shows
will make real and waking search in these places
Go
there's hope of your sleep and your dreams.
seek the fish of flesh and blood, or you'll die of
hunger and golden visions.
;

"There's hope of your dreams"

some advantage from them.'

hope

of

your getting

253

XXII. THE DIOSCURI

This hymn
a prelude

to

common

concerned

parts

with Castor.
the

Epic

fought
the

Castor and Poly deuces consists,

to

one

The

fisticuffs with

second

with

first

style 7vith

and

both,

the

of

of two main
and the other

Polydeuces

of these, in a combination of
dialogue,

tells

how Polydeuces

Arnycus on his way

how, when

first,

secondly,

the

brothers

to Colchis,

carried

daughters of L(^tcippus, Castor fought

off'

and
the

Lynceus with

spear and S7vord,

255

XXII. TMN02 Elt AIO^KOTPOTS

'T/jLveo/ji6v A7]Sa<;

Kdaropa
"Xj^lpa^

/cal

re /cal alytoxov

A ^09

vl(o,

(^oj3epov HoXvSevfcea irv^ epeOii^eiv

iiTi^ev^avTa

j3oeoLaiv ipaaiv,
to rpiTOV apcreva re/cva
06(7TiaSo?, Aa/ceSaL/jioviov^; 8v a86X(f>ov<;,
/jieaa^;

vfjLV0/JiV /cal St9 /cal

fcovpi]^

av0po)7ro)v acoTrjpa<; iirl ^vpov

ijS')]

eovTcov,

LTTTTcov 9^

alfxaTGevra rapaacro/jievcov /cad' ofJuXoVy

^
/cal ovpavov elaaviovra
acTTpa l3ca^6/jivaL ')(a\eTTol^ eve/cvpaav arjTai<^*
vrjcov

6\ at Svvovra

oi Si cr^ecov /car a irpvfjivav aeipavTe<^ fxe^ya /cv/na

TrpojpijOev rj oirirrj OviJio^ e/cdarov
69 KoiXrjv epptyjrav, dvepprj^av 8' dpa Toij(ov^
7;e /cal i/c

avv idTKp dpfieva irdvra

aTTO/cXaadevra' iroXv^ S' i^ ovpavov 6iJbj3po<;
VVKT0<; e(f)p7rovcrr)(;' TraTayei S' evpela ddXaaaa,
/coTTTO/jLevT] iTvoial^ re /cal appij/crotat 'X^aXd^at'^,
dXX^ fjL7r7]<; v/iieL<; ye /cal i/c j3v9ov eX/cere vrja<;
avTolaiv vavTTjcnv oloiJievoi^ OaveeaOai'
aly^ra S diToXiqyovT avejjioi, Xiivapy] he yaX^pif
dfju iTeXayo<^* vecpeXaL Se SceBpajiiov dXXvSci; dXXar
i/c S' "Ap/CTOL T i(f>dvr}aav, "Ovcov r dvd fjueaaov
d/jLcj)OT6pov^' /cpefiarat oe

eiKfj

dfjiavprj

^drvT]

(77] jjiaiv over

S) d/jL<j)(i>
^

256

a rd

irpo^ ttXoov evhia irdvra,

6v7}T0l(JL ^OridoOl,

ovpavov elaaviovra

Meineke

M
:

(j)iX0i dfjL<f)0},

mss ovpavov

i^avi6vra

;
!

XXIL THE HYMN TO THE DIOSCURI

Our song

is

of the sons of

Bearer^ Castor to wit and with

Leda and the Aegishim Polydeuces^ that

dire wielder of the fist and of the wrist-harness of

the leathern throng. Twice is our song and thrice
of the boys of Thestius' daughter^ the two Spartan

brethren which wont to save both men that are come

upon the brink and horses that are beset in the
bloody press aye^ and ships also^ that because they
sail in despite of rise or set of the stars do fall upon
evil gales, which, or fore or aft or where they list,
upraise a great surge, and both hurl it into the hold
and rive with it their timbers whether on this side
or on that.
Then hang sail and shroud by the
board and night comes, and with it a great storm
from the sky, and the broad sea rattles and plashes
with the battery of the blast and of the irresistible
hail.
But for all that, ye, even ye, do draw both
ship and despairing shipmen from out the hell
the winds abate, the sea puts on a shining calm, the
clouds run asunder this way and that way till out
come the Bears peeping, and betwixt the Asses lo
that Manger so dim, which betokens all fair for
voyaging on the sea. O helpers twain of men, O
friends both of mortals, O horseman harpers, O
;

257

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KiOapLo-rai, deOXrjrrj pe<; aocSoL'

iTTTrrje^

T^daTopo<;

irpcoTOV Uo\vBev/ceo<; ap^o/ju deiheiv

rj

diJL^orepov^

vfjiveoyv

JloXvhevfcea Trpcorov deicay.

fj jjiev apa 7rpo(j)vyovcra irerpa^ et? ev ^vvLovaa<;

Apyo) Kol vi(hoevTO<^ drapTTjpov crrofia Hovtov,

Be^yOf A:a9 elaacpLKave decov <piXa re/cva (^epovaa.

6v9a /Jit7]<; iToWol Kara K\i/jLa/co<^ d/ji(f)OT6po)v e^
TOL'X^cov avhpe^ e/Baivov ^l7}crovL7](; dirb vrjo^,
/c/3dvT<^ S' iirl 6lva ^aOvv koX vTrrjveiJiov d/crrjv
evvd<; r iaTopvvvro irvpeld re '^epalv evo)/jicov.
KacTTCOyO
d/ji(j)(o

8'

aioXoTTCoXo^; 6 t oIv(07To<^ TloXvhevKrj^;

eprffjid^ecFtcov

diroirXay^QevTe^ eraipcov,

7ravT0L7]v iv Spec OrjevixevoL dypiov vXtjv.

S' devaov /cpyvyv viro XiaadSc irerpr]
vSarc TTeTrXrjOvlav dKrjpdrcp' at S' virevepOev
XdXXac /cpv(7TdXX(p rjS' dpyvpo) IvSdXXovTO

evpov

'^

i/c

jSvdov' v^lr7]Xal Se ire^vKecrav

dyyodi

Trevicai

Xevfcai T irXdravoi t /cal dicpoKOfMOi /cvTrdpioraoi,

dvded T

evcoSr/,

Xaaiat^

(j)iXa

epya

pLeXiaaai^;,

ocra eapo^ XrjyovTO^ eTrc/Spvet dv XeifJiMva^,

evOa

dvrjp virepoirXo^; evi]pievo<; ivhidacrKe,

orKXypfjac redXaajnevof;

Seivo'^ ISeiPf

ovara

ttvj-

fjLac<;'

aTTjOea

S'

ior^aipcoro TreXcopLa

aapfcl cnhrjpeir]
iv Se

fjbVG<;

fcal

nrXarv vcorov

(KpvprjXaTO^ ola KoXo(ja6<;

cTTepeoicn ^pa')(io(7iv d/cpov utt' m/jlov

ecTTacrav rjvTe 'Trerpoc oXoirpoxot, ovorre kvXlvScov

yeijjidppov^ iroTajjio^ /xeydXat^; irepie^ecre ^ivac^*

avrdp

virep vcotolo koX

a/cpcov hepfjia
^

258

Xeovro^

avykvo^ rjwpelTo

d(f>rjjjijjivov e/c

KobWai Ruhnken

mss

Trohed^vcov,

6,\\ai

THEOCRITUS

XXIT, 24-52

boxer bards^ whether of Castor first or Polydeuces

Be my song of both^ and yet the
shall I sing ?
beginning of it of Polydeuces.
The Together-coming Rocks were safely passed
and the baleful mouth of the snowy Pontic entered^
and Argo with the dear children of the Gods aboard
her had made the country of the Bebrycians. Down
the ladders on either side went crowding the men of
Jason's ship^ and soon as they were out upon the
soft deep sand of that lee shore^ set to making them
greenbeds and rubbing fire-sticks for fire. Then
went Castor of the nimble coursers and Polydeuces
ruddy as the wine together wandering afield from
the rest^ for to see the wild woodland of all
manner of trees among the hills. Now beneath a
certain slabby rock they did find a freshet brimming
ever with water pure and clear. The pebbles at the
bottom of it were like to silver and crystal^ and long
there grew beside it^ as well firs and poplars
planes and spiry cypresses_, as all fragrant
flowers which abound in the meadows of outgoing
spring to be loved and laboured of the shag bee.
In that place there sat taking the air a man both
huge and terrible. His ears were crushed shapeless
by the hard fist^ and his giant breast and great broad
back were orbed with iron flesh like a sledge-wrought
effigy
moreover the sinews upon his brawny arms
upstood beside the shoulder like the boulder-stones
some torrent hath rolled and rounded in his swirling
eddies ; and_, to end all^ over his neck and about hi,T
back there was hung by the claws a swinging lion-

and
and

tall

skin.

259
s

THE BUCOLIC POETS

TOP 7ryooT6po? ivpoaeeiiTev aeOXocpopo^ UoXvSevKrj^;'
^poTOi, wv oSe
TLve<;
yiaipe ^Lv\ 0T^9 iaai,

AMTK02
^atpft)

7rw9,

Sre

dpSpa<;

tou?

opco,

irplv

firj

OTTcoTra;

nOATAETKHS
Odpaei.

/JL7]T^

ahiKov^

e^ aSu/ccov (pd0L \eva-

fjbrjr

creiv,

AMTK02
0apore(Oy

KovK

etc

aev

fte

htSdaKeaOat toS'

eoircev,

nOATAETKHS
d<ypLO<; el Trpo^;

irdvTa 7ra\ijfcoTO<^

rjS*

VTrepoTrr^]^;

AMTKOS
TOLocrS' olov 6pa<;*

ye

t-^}? cr?'}?

[xev

ovk

eTTLJ^aivo),

nOAYAETKH:
/ce ^ tv')((ov

eX6oL^, /cat ^evLcov

TrdXtv

o'c/caS" Ifcdvot^,

60

AMTKO:S
fji7]T

(TV fie ^eivi^e,

haifiovL

rd r e^

ifiev

ovk iv

nOAYAEYKH:^
ovS' av rovSe irtetv vSaTO<^ avje

ejoiiifp,

Bqlt]^

AMTK05
yvitaeai^ eifre ae
^

fT

778'

Wil

260

Hemsterhuys
mss e^f aov

8L\jro<;

mss ^
reparr)

dveifjieva j(eiXea repar),^

Wil

Ahrens mss ye
mss r4p<Ti

^.^
:

evre

THEOCRITUS

XXII, 53-63

First spoke the champion Polydeuces. ^Whoever

you may be, Sir/ says he, ^ I bid you good morrow.
Pray tell me what people possesseth this country.'

AMYCUS
good-morrow, quotha, when

Is it

see strangers

me ?

before

POLYDEUCES

Be of good cheer. Trust me, we be no

nor come we of evil stock.
AMYCUS
I, and knew

Of right good cheer am

learnt

it

it

men

evil

or ever

of you.

POLYDEUCES
Pray are you a man o' the wilds, a churl come
what may, a mere piece of disdain ?
I

am what

ground,

AMYCUS
you see; and that's no goer upon other's

when

all's said.

POLYDEUCES

Come you upon my ground and welcome

shall

I'll

you

not go away empty.

AMYCUS
none of your welcomes and you

shall

none of

mine.

POLYDEUCES
Lord, man would you have
drink of this water }
!

me

denied even a

AMYCUS
you know when there comes you the
parching languor o' thirst on the lips.

That

shall

261

THE BUCOLIC POETS

nOAYAETKH^
dpyvpo<;

rj

rt? o /jbiado^;

epet?,

kV

ere TTiOoifj.ev.

AMTKO:S
el?

')(elpa^

ez^l

aeipov ivavrio^ avSpl Karaard^.

nOATAETKHlS
TTvypidyo'^,

KoiX

r)

TToaal Oevco

a/ceXo(;;

opLfxaja S'

6p9d}

AMYK02
TTV^ 8LaTtvd/jiV0<;

(7cj)eTpr]<; purj

^eiheo

Te')(yri^*

nOAYAETKHS
769 ycLpy OTft)

')(elpa'=;

koI

ijioi)^

avvepeiaw

i/jbdvTa^;

AMYK05
iyyv^

ov yvvpt<; ioov^ KeKkirjaeO^

opa<;'

6 irv/crrj^;.

nOATAETKH^
rj

Kol de\6ov

70

erol/JLoVy icp^ (p STjpccrojUbeO^ dpLcfxo;

AMTK02
o"09 /jbV 6 JO), (TV S* ifio^ KeKKrjaeaiy

at Ke Kparrjaw*

nOAYAETKHS
OpVlOodV (pOLVLKoXocfxoV TOLOuSe KvBoL/JLoL

AMYKO:S

elV ovv opviOecrcTLV eoiKore^ ecre Xeovat

ycv6fi0\ ovK
Tj

''A/jiVKO<;,

ot Se 6oS><;
^

eivco

meaning

262

aWcp

Wil
is

k [la^eacraipieaO^

de6\oy.

Koi KO')(\ov eXcov /jLVKijaaTO koIXtjp.

avvdyepOev
:

eV

mss

doubtful

viro

d4ucov or
^

(Tfapd<; 7r\aTavL(TT0V<;

deccv

yvvvis ioop

mss also
mcs also crv

opdhs
fjt,

a/xhs

the

THEOCRITUS
Would you
what

silver

XXII, 64-76

POLYDEUCES
or aught else for price

Say

you'll take.

AMYCUS
fight
man against man.
and
me
hands
Up
POLYDEUCES
Fisticuffs is 't ? or feet and all ? mind you, I have
a good eye.
AMYCUS
Fists be it, and you may do all your best and
cunn ingest.
POLYDEUCES
But who is he for whom I am to bind thong to

arm ?
AMYCUS
the man that shall fight you
see him nigh
be called a woman, but 'faith, shall not deserve

You

may

the name.

POLYDEUCES
pray is there a prize we may contend for in
this our match ?
AMYCUS
Whethersoever shall win shall have the other to

And

his possession.

POLYDEUCES

But such be the mellays of the red-crested gamecock.

AMYCUS

Whether we be
fight betwixt us

like cock or lion there shall

be no

on any other stake.

With these words Amycus took and blared upon

and quickly in answer to his call

his hollow shell,

263

THE BUCOLIC POETS

fco'xXov ^vc-rj6evT0^ oKel^ ^e^pv/c<; KOjJiowvTe^.

eKoXeaaaTO

S)9 5' auTft)? Tjpcoa^ loov

7rdvTa<;

hat

y[ajV')](7a7]<; airo vrjb<; vTTipo^o<^ iv

IcLdcrrayp.

ot 8' iirel ovv cnreLprjaLV itcaprvvavTO ^oeiaL<^

')(elpa^ /cal irepl ^yvla

69 jxkcrcTov

avva^ov

evOa 7To\v^
oTTTTorepo^;

eirei^opie.voiGiv eTV)(Orjy

vcora \d/3oL

dvSpa

ihpeir) fjbe^av

fiaKpov^ eiXt^av Ifjuavra^y

(povov aKkrfKoLcn irveovre^,

(T(f)LaL jjio'xdo^

Kara

80

(j)do<;

iraprfkyOe^;

&

rjekioio'

TIoXvSevKe^y

l3dWeT0 S* dfCTLveaacv airav A/jlvkolo irpoacoirov,

avrdp 07' iv 9vp& Ke^x^oXcofievof; lero irpoaaco,
%e/ocrl TiTVcrfc6/jbvo<;,

rod

8'

dicpov rvyfre jevetov

TvvSapiSrjf; eiriovTO^;' 6piv6rj Se irXeov

rj

irpiv,

(7VV Se p^d')(r}v irdpa^e,'^ ttoXu? S' iTre/cecro vevevKoo^

^60pvK(;

9 ^alav.
'ijpcoe^;

iTravreov, ot

S'

1X7]

7rco9 iiiv

eiri^piaa^ Sa/Jbdo-ece

TtTVM evaki^Kio^

^^^ (^T6iV&

dvTjp,

ev6a 7rapL(TTdfievo<; ^ Acb<^

d/jLCporeprjaiv evvaaev^ dpiOi^ah[<^, ea^edeS*
rralha Yioaethdwvo^ v/JLep(f)ia\6v irep ebvra,

oy evOa

TjTOL

fcal

earr] Se 7r\7jyat<; pbeOvcov,

thov eX/cea

o/JL/Juara S*

TOP
1

fjLV

aA?

Xvypd

264

oppbTj^

eirrvcrev alfjua

irepX

arofia re

'

yvad/jLOv^; t'

olhrjaavTO^ direaTeivayTO TrpoacoTrov,

dva^ irdpaaaev ircocna

thickly

'

E, see Class. Rev.

mss also iriva^e

den mss ^fxvaaev or

etc S'

vto<;

ot S' djuia 7rdvT<; dpiarrje^ Kekdhrjaav,

(poLVLOV*
0)9

90

irepcoOev

Kparepov HoXvSevKea OapavveaKov,

heihiOTe^

X^P^

S*

mss

irv\psv

also nepiar.

%6yocr6

TrpoSecKPv^

1913, p. 5
"*

e/u(r<rtf

mss ael
Herwer-

10(

THEOCRITUS

XXII, 77-102

came the thick-haired Bebrycians and gathered

themselves together beneath the shady platans.
And in like manner all the heroes of the ship of
Magnesia were fetched by Castor the peerless manAnd so the twain braced their hands with
o'-war.
the leathern coils and twined the long straps about
their arms, and forth and entered the ring breathing
slaughter each against the other.
Now was there much ado which should have the sunshine at his back but the cunning of my Polydeuces
outwent a mighty man, and those beams did fall full
So goes master Amycus in high
in Amycus his face.
dudgeon forward with many outs and levellings o's
fists.
But the child of Tyndareiis was ready, and
catched him a blow on the point o' the chin the which
did the more prick him on and make him to betumble
;

he went in head-down and full-tilt.

At that the Bebrycians holla' d him on, and they of
the other part cried cheerly unto the stalwart Polyhis fighting, so that

deuces for fear this Tityus of a man should haply overpeise him and so bear him down in that narrow room.
But the son of Zeus stood up to him first on this side
and then on that, and touched him left and right and
and for all his puissance the child of Poleft again
seidon was stayed in 's onset, insomuch that he stood
all drunken with his drubbing and spit out the crimson blood. Whereat all the mighty men gave joyful
tongue together by reason of the grievous bruises he
had both by cheek and jowl for his eyes were all-tostraitened with the puffing of their sockets. Next did
my lord maze his man awhile with sundry feints and
;

265

THE BUCOLIC POETS

TrdvTcdev' aXSJ ore
fjL6aarj<^

iTCLV

aiTeavpe

S*

v9a

fJid'^7]

dWrjXov^;

aXX' o

KaT

dp^rjryo^; Jie/Spvfccov*

jULv

')(^elpa<i ivco/jua

dviicrjTO^

ISpcon avvi^avov,

uovov

av^ofjLevov^ (^opeeaice

yap Sr) Alo<; vlo<;

av yap olaOa'
ocTcr' ^

TloKvhev icr](;

ifc

fjueyaXov 8e

alel it da a ova

S'

i]

yvla

/cal

XP^^V d/jLeivco.
d8r](pdyov avhpa KaOelXev;

elire ded,

(f)6y^o/JiaL

avrap

o S* deiickcn irXrjyal'^

oXuyo^ yever dvSpo^;' o

Trei?

irvyfifj,^

iraXtv yever 6p6(o6evT0<;*

Spi/jieta

e? arrjOo^ re /cal ^co

adpKe^ Tw^

rfKaae

oareov.

e?

TeOrjXoaiv e^eravvaOrj,

rrav avvec^vpe TrpoacoTTov

al'xjr

evorjcre,

oXe/cov dTepeol^ Oeivovre^ Ip^acnv,

S'

fjbev

avxevo^

6(j}pvo<;

/juercoTrov

^vWoiaL

VTTTio^ iv

afirj^aveovr

Srj jjllv

pivo^ virepOe

eyco

e^eXe^9

erepcov

S'

Kai

cru,

V7ro(p'^T7j<;

otttto)? toc (piXov

avrfj,
rjTOL

oye pe^ac tl XiXaio iJievo<^

cTKaifj fjiev (TKairjv

fjueya

epyov

eWa/Se

XloXuSeu/ceo?

j(Lpa,

So^yL609 diTo iTpoj36\rj<^ K\iv6eL<^, ^^^PV S' eTTijBaivcov

Be^creprj^; fjveyKev diro Xayovo^ irXaru yvcov,

Kai

tee TV'Xp^'^ e/SXa-sJrev

dXX^ oy vTve^aveSv

^Apiv/cXaicov /SaaiXyja'

cm^aprj

/cecj^aXfj,^

S' d/jia %ei/)l

irXrj^ev vtto a/caiov fcp6Ta(f)ov Kai iirejjbireaev

Sk

i^y^V

S'

f^k^ccv alfia 6oa)^

Xatfj Se arofia Ko^jre, ttvkvoI

^

mss also

mss

8*

Toup

266

at

or

mss

irvyin^u
8*

-cov

ol
^

mss

Hera'

S'

apdjirjaav ohovre^*
^ r^ Meineke
ajieivQ}
mss a-rrr.
^ mss also Ke<l>a\)]v

also fxercoirou

av^o/jicpov

mss

cojjiOi)*

Kpord^oio yavovTO^'

Mein

also ms

i$


THEOCRITUS
divers passes

him

all

XXII, T03-126

about^ and then, so soon as he had

abroad, let drive at the very middle of his

him to the bone, and laid

all

nose, flattened the face of

amid the springing flowers.

His rising was the renewing of the fray, and a
aye, now were those swingeing iron
bitter one

him

flatlong

gloves to fight unto

The high

death.

lord

of

Bebrycia, he was all for the chest and none for the
head but as for the never-to-be-beaten Polydeuces,
he was for pounding and braying the face with ugly
shameful blows and lo the flesh of the one began
to shrink with the sweating, and eftsoons was a
but even as the other's
great man made a little
;

labour increased, so waxed his limbs ever more

and round and his colour ever better.

Now

Muse,

pray thee

tell

for

thou knowest

full

it

how the

child of Zeus destroyed that glutton ; and

he that plays thy interpreter will say what thou
wiliest and even as thou choosest.
Then did Amycus, as who should achieve some
great thing, come from his ward and with his left

hand grasp Polydeuces'

and going in with the

hand from his right flank.
And had the blow come home, he had wrought harm
to the king of Amyclae.
But lo my lord slips
his head aside and the same moment struck out forthright from the shoulder and smote him under
the left temple
and from that gaping temple the
red blood came spirting. Then his left hand did
beat him in the mouthy so that the rows of teeth in 't
left,

other, drive the flat of his

The

flat of

the hand

'

or

his great

fist.'

267

THE BUCOLIC POETS

aiel

6^vTp(p 7rcTv\(p STjXetro irpocrcoTrov,

S'

fJie^p^ crvv7]\oi7]cr Traprjla,

iTa<; S' eirl

KiT aKkG(^pove(DVy KoX avea'x^eOe

dfKporepa^
Tov
o)

ajjia ')(^6Lpa<;,

apa

fJiev

yaiy

velicQ<i

diravBcov

eVel Oavdrov ay^ehov

fcparecov irep

drdadaXov ovSev

r/ev,

p^a<^,

TTVKTT] UoXvSevKe^;' Ojmoaae Se roi fieyav opicov,

ov rrarep

ttovtolo TLoaeiSdcova fCLfcXTjaKcov,

TL ^eivoLGLv K(bv dvLTjpo^ eaeaOai.

/ii7]7roT

KoX

ifc

dva^, ae he Kdcrrop

v/jbvr]aai fioi

(TV fi6P

deiaco,

TvvSapihrj Ta')(vira)\e Bopvaaoe ')(aXKo6(x>prj^,

TO)

Som9

dvapird^avTe 8vco

fJiev

(pepirrjv Acb<; vlco

AevKLTTTTOio Kopa^* Siaora)

iaav/jievct)^ iSicofcov aSeXc^eco

dpa ^dvT<;

eyyecTi kol koiKoktl

AvyKV<;
'

8'

av

BaL/JbOVtOt,

eir

rcoye

kol o Kaprepo^; *TSa9.

0T TVfJi^ov 'Uavov diro(^6LfJievov

hi(^poyv

ifc

dpa

vV 'A0ap^O9,

ya/JL^po) fieWoyd/jbO), Avy/cev^;

aXV

8'

^Acj)ap7]o<;,

dXhrfKoicnv opovaav,

^apwofxevoi

(TaiceeaaL,

pLereeiiTev vireK /copvOo^; fxey

dvaa^'

TL

S'

l/JLLpT;

fldxV^

TTft)?

eVl

vvp^(j)ai^

dWoTptac^

')(aX67roi, yvfjuval S' ev X^P^^^ fJidxcapciL;

ea9 eSvcocre Ovyarpa^
AevfCLTTiTO'^
TOV
rjfuv
rdahe ttoXv irpOTepoL^' rjfjblv ydpuo^ ovto<^ iv op km*
v/jLC<; S*

ov /card /coa/nov

^ov(tI koX
^

268

etrl

r)/jbi6voL(Tt fcal

yairj

Ahrens

aXXoTpcocat Xe^^aac
dXXoLcn Kredreaacv

eir

mss

ivl

yaly or

iirl

yaiau

THEOCRITUS

XXII, 127-150

crackled again aye_, and an ever livelier patter o'

the fists did maul the face of him till his visage was
Then down went he in a heap and
all one mash.
and up with
lay like to swoon upon the ground
both his hands for to cry the battle off, because he
But thou, good boxer
was nigh unto death.
victory
didst nothing prePolydeuces, for all thy
sumptuous. Only wouldst thou have him swear a
great oath by the name of his father Poseidon in the
sea, that he would nevermore do annoyance unto
;

strangers.

The tale of thy praise, great Lord, is

now of thee, good my Castor, will I sing.

told

and

Castor the

Tyndarid, lord of coursers, wielder of spears, knight

of the corslet of brass.

The twin children of Zeus were up and away with

the daughters twain of Leucippus, and the two sons
of Aphareus were hotfoot upon their track, Lynceus
to wit and doughty Idas, the bridegrooms that were
But when they were got to the grave of
to be.
Aphareus dead, they lighted all from their chariots
together and made at one another in the accoutrement of spear and shield. Then up spake Lynceus
and cried aloud from beneath his casque, saying
' Sirs, why so desirous of battle }
How come you so
unkind concerning other men's brides } and wherefore these naked weapons in your hands }
These
daughters of Leucippus were plighted to us, to us
long ere you came we have his oath to it. But as
for you, you have prevailed on him unseemly for
other men's wives with cattle and mules and what
;

269

THE BUCOLIC POETS

avSpa iraperpeyp-aaOe,

yd/jLOV S' iKfcXeirTere

S(opoL<;,

M'V^ 7roXXd/cc<^ vfjufiiv evdoinov dfjL(poTepoLaLV

V
auT09 iyo) rdS* eenra
''ov')(^

ov iroXvpbvOo^ idov

/cal

irep*

ovTco, (piXot dvhpe^y dpiarTjeaatv eoLKS

fjLV7J(TTVetV dX0'^0V<;, al<^ VVpLCJ^LOL 7)^7] 6T0L/JL0L,

TToWrj TOL ^irdpTT], TToWrj

^ApKaSiTj T

v/jLrj\o<;

airaad t

6v9a Kopai TOKeeaaiv viro

(pvij^;

linTrfkaTO^ ^HXi9,

K')(aio)v re irroXieOpa,

M.aa7]V7] T /cal "Apyo'^

p^vpiai ovT

8'

^Lav(JH<^

aKTiy

(KJ^erepotat. Tp6(j)0PTac

e7TtSVe<;

ovre vooio,

16(

rdcov Vfiap<; v/jl/jllv oTTviepLev d<^ k eOeXrjre*

0)9 d<ya6ol^ iroXee^ /3ovXolvt6 k irevOepol elvat,
'^

ufjLL<i S'

iv irdvTeacn Stdfcptroc rjpcoecrcn,

dvodOev dirav TraTpdouov

alpa.
dXXd (piXoi Tovrov /jLv idaare 7rpo<^ TeXo9 iXOelv
djjipji yduov a(j)a)v S' dXXov iin^pa^dopieOa irdvre^,^^
laKov TOidSe TToXXd, rd 8' t9 vypbv w^^^ero /cv/jua
irvoLT] eyovG^ dvepoio, %ayOt9 S' ov^ eoTrero pivOoL^*
aXX! en Kal vvv
a(f>(o yap d/cyfkrjTco /cal d7rrjvee<;,
Trarepe^

/cal

ireiOecrd^*

/cal

dp(j)co S'

dpipiv dve-^Lco

e/c

irarpof; earov.^

vplv /cpaSiT} TToXepov iroOel, aXpari Be xpV

dvapp7]^avTa^ opoaov e^Oea Xvaat,'^
'\ha^ pev Kal op.aLp.o<^ eyL609, /cpareph^ TloXvhev/ci^^i

'

el S'

vel/co^^

j(elpa^ ipcoTJaovcTLv diTe)(6opev7]^ vapiVJ]^,

vm

S\ iyo) Avy h6v<;

oirXoTepco yeyaayre'

re, Sia/cptv(op.eO^ "Apr)i

yovevcn he pbrj ttoXv irevOo^

aX^9 ve/cv<; i^ evo^ oXkov
rjpLerepoLaL Xiircopev.
^

Wil

iKKXenrere
:

mss

oicvUiv

also tfyx^a Xovarai

270

mss
'^

^ oTryte/xev
iaXeTrreTe or icX\par
^ inss
mss also /ixrfrpwiou
Avyicevs
mss also KdcrTO)p

irarpdoiov

17'

THEOCRITUS

XXII, 151-177

ye be stealing bridal with a gift. Yet time and

God wot, albeit I am no man of many words,
'^ It ill
I have myself spoke to your face and said
becometh princes, good friends, to go a-wooing such
Sparta is wide, and so is
as be betrothed already.
wide likewise the sheep-walks of
Elis o' the coursers
Arcady and the holds of Achaea Messene also and
Argos and all the seaboard of Sisyphus there's ten
thousand maidens do dwell in them at the houses of
their fathers, wanting nothing in beauty or in parts,
of the which you may take whomso you will to your
wives. For many there be would fain be made wife's
father unto a good man and true, and you are men
of mark among all heroes, you and your fathers and
Nay then, my friends,
all your fathers' blood of yore.
suffer us to bring this marriage to fulfilment, and
we'll all devise other espousal for you."
Such was
my often rede, but the wind's breath was ever away
with it unto the wet sea-wave, and no favour followed
upon my words for ye are hard men both and
relentless.
Yet even at this hour I pray you give
heed, seeing ye be our kin by the father.'
not

again,

(The heginning of Castor^' s reply is losf)

But and if your heart would have war, if
kindred strife must needs break forth and hate make
an end in blood, then shall Idas and my doughty Polydeuces stand aside from the abhorred fray, and let you
and me, Lynceus, that are the younger men, fight this
matter out. So shall we leave our fathers the less
sorrow, seeing one is enough dead of one household,
^

*'

The seaboard

of

Sisyphus"

the district of Corinth.

271

THE BUCOLIC POETS

eh'

drap coWol nrdvTa^

dvrl

vvpb<^ioi

iv(j)paveovcnv eraipov^

veicpo)v, v/jLevaLcoaovaL Se

Kovpa^

rdorS^* oXljcd toc eocfce Kaicco fxeya vel/co^ dvaLpetv,'

TOO fxev
o)

1^

rd S' ovk dp* e/xeXXe deo^ p^erafKovia Orjaeiv.

yap ttotI yalav dii coiJbcdv Tevye Wemo,

ecTre,

yevef) 7Tpo<j)6pa/cov' o S' e? fieaov r/XvOe Avy/cv<;,

aeicov /caprepov ey^o? vtt da7riSo<;

0)9 S' avT(o<;

aKpa^ invd^aTO

dvrvya

irpcoTrjv'

hovpaTO<=; dfcpA<i

KacTTcoyo* d/jL(j)OTpot<^ Se \6cj)cov iirevevov eOetpac,

ey^eau

jjbev

irpdoTLcrTa TLTvafco/jievot irovov

el')(ov

aXXrjXayVy el irov tl Xpoo<; yv/jivco6ev cSoLev,

dXX' fjTOi rd /jLv d/cpa irdpo^ nvd hrjXriaaaQai

hovp

edyrj, aaiceeaaiv eve SeivoLac Trayevra,

Tcb S'

dop

ifc

l{

KciXeolo epvacra/jievco (j)6vov avTC<;

Tev)(pv eir dXXrjXoicrr

iJid^ri<^ S'

ov yiver

epcorj.

TToXXd juiev 9 (rd/co^ evpv /cal Itttto/co/jlov rpvcpd- 1

Xecav
I
KacTTwp, TToWd S' evv^ev dfcpt0rj<i ofxpiaai Avy/ceu<;
TOLO cra/^09, (f)OLVL/ca S' oaov \6(j)ov ifcer d/ccoKT],
Tov fiev d/cp7]v itcdXovaev eirl cr/caibv yovv X^^P^
(j)dayavov o^v (jyepovro^ V7re^ava/3d<; ttoSI K-darcop
a/caup*

Se

irXijyel^

^i(f)o<;

eKJBdXev,

al^Jra

Be

(pevyecv
d>p/ji7]drj

ttotI afjfia iraTpo^, t66l Kaprepo^; "iSa?

/xd^V^ ejUL(f)vXcov dvhpcov,

irXarv (pdayavov Mae Stairpo

/cefcXcfievo^ drjetTO

dXXd

jjuerat^a^

2(

Tvv8apLSr)(;\ay6vo(; re /cal o/xcpaXov' eynata S elaod

XCiXfco^ d(f)ap Stex^y^^' b 8' e? crrojuia^ /ceiTO vevevK(o<^
Kvynev^y /cdS S* dpa ol ^Xe(f)dpcop /3apv9 eSpa/xep
VTTVO^,
^

mss

272

mss

also iravres
also x^^^^

^ ivSvov

mss

also Tr6dov

"*

arofxa

THEOCRITUS
and the two that be

XXII, 178-204
glad

then- friends as
slain^ and their wedding-

left shall

all

bridegrooms instead of men

song shall be of these maidens. And in such sort^ I
ween^ a great strife is like to end in but little loss/
So he spake and, it seems, God was not to make
For the two that were the
his speaking vain.
elder did off their armour and laid it upon the
ground but Lynceus, he stepped forth with his
stout lance a-quiver hard beneath the target's
rim, and Castor, he levelled the point of his spear
even in the same manner as Lynceus, the plumes
nodding the while upon cither's crest. First made
they play with the tilting of the lance, if haply
they might spy a naked spot but or ever one of
them was wounded the lance-point stuck fast in the
trusty buckler and was knapped in twain.
Then
drew they sword to make havoc of each other for
there was no surcease of battle.
Many a time did
Castor prick the broad buckler or horse-haired
casque many a time did the quick-eyed Lynceus
come at the other's targe or graze with the blade his
;

scarlet crest.

But soon, Lynceus making at

his left

knee. Castor back with his left foot and had off his
fingers, so that his falchion dropped to the ground
and he went scurrying towards his father's grave,
where stout Idas lay watching the kindred fray.
Howbeit the son of Tyndareiis was after him in a trice
and drave his good sword clean through flank and
navel, so that the bowels were presently scattered
of the brass, and Lynceus bowed himself and fell
upon his face, and lo there sped down upon his
eyelids profoundest sleep.
!

273

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ov fxav ovoe top
iraiScov
rj

jap

AaoKooyaa

o<ye ctttjXtjv

Tv/ji/3ov

aWov

e<p

ecmrj etoe TraTpcorj

(piXop yd/jiov i/creXeaavTa,

i^ave^ovaav

^Acj^aprjiov

avapird^a'^^ ra^eo)? yiecrarjvio^^ "\ha<;

fieWe KaaijvrjTOLO /SdXecv a^eTepoio ^ovrjadWa Zeu? iird/jLVve, ')(epo}v he ol eKJSoKe tvkttjv
/jidp/Jiapov, avTov Se (pXojeo) avvec^Xe^e fcepavvS),
ovTco TvvSapiSat^;

TroXe/jbt^efjiev ov/c iv iXaippo)'

avTOi T /cpaTeovac koI i/c fcpareovro^ ecpvaav,

^(aipeTe A^^Sa? TeKva, /cal r}ijLTpoc<; /cXeo9 vfivou^

iadXov del TrefJuiroiTe, c^iXoi he re nrdvTe^ doihoX

Tvvhapihai^ ^^Xevrj tg fcal dXXoL<; rjpcoeaaLV,
"IXlov oc hteirepaav dprjjovTe^ IsJleveXdco.

vfuv Kvho^ dvaKTe<^ efXTjcraTO XZ09

vp^vrjaa^ Uptd/jLOLO ttoXlv koL vi)a<^
^IXidha^ re
v/iitv

av

/jbd')(^a(;

/cat e^ti)

Tola
^

cLPapTrd^^as

also

274

ololBt]

cf.

KyaiMV
dvTrj<^'

Xtyecov pLeiXLj/jiaTa M.ovaecop,

yepdcop
E,

'A^^/V^a re irvpyov

oV avral irape^ovai
(pepo).

doiho^;,

/cal 609 efio<i ol/co<; virdp')(^L,

ie 6eol<=;

Pind. N.

10.

60

KaXXiaTov dochaL^
:

mss

avappif^as

mss

THEOCRITUS

XXll, 205-223

But neither was the other of Laocoosa's children

mother a wedded man at the hearth
For Idas of Messene^ he up with the
of his fathers.
standing stone from the grave of Aphareus and would
have hurled it upon the slayer of his brother^ but
Zeus was Castor's defence^ and made the wrought
marble to fall from his enemy's hands
for he
consumed him with the flame of his levin-bolt.
Ah 'tis no child's-play to fight with the sons of
Tyndareus they prevail even as he that begat them
to be seen of his

prevaileth.

Fare you well^ ye children of Leda

we pray
you may ever send our hymns a goodly fame. For
all singers are dear unto the sons of Tyndareus
and unto Helen and unto other the heroes who were
Menelaiis' helpfellows at the sacking of Troy.
Your
renown^, O ye princes^ is the work of the singer of
Chios, when he sang of Priam's town and of the
Achaean ships, of Troyan frays and of that tower of
the war-cry Achilles and here do I also bring your
;

souls such offerings of propitiation as the melodious

Muses do provide and

And

of

all

my

household

is

able to afford.

a God's prerogatives song

is

the

fairest.

275

XXIII.THE

LOVER

This poem, known

to the

to Theocritus,

was apparently

It

neglectful beloved.

The author

unrequited friendship led

the death

of

Latin poets, cannot he ascribed

sent hy

tells

how

to the suicide

the other at the

actual death

of a

statue probably gave rise to

of a hoy through

in

of the

hands of an

The

a lover
a

his

like case

one,

effigy

to

and

to

of Love,

the accidental falling

a folk-tale which

is

here

put into literary shape.

277

XXIIT. EPA2TH2
A.V7]p Ti? 7ro\v(f)iXTpo<; airrjveo^ r^paT

rav

i(j)d^Q}

aja0S)y tov 8e rpoirov ovickff opioior

fiicrei TOV ^CXeovTa kol ovSe ev apbepov el^e,
Kovfc ySec TOV "EpcoTa, tl^ &v ^ Oeo^; aXirca To'^a
Xepal KpaT ety 7r&)9 irt/cpa ^eXrj ttotI Tratyvia
juiopcpav

fSdXker
irdvTa he kolv jivOoKTi /cal iv TrpocroSocatv cLTecpij^;,
ovSe Ti Toyv irvpa&v irvpapvOiov, ovfc dpidpvyp.a
^etX609, ovK oaawv Xirrapov creXa?, ov poS6/j.a\ov,
ov X0709, ou%l (j)i\apa TO /covcfyi^ov^ tov epcoTa,
ola Se Orjp v\aLO<^ viroTTTevyat /cvvdyco^;,
ovT(o<; irdvT eTTOiTcoireL iirl ^ /SpOTOv
dypia S'
avTU)
^etXea /cal /ccopat heivov ^Xeiro^ ^^%o^ dvdyKa^'^
TO, he %oXa to irpoGwirov dpbeil3eT0, <^evye 8' aTro
Xpoo^

dXkd Koi ovtco^

Ka\6^' e^ opyd^ ^ epedi^eTo paXkov ipaaTd^,
XoiaOiov OVK 7]VLKe Tocrav (pXoya Td<;^ KvdpeLa<^y
dX>J e\9o)v efcXate ttotI aTvyvolac pLeXdOpoc^,
6 TTplv Tac<; 6pyaL<; irepifceipevov,^

rjv

E mss

^ ttotI Traiyvia E, the saevus iocus of

9)u
33. 12, cf. irphs 7)dou^y and Mosch. 1. 11 : Steph.
iroTiKoipdia, Ahr. ttotI koI Ala (see G.R. 1913, p. 5) : mss tzotX
^ Kovcpi^ou
^ iTroTrwTrei
mss -^ov, -C^iv, -^o/, -^et
Ttaibia
^

2)^

Hor. G.

1.

iirl

278

cf.

4. 7

mss

iiroUi

irorl

rhu

/SAeVos

e.

apdyKas

XXIII. THE

LOVER

There was once a

heart-sick swain had a cruel

the face of the fere goodly but his ways not
for he hated him that loved him^ and had
like to it
for him never a whit of kindness^ and as for Love,
fere^

what manner of God he might be or what manner of

bow and arrows carry, or how keen and bitter were
the shafts he shot for his delectation, these things
wist he not at all, but both in his talk and conversaAnd he gave no comfort
tion knew no yielding.
against those burning fires, not a twist of his lip, not
a flash of his eye, not the gift of a hip from the hedgerow, not a word, not a kiss, to lighten the load of desire. But he eyed every man even as a beast of the field
that suspects the hunter, and his lips were hard and
cruel and his eyes looked the dread look of fate. Indeed his angry humour made change of his face, and
the colour of his cheeks fled away because he was a
prey to wrathful imaginings. But even so he was fair
his wrath served only to prick his lover the
to view
;

more.

At

last

the poor

man would

a flame of the Cytherean, but

mss

Meineke

v&piv

rais opyais

field

mss

Qxiirov

TroTiKetjiiepos

Steph.: mss

S'

i^opiraa-'

e.
:

bear no more so fierce

went and wept before

apajKau

irplu

mss ras opyas

^

Ahrens

TrepiKeifxevov

mss

Wake-

^v Heinsius mss r)
i^ opyas
(p\6ya ras Eldik mss (paoraros
:

279

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Kvae rav

tcaX

" aypte

cjyXidv,

iral

\dive TTol

ovrco

S'

ydp

Katca^

crTvyve,

/cat

/cal pcoTO(;

(f>cova'

dvdOpe/jbfJia

dvd^ce, Scjpd rot rjXOov

\oia0ia ravra ^epwv, tov

ovKen

^p6')(ov'

c/jLov

ere

OeXco XvTrecv

fcSype

avreXXero

TroOopco/Juevof;,'^

aXXd

^aBi^co,

6v6a TV fiev Karefcpiva^i otttj \6yo<; rj/juev drapTrov

^vvdv ^ toIglv ipoocrCf to (pdp/nafcov evOa to \d6ov^^
Tjv
/cal
6\ov avTo Xa/Soov ttotI yelXo^;

dWd

d/jieX^co,

ovS* ovTCD<^ aj3eaacD tov ifiov ttoOov,^

Tolai

dpTi Se 'X^aipetv
olSa to fieX-

Tol<; 7rpo0vpoL<; irrtTeXXofjiai.^

Xov
TO poBov KaXov iaTC,

fcal

koX

y^povo^

avTo

fiapaivei*

Kol TO tov KaXov icTTiv iv eta pi kol Ta')(y jrjpa'

XevKov TO Kpivov icTTL, /juapaLveTac dvuK diravOel''^
J

he

X^^^

Xev/cd,

KaTaTdKeTai

dviic

eTriTrver^

KOI KdXXo^ /caXov eaTi to iraihiKov,

r/^ec fcatpo^ efceLvo<;,

oiraviKa

/cal

tv

dXX

oXtyov

(piXdcreL^;,

dvi/ca TCLV /cpaSuav oirTevfievo^; dXjjbvpd /cXavaeL<;,

dXXd TV

iral /cal tovto iravvcTTaTov

dhv

tl pe^ov*

oiTTTOTav e^eXOodv rjpTrnJievov iv irpodvpoicn

Tolcn TeolcTLV lSt]^; tov TXdfJbova, /jltj fie 7rapeX0rj<^,
aTaOi he /cal jSpa^v /cXavaov, e7ncnrei(ja<; he to

hdKpv
^

avriXKcro

E mss
:

arapirav ^vvhv

280

(fycoim

mss

'^

^ Trodopci^iLLevos
olvtcXopto (fxepal
^ arapTrhv ^vvav Toup
mss

to p)
\ddovs E:

7roxo\c!o/j.epos{\ corr.

mss Xados

iroOou

Mus

THEOCRITUS

XXIII, 19-39

that sullen house, and kissed the doorpost of

lifted

his voice saying "

up

cruel,

that wast nursed of an evil she-lion

which

unworthy to be loved

art all

come with the

last of

No

longer will

here go

my

gifts,

even

lo

go.

my halter.
of me but

this

lies

lovers

all

must travel, where

Yet if so be I take

and drink that physic up, every drop^ yet

quench the fever of my desire.
lo

am

here

whither you have condemned me, where

the sweet physic of oblivion.

And

and

O sullen child,
O boy of stone

vex you with the sight

they say the path

is

it,

shall I

not

now I bid this thy door farewell or ever

know what is to be. The rose is fair

and Time withers it, the violet is fair in the year s

the lily is
spring and it quickly groweth old
;

white,

it

fades

white the snow,

blows
is

warm

when

it

melts

and even

beautiful indeed, but

day

its

So

brinish tears.
last courtesy

man hanging
stay you

first

mss x^^^^
airauO7

mss

Kal T,

the beauty of a child

The
me, when
mine, and your eyes weep
shall love like

pray you, child, do

when you

me

this

one

come and find a poor

him not by but
and weep awhile for a libation upon
shall

at your door, pass

' az/fV
eTriTeWofiai Reiske
mss -/SdWoiuai
^ KarardKerai Wil
av. irlirrr) (see on 1. 32)
eViTri/et E, impersonal; see G.E. 1913, p. 6: mss
^

liveth not for long.

it

come when you

will

all

so,

your heart shall burn like

done and
away when the wind

flowering's

mss

waxOy

281

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Xvaov Ta9
eifiaTa

a^^oivco fxe /cal d/ji(pi6<;

Kpv^lrov

/cal

fie,

to

ifc

av

S'

peOewv acov
irvfiarov

/jL

(piXaaov

ra aa ^e^Xea.

fcav VKp(p ')(apiaat

ov hvvafJLai aiveiv

^ ere*

hiaXkd^ei<;

[xtj fxe

fie

cpo^aOfj^;'

^ikdaa^,

X^H"^ ^^ /^^^ K^oiXov TL^ TO />6u KpvyjreL top epcora,

^wt' dirirj^;, roSe jioi Tpl<; iirdvaov* ' o) cj^iXe Kelao^ ^
Tjv

Se

Kol TOVTO'

6eXr]<;,

KaXo<;

'

Se

fxoL

coXeO^

eracpo^.^

ypdyjrov

roSe

/cal

to

ypd/jL/jba,

(Tot<;

Toixptcn

Xapdo-aco*

TovTOV epco^ /CTivev. ohoiTTope, fir) 7rapoBvo-r)<;,

"
dXXd (jra? roSe Xe^ov djrTjvea el^ez^ eTalpov!
0)0 ecTTcov Xiuov etXev, epeiaajjievo^ o ein TOi^cp
'

dxpi

/Jiecrcov

aVTMV

ovSmv

XiOov aTrrer' dii

tpo^epov

Tap XeiTTav axptvlha, ^po^pv

S'

eve/SaXXe

Tpa-

X/iX(p,

Tav eopav o e/cvXiosv airai

iroooSy

^o

e/cpefiaaurf

V/cp6<;,

avT

cot^

Uvpa^

/cat

top P/cpop ecoep

avXd^ i^ iSia^ r^pTTjixepop, ovS' iXvyix^V

Tap yfrv^dp' ov /cXavae peov cj^opop, ouS'^ iirl

pe/cpo)

eifiaTa irdpT ifiuaipep (j)a^c/cd, j3alp S' e? aOXa ^

yvfipacTTCOP, /cal KrjXa ^ (piXcop eTrefJiaieTO XovTpcop.

Kal ttotI top 6eop rjXOe, top v^pLcre* Xacpeo^

^

fjLv

due

fflyeiv

Wil mss
:

282

Ahrens

mss

kolXov Tt or T^
to confusion with
x^pct^co

^
1.

X^*^'

44

aTTTer'

Se

(Mus.) Koi\ov n JL mss

mss kclv corr. from X'V
^ x^P^^^^
k7<to E mss Kelcrai
avrwv Mus
Mus mss diror*
'^

etv

^^

yuot

THEOCRITUS

XXIII, 40-59

him^ and then loosing him from the rope, put

about him some covering from your own shoulders
and give him one last kiss, for your lips will be welcome even to the dead. And never fear me
I
cannot do thee any mischief; thou shalt kiss and
Then pray thee make a hole in some
there an end.
earthy bank for to hide all my love of thee and ere
thou turn thee to go thy ways, cry over me three
times ^ Rest, my friend/ and if it seem thee good
cry also ^ My fair companion's dead.'
And for
epitaph write the words I here inscribe upon thy
;

wall

Here's one that died of love ; good 7vai/farer,

Stay thee and say his was a cruel fere J'
:

This said, he took a stone and set it up, that

dreadful stone, against the wall in the midst of the
doorway; then tied that slender string unto the
porch above, put the noose about his neck, rolled
that footing from beneath his feet, and lo he hung
a corpse.
Soon that other, he opened the door and espied
and his
the dead hanging to his own doorway
stubborn heart was not bended. The new-done
!

murder moved him not unto tears, nor would he be

defiling all his young lad's garments with a dead
corpse but went his ways to the wrestling-bouts and
;

betook himself light of heart to his beloved bath.

And so came he unto the God he had slighted. For
mss
'^

ou5'

avTov

Ahrens
mss Xaiv^as
:

i/^a\\

mss a\A'
mss ^dXco

or

c^^SaAAe Miis

ifxlaiv^v

e/cTjAa

Wil

E
:

mss
mss Ae
:

mss

ifxiai/eu
^^

e^SaAAe
cL0\a

\a'iueos

283

THE BUCOLIC POETS

tWar' CLTTO Kp7]iTlho<;
aXaro koI rcojaXfjia,
va/jia

S' (poLVi)(^Orj'

vhara'

/caKov
TratSb^

S*

tg3 S' e(f)virep6ev

ercTetvev

e^a^ov

S* 7rvd')(T0 (pcovd'

" ')(aipeT ToX (^iKeovT'^* 6 jdp fiiacov i^ovevOr],

aTpyT S' oi jJLiaevvTe^' 6 yap 0o<; olSe BcKci^etv,
^

284

m/xa Reiske

mss

ajua

THEOCRITUS

XXIII, 60-64

there stood an image of him upon the margin looking

towards the water. And lo even the graven image
leapt down upon him and slew that wicked lad ; and
the water went all red, and on the water floated the
voice of a child saying ^' Rejoice ye that love, for he
that did hate is slain and love ye that hate^ for the
God knoweth how to judge."
!

285

XXIV. THE LITTLE HERACLES

This Epic poem, unlike the Hylas,
It tells Jirst

how

to

artistic whole.

Hera

to

devour him, and next of the

which the seer Teiresias advised his mother Alcmena

peiform

told

an

the infant Heracles killed the two snakes

sent hy the outraged

rites

is 7iot

of

in order to avert her ivrath.

the education

of Heracles, and

off abruptly after an account

of

the

his diet

We

are then

poem
and

breaks

clothing.

Such a poem, however, would doubtless be acceptable

the Alexandrian court in the early years

was afterwards Ptolemy HI,

For

of

the child

at

who

the Ptolemies claimed

descent from Heracles,

2S7

XXIV. HPAKAI2KOS
^Hpa/cXia

Be/cd/jLTjvov

iovra ttox

KXKjjbTjva fcal vvktl vecorepov

cl

MiSeari?

^Icjyc/cXrja

Xovcraaa koI efJiiTXrjaaaa rydXaKTO^,

KareOrjKep 69 ddTrihay rav HrepeXdov

dfi(j}OTepov^
')(^a\Kiav

'AfjL(f)LTpvo)v

KCikov oifKov diTecrKvXevae iTea6vT0<^,

ditTopikva he <yvvd K6(j)aXd<; /uuvOijaaTO iraihwv

*'

evher i/xd I3pe(^ea y\vKpov

evhsT ifid

y^v^^^d,

hv

ical

dhe\(f)eol,

e^epaifxov virvov,

evaoa

oX^LOL evvd^oLade kuI oX^ioi dS)

reicva'

XicoiaOe,^^

adKO^ pbk^a* rov^ 8' eXa/3' vttvo<;.

djjio<; he arpe^erai p.eaovvicTLOv 9 hvaLv"A.pKTO^
^ripicova KUT avTOp, o S' d/ji(f>aLveL fjieyav S)/jlov,
rafjLO^ ap* alvd ireXcopa hvw TroXvfjLrj'X^avo^'^ilpr)
Kvaveacf; (f)piacrovTa^ viro cnreipaiai hpdKOvra^
0)9 (f>a/jLva hivacre

Sypaev
OLfcov,
Tft)

S'

irXarvv ovhov, 06c araOfid icolXa Ovpdcop

aTretXyaacra (f)ayeLP l3pe(^o<; 'HipafcXTJa,
eirl

^eiXva9ePTe<;

ai/JLo/36pov<; e/cvXcop*

iirl %^oz^l

dir

yacrrepa^; dficpco

ocpOaXficop Se Kaicop irvp

XdfXTrea/ce, fiapvv S* e^eirrvop lop,

dXX^ ore Srj TraiScop Xc'^fidofjiepoL ejyvOep rjXdop,
fcal TOT dp* i^eypoPTO, A609 PoeopTo<; aTrapTa,
^AXK/jb'^pa^ <^iXa TeKpa, <pdo<; S' dpd oIkop eTvyQi].
Y]TOi oy 6UC7U9 avaep, 07ra)9 icaKa urjpi apeypco
ep')(pfJLepoi<;

288

'iKoiade

mss

also Uoire

XXIV. THE LITTLE HERACLES

Once upon a time when the little Heracles was ten
months old^ Alcmena of Midea took him and Iphicles
that was his younger by a nighty and laid them,
washed both and suckled full, in the fine brazen
buckler Amphitryon had gotten in spoil of Pterelaiis,
and setting her hand upon their heads said ^^ Sleep
my babes, sleep sweetly and light; sleep, sweethearts,

Heaven prosper your

slumbering now and your awakening to-morrow."
And as she spake, she rocked the great targe till
they fell asleep.
But what time the Bear swings low towards her
midnight place over against the uplifted shoulder
of mighty Orion, then sent the wily Hera two
dire monsters of serpents, bridling and bristling
and with azure coils, to go upon the broad threshold of the hollow doorway of the house, with
intent they should devour the child Heracles.
And
there on the ground they both untwined their
ravening bellies and w ent writhing forward, while an
evil fire shined forth of their eyes and a grievous
venom was spued out of their mouth. But when
with tongues flickering they were come where the
children lay, on a sudden Alcmena' s little ones (for
Zeus knew all) awoke, and there was made a light in
the house.
Iphicles, he straightway cried out when
he espied the evil beasts and their pitiless fangs
brothers twain, goodly children.

289

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KOiKov vTTep

avathea^ elhev 6S6vTa<;,

crd/C6o<i fcal

ovXav he iroalv SieXd/CTtae yXaZvaVy

^\(^tK\er)^,

o S ivavTLO^ lero

(l>vj6fMP opjjLaivcov
'lLlpafc\e7](;, d/uicj}co

Se

^apel ipeSrjaaro

y^epalv

Seaficp,

Spa^dijivo^(j)dpvyo<^,To6L(f>dpjULa/caXvypdT6TVKTaL^
ov\o[jLevoL^ 6<picraLp,
TO) 8'

avT cnreipaKJiv

fcal 6eo\

e^OaipovTL.

eXtcraecrOrjv irepl iralha

oyjrLjopop jaXaOrjpop vtto rpocpfp alep dSafcpvp'

Be irdXip hieXvop, eVel jjuoyeotep aKapOa^^

ayfr

Secr/jLov

dpajfcaiov

^AXfcp.7}va

" dparaO'

Tretpco/jiepoL

eadfcovae

S'

e/cXvacp evpetp,

/3od<; /cat

^Api(j)LTpvcop' epue

eireypeTO^ nrpdra'

jdp Seo9 '^o-^et 6/cp}]p6v

adpSaXa 6Lrj<;,

dpara,
ovK dtei^, iraihwv 6 vecorepo^ ocrcrop dvrel;
rj ov poeei^, on vvktos dcopu irov, ol Se re Tol')(^oi
nrdpTe^ dpt^pahee^ KaOapas drrep ^ rjptjepeia^;
pLy]Se TroSecrcrc

eart tl

(})d6\

ft)9

Kara

p^oc

SacBdXeop

dpSpMP^

Scop^a pecorepov, earc (piX^

6^ evpd^ dXo^cp /care/Satpe

8'

S'

Teo?9 vTrb

iri6i]aa<;*

oypp^aae p^erd ^6^09, o ol virepOep

KXLPTrjpo<^ fceSpLPOu irepl TraacrdXo) alep dcopro.

7]T0i

oy wptypdro veo/cXdxTTov TeXafiMPO^,

K0V(f)i^a)p

erepa KoXeop, pueya Xcotcpop epyop,

dp^(j)LXa(pr}<^

dpa

S'

iracFTd^;

eveTrXi^aOrj

irdXtv

6p(f)pa<;'

SpLMa^ Srj TOT avcrep vttpop /3apvp e/c(f>vacopTa^'

**
ooaeTe rrvp otl Odaaop aTv eayapeMPO'^ eX6pTe<^,
S/xwe9 e/xo/*" (TTL^apois he Ovpdp dpeKO'xfraT^ 6)(fja<;.
^

'{(TO

Meineke

iireypero

aveKoxl/ar'

mss

Blass

mss

etx^^o

rnss also fTreSaa/xe

mss

also

uircp I>riggs

K^KpuTrrai
:

mss drep

ara/c.

290

THEOCRITUS XXIV,

25-49

above the target's rim^ and kicked away the woollen

but Heracles made
coverlet in an agony to flee
against them with his hands^ and griping them where
lies a baneful snake's fell poison hated even of the
Gods_, held them both fast bound in a sure bondage
by the throat. For a while thereat they two wound
their coils about that young child^, that suckling babe
but soon they
at nurse which never knew tears
relaxed their knots and loosed their weary spines and
only strove to find enlargement from out those
;

irresistible bonds.

Alcmena was the

first to hear the cry and awake.

Amphitryon," quoth she; '^'^for as for me
I cannot arise for fear.
Up then you, and tarry
not even till you be shod. Hear you not how
the little one cries ? and mark you not that all
the chamber-walls are bright as at the pure dayspring hour, though sure 'tis the dead of night?
^'^

Arise,

Troth, something, dear lord, is amiss with us." At

these her words he up and got him down from the
bed, and leapt for the damasked brand which ever
hung to a peg above his cedarn couch, and so reached
out after his new-spun baldric even as with the
other hand he took up his great scabbard of lotuswood. Now was the ample bower filled full again
of darkness, and the master cried upon his bondservants that lay breathing slumber so deep and loud,
saying "^ Quick, my bondservants bring lights, bring
lights from the brazier," and so thrust his stout
door-pins back.
Then ^^ Rouse ye^" quoth the
!

291

u 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

'*

av(TTaT6

Tj

S/ji(x)<;

rakacri^pove^, avro^ avrel,^'

pa ^vva ^oiviacra [ivKai^

ot

S'

eiri

50

koItov exovaa.

alyjra rrpoyevovTO \v)(yot<; d/jia SaiOfievotai

S/ic5e?*

ipeTrXyo-Or} Se Soyw-09 crTrevBoPTO^; e/cdaTOv,

^TOi ap

609

etoovT eiTiTiTUiov tipaKXrja

airaXalcnv eyovra^

Orjpe Svo) y^eipecraiv dirpl^

GVixifXrj'yhyv id')(7](jav* o

8' e?

irarep' ^AfjL(ptTpv(jotJa

epirera heiKavdaaicev, iiraXkeTO

S* {jy\r66L 'X^aipodv

Kovpocrvva, ^yekdaa^ he irdpo^ /careOy/ce vroSottv

iraTpo^ iov 6avdT(p KeKapwjxeva Secvd rreXcopa,

AXfc/jLTjva fiev eireira ttotX

acf^erepov /3d\6 koXttov 60

^7]pov virai Seuov^ d/cpo)(Xoov

^AfjitpLTpvcov Se

Tov

TralSa, irdXtv S* 69

aWov

^l(f)i/cXr]a'

vtt dfiveiav

XeKrpov

diro

loov i/jLvdaaro

')(Xa'lvav

koltov,

6p9pov deihov,
Teipeo-tav tg/cu fidpTCV aXaOea irdpra Xeyovra
^AXK[jbrjpa fcaXeaaaa 'x^peof;^ /careXe^e peox/^ov,
/cab PLv vTTOKpipeadac, ottco^ TeXeeaOai e/jteXXev,
''
rjpcoyeL'
fiyjS' el tl Oeol poeopn nropr^pop,
alSo/iiepo^ ifie Kpyirre' koI S)9 ovk ecmp dXv^ai
dpOpdiiTOi^i OTL yioipa /card /cXcocrTrjpo<; eVetye^.
dXX^ ^ JLvypetSa [idXa ae (ppopeopra StSdo-fcco.^^
Tocra eXeyep j3aaiXeta' o 8' dprafiei/Sero toloi<;'^
" Odpaei dpiaroToiceia yvpai, TLepcnfjlop al/na,
6pvi0<; TpLTOV dprt

Qdpaer
vol yap

rov

eo-'x^arov

70

/xeXX^oPTcop Se to Xoolop ep (ppeal Oecrao,^

ificop

yXv/cv <^eyyo<; diroLXoiJiepop irdXai

oaacop,
1

XP^os

cf.
'^

mss

also repas

aAA' Ahrens

mss fxdvn or

^ Beaao E,
Briggs mss tolws or ro'ios
Sappho 78 and Nicias A.F. 9. 564: mss Oiaeai or omit

fxavriv

ifioov

ToioLs

mss

e/j,hv

292

THEOCRITUS XXIV,

50-75

Phoenician woman that had her sleeping over the

the
rouse ye, strong-heart bondservants
master cries " and quickly forth came those bondservants with lamps burning every one, and lo all
the house was filled full of their bustling. And
when they espied the suckling Heracles with the
two beasts in the clutch of his soft little fingers, they
clapped their hands and shouted aloud. There he
was, showing the creeping things to his father
Amphitryon and capering in his pretty childish glee
tlien laughing laid the dire monsters before his
father's feet all sunken in the slumber of death.
Then was Iphicles clipped aghast and palsied with
fright to Alcmena's bosom, and the other child did
Amphitryon lay again beneath the lamb's- wool
coverlet, and so gat him back to bed and took up
mill^

^"^

his rest.

The cocks at third crow were carolling the break

of day, when he that never lied, the seer Teiresias,
was called of Alcmena and all the strange thing told
him.
And she bade him give answer how it should
Even though the Gods devise us
turn out, and said
'^*

for not
I pray you hide it not from me in pity
even thus may man escape what the spindle of Fate
But enough, son of Eueres verily
drives upon him.
At that he made the queen this
I teach the wise/'
Be of good cheer, O seed of Perseus, thou
answer
mother of noblest offspring be of good cheer and
lay up in thy heart the best hope of that which is
to come.
For I swear to you by the dear sweet
light that is so long gone from my eyes, many the
ill,

'^^

293

THE BUCOLIC POETS

iroWal
p^e^/ot

K^aiidh(jdv (jboKaKov irepl r^ovvari vrj/aa

KararpL^lrovo-iv aicpecrirepov aeihovcraL

^AXKfJLrjvav ovo/jbacTTLy a6^a<;

ear) ^ApyLaiai,

S'

Tolo^ avrjp ohe fxeWei e? ovpavov acTTpa (jyepovra

Teo9 U609,

dfJL/3aLVLV

cLTrb crrepvcov

TrXaru?

^^

rjpocf^,

ov KOI Orjpia irdvra koX dvepe^ i^aaove^ aXKoi,

BcoBeKa ol reXecravTC

ireTrpco/j^evov iv A.iQ<i oIklp

jjio^Oov^, OvrjTCi he iravra irvpa ^pa')(ivio^

7a////3po9

dOavdrcov

8'

^^^i^'

/ceKXijcreTat, oi rdh^ iircopaav

KVcohaXa (jycoXevovra /3pe(f)0<; SiaSrjXyaaadaL.

dWd yvvai nrvp jjuev rot viro (tttoSov evTVKOv eaTM,

Kd^Kava

dairaKdOov

S'

(-uX'

eTOifidaar

rj

85

88

ttoXc-

ovpov

^drov

^0

avov d')(phov*
Kale Se roiS' djpiaiaiv eirl a^L^acai BpdKOvre
vvKTi Ilea a, 6 tea iralha Kavelv reov r)6e\ov avroL

Tj

rjpt

he

dv/Jiqy hehovrjfjbevov

rj

avWe^aaa

pLyfrdrco ev

koviv irvpo^ dfKptiroXcov rc^

fidXa iraaav virep

irora/jLolo

pcoydSa<; eV Trerpa^ vTrepovptov,

a-v/r

(pepovaa

he veecrOco^

darpeTTTOf;' fcaOaprp he irvpcoaare hcopia Oeeiw

TTparov,

eTretra

h'

aXeaat

fiejuLiy/jLevov,

&)9

vevo-

fjbiGrai,

OaWtp emppaivecp
ZtjpI

S'

ecrre/ji/jbevcp ^

a/3Xa/3e9 vhcop*

eirippe^ai /cadvTreprepq)

dpaeva yolpoVy

hvo-jxeveaw alel KaOvireprepoi ay^ TeXeOoiTeT

^

oIk^Iv

Mus

iareixfiepcf}

294

mss

olKr\s

Schaefer

mss

-op

v^eaBca

Hermann mss
:

10
rie(T0ai

THEOCRITUS XXIV,

76-100

Achaean women that

as they card the soft wool

about their knees at even, shall sing hereafter of the
name of Alcmena, and the dames of Argos shall do
her honour of worship. So mighty a man shall in
this your son rise to the star-laden heavens, to wit a
Hero broad of breast, that shall surpass all flesh, be
they man or be they beast. And 'tis decreed that
having accomplished labours twelve, albeit all his
mortal part shall fall to a pyre of Trachis, he shall go
to dwell with Zeus, and shall be called in his
marriage a son of the Immortals, even of them who
despatched those venomous beasts of the earth to
make an end of him in his cradle. But now, my
lady, let there be fire ready for thee beneath the
embers, and prepare ye dry sticks of bramble, brier,
or thorn, or else of the wind-fallen twigs of the wild
pear-tree and with that fuel of wild wood consume
thou this pair of serpents at midnight, even at the
hour they chose themselves for to slay thy son.
And betimes in the morning let one of thy handmaids gather up the dust of the fire and take it to
the river-cliff, and cast it, every whit and very
carefully, out upon the river to be beyond your
borders and on her homeward way look she never
behind her next, for the cleansing of your house,
first burn ye therein sulphur pure, and then sprinkle
about it with a wool-wound branch innocent water
mingled, as the custom is, with salt and for an end
offer ye a boar pig to Zeus pre-eminent, that so ye
may ever remain pre-eminent above your enemies."
;

86

rovT di^ap, oirriviKa ve^phv iv evva

Kapxo-podcov aiveffQai l^iav Kvkos ovk idX7](Tt.

flffrai ^7]

These lines were rightly omitted

Christian interpolator.

by Briggs

as

due to a

29s

THE BUCOLIC POETS

05, Kol

i\e(pdvTtvov (pX^'^^ Sicppov

T.eipeaia<; iroWolcn j3apvs irep io)v ivcavrol^;,
}ipaKX67}<^ S' VTTO jxaTpl veov ^vtov o)? iv aXcod
Jipyetov fce/c\r)fiVO(; ^AficfyLTpvcovo^,
Tp(f)T
ypap/mara fxev top Tralda yepcov Au'o? i'^eScSa^eVy
p(orj(Ta<;

u/o9 'A7roXXft)z/o9 //-eXeScoi/eu? dypvirvo^

To^ov

evTavvaai

S'

Ei/yOf TO?

avrap

ypco^;^

/cal iirl afcoirhv elvac

olarov

Trarepcov /xeyciXatf; cKpveio^ apovpai^;,

i/c

cioihov eOrjfce /cal

djLt(f)0}

^J^lpa^ eirXaaae

TTV^iva V (pop/jLiyyi ^cXau./xopLSa<; FiV/jLo\7ro<;.

oaaa S* diro a/ceXecov ehpoarpo^oi 'Apyodev dvSpe^

dWaXov^ a(f>dWovat

oaad

iraXaLcr/jiao-Lv,

re

TTVKTai

d t e? yalav 7rpo7rea6iTe<;
e^evpovTO
cro^iafjiaTa av/jLcj^opa re^^'a,
ird/jL/jiaxoL
irdvT ejJbaO^ ^Kpfjuelao SiSaa/co/jievo^ irapd irathl
^ApiraXv/c^ ^avorfj, top ouS' dp rr/XoBe Xevcrawv
OapcraXecof; rt? efieipep deOXevoPT ip dycopr
Seivol iv l/JbdvTacnPy

-^

TOLOP iTTiaKVPLOp ^Xoavpcp eireKeiTO

tTTTTOU?

S'

e^eXdcraadat

vcf)''

irpocrcoiTtp.

dpjjLart,

koX

rrepl

vvaaap
da(f)aX0)<; /cdfjUTrropra

Tpo^pv avpiyya

(j^vXd^at,

'AfKptTpvcop OP nralha (j>iXa cfypopeoop iSiSa^ep

avTO^y eireX pudXa iroXXa Oocop i^ rjpar dycovMP
"Apyei ip lirTro^oTcp KeifirjXia, kol ol dayel^;
Sicfypoiy

Sovpan

icj)

MP

iiTe^aiPy

he Trpo^oXaicp

XpovM SteXvaap l/jbdpTa<;.

daTTihi pmtop e^opra

vir''

ope^aadat ^K^ewp t dpkx^f^QcLi dpuvxP'OP,

fcocTfJLrjaai re (pdXayya Xo^op r dpa/jbTp7]o-acr0at
dp8po<;

8vcr/jiPCt)p

296

iirtopTa /cal ImTrjeaat /ceXevcrac

(ro(pi(TiJ.ara

Meineke

mss

itaKaiajxara

THEOCRITUS XXIV,

101-128

So spake Teiresias, and despite the weight of his

years, pushed back the ivory chair and was

many
gone.

And Heracles, called now the son of Amphitryon

of Argos, waxed under his mother's eye like a
sapling set in a vineyard.
Tetters learned he of a
guardian,
Hero,
son of Apollo, aged
sleepless
a
Tinus ; and to bend a bow and shoot arrows at the
mark, of one that was born to wealth of great
domains, Eurytus and he that made of him a singer
;

and shaped his hand to the box-wood lyre, was

Eumolpus, the son of Philammon. Aye, and all
the tricks and falls both of the cross-buttockers
of Argos, and of boxers skilly with the hand-strap,
and eke all the cunning inventions of the catch-ascatch-can men that roll upon the ground, all these
things learnt he at the feet of a son of Hermes,
Harpalycus of Phanote, whom no man could abide
confidently in the ring even so much as to look upon
him from aloof, so dread and horrible was the frown
that sat on his grim visage.
But to drive horses in a chariot and guide the nave
of his wheel safely about the turnpost, that did Amphitryon in all kindness teach his son himself; for he had
carried off a multitude of precious things from swift
races in the Argive grazing-land of steeds, and Time
alone had loosed the harness from his chariots,
seeing he kept them ever unbroken.
And how
to abide the cut and thrust of the sword or to lunge
lance in rest and shield swung over back, how
to marshal a company, measure an
advancing
squadron of the foe^, or give the word to a troop of

297

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KdcTayp lirireXaTa^^ SeSaev,
oTTiToica icXapov

valy irap

K.daropc

aWo^

ovtl^

S*

erjv irplv

fxeya TuSeu?

1'

ojjloIo^ ev rj/jbcffeoc^ iro\/JLLcrTrj<;

y^pa<; diroTpl^^rai veorrjra,

^YipaKXrja (piXa TracSevo-aro fidrr/p,

S' -^9 T(p

iepjjba

fcal olvonrehov

eXOoWy

W.hp7](JTOio \a/3(i)v lirTTTJXarov "Apyo<;,

ftiSe fjLV

evva

airavTa

(f)vja<; ''Apyo<;

rratSl rervjiJieva

dyyoQi iraipo^

Xeovreiov jxaka ol Ke'^apiaixevov avT(p,

helirvov he icpear
Aa)pLfc6<;'

oTrra, icaX iv fcaveo)

d(T(f)a\CjO(;

jiiya<;

dpTO<;

kg (^vroaKdc^ov dvSpa KOpea-

aar
aurdp

eir

dp^ari tvvvov dvev 7rvpo<; alvvro hopirov,

eijJiaTa S' ovic dcncrjid

1

mss

iTTTreAaras

E: mss

jjuecra^^

li^TvaXioas

vTrep gpvvto Kvdfxa<^,

^

KpUi" E;

cf. 11. 12.

311

Kjoeo t*

293

<

THEOCRITUS XXIV,

129-140

such lore had he of horseman Castor^

Tycleus
had received that land of horsemen from Adrastus and
held all Castor's estate and his great vineyard. And
his youth^
till such time as age had worn away
Castor had no equal in war among all the demigods.
While Heracles' dear mother thus ordered his
upbringing, the lad's bed was made him hard by his
father's, and a lion-skin it w^as and gave him great
horse-

all

when he came an outlaw from Argos because

was roast flesh, and

he carried a great Dorian loaf such as
might surely satisfy a delving man, but after the
day's work he would make his supper sparely and
without fire and for his clothing he wore plain
and simple attire that fell but a little below the
delight

for meals, his breakfast

in his basket

knee.

299

XXV. HOW HERACLES SLEW THE LION

This Ejnc jjoem comprises three
which

still

heai's

its

separate

fragment, hut pretends

'^hooks'' taken

The

little.

first part,

first with

a description of the great

is

the

old

man

put

into

ploughman of whom

Heracles has asked where he can find the king

old

or

same whose

stahles Heracles at another time cleaned out

garrulous

co7icerned

J arm of Augeias

Augeas, king of the Epeians of Elis

in

which hears the traditional stage-

Heracles to the Hiisbandman_,

moidh oj

to be three

from an Odyssey^ or rather Heracleia^

direction

the

It is not ideally

title.

a literary convention

(yy

one of

distinct parts,

then the

undertakes to show the mysterious stranger the

way, and as they draw near the homestead they have a

Homeric meeting with

part hears the

how
child

the

title

The

and

his son

The

harking dogs.

Visitation.

enormous herd of

Augeas returned

the king

the

cattle given

in the evening

In

it

we are

hy the Sun

from

seco7id

to his

pasture,

Phyleus took Heracles

told

to see

how
the

busy scene in the farmyard, and how Heracles encountered

30Q

THEOCRITUS XXV
the finest hull in the whole herd.

has no traditional

kings

son, is on his

title,

way

Heracles, accompanied
to the

tion leads to Heracles' telling

lion.

There

is

In the third part, rvhich

by the

town, and their conversa-

how he slew

the Neynean

no ancient authority for ascribing the

'poem to Theocritus.

3CI

XXV. [HPAKAH2 AEONTO<l>ONOS]

Top

o yepoyp Trpoaeeiire ^ocop eiriovpo^

S'

aporpev^

Travcrd/jLepo^ epjoiOf to ol yu-era ')(epalv /clto'

'

TOL ^elve TTpocjipcov /jLvdrjao/jbat oacr epeetvei^,

/c

'Fjpfieo) d^6/jbV0^ Seivrjv ottlv elvoSioio-

Tov ^dp (j^acn jjieyto-TOv eTTovpavicov Ke')(o\o)a6aLy

oSov t^aj(^peLov dv7]vrjTai tl^ 6Slt7]v.

ei tcev

TToliJLvai jiiev

ov

TTctcrac /Socr/covrat

aXX' dl
at
ai

/SaatXrjo^ evTpi')(e<;

S'

pLev

pa

tav ^oatv

vepuovraL iir

Upov Oeloio Trapd poop

ovK eva

6')(j9ai^

yo^pov*

EilXiaaovro^}

'AXc^e^oto,

Rovirpaaiov TToXvjBoTpvo^, at he

S' iirl

Se arpcoi

yjiipl's

Avyelao

(jcjji

avrdp /SovKoXiotaL
iravTeaaiv vopLol
Mr/piov dpi pbeya

icaX coSe*

TTvyp.voL elcrlv /cdcrTac<;,

7repi7r\r]9ovai rrep

c5Se reOrfKoTe^ aiev

Tl(po<;, iirel

iJL7rrj<^

eacn

pLeXirjSea ttoltjv

OaXeOovatv virohpoaoi elapievai re

et9 aXt^y fj pa jSoeaai /.tepo^ fcepafjaiv de^et.
avXi^ he acptatv 7]Be re/)? eVl Se^ici '^ecpo'^
(paiperai ev pudXa irdaa ireprjp iroTapiolo peoPTO^
Xeip^ayve^

(ceiprj,

oOi TrXardpiCTTOL eTrrjeraval 7re<pvacrt

T dypteXalo^, ^AttoXXcopo^ po/jLloio

lepop dypop, ^elpe, re^ciordroLO deolo,
evdv^ Se crraOpLol 7repipbrjKee<; dypoidoTai^
j(Xcop7)

302

Yslkiaaovros

Meiueke

mss d^^' kKiaovvros

XXV. [HOW HERACLES SLEW THE LION]

And the old ploughman that was set over the kine
ceased from the work he had in hand^ and answered
Sir^ I will gladly tell you all you ask
him^ saying
Trust me^ I hold the vengeance of Hermes
of me.
for they say
o' the Ways in mickle awe and dread
he be the wrathfullest God in Heaven an you deny
a traveller guidance that hath true need of it.
King Augeas' fleecy flocks^ good Sir, feed not all of
one pasture nor all upon one spot, but some of them be
tended along Heilisson, others beside divine Alplieus'
sacred stream, others again by the fair vineyards of
Buprasium, and yet others, look you, hereabout and
each flock hath his several fold builded. But the
herds, mark you, for all their exceeding number, find
all of them their fodder sprouting ever around this
great mere of river Menius for your watery leas and
fenny flats furnish honey-sweet grass in plenty, and
that is it which swells the strength of the horned
kine.
Their steading is all one, and 'tis there upon
your right hand beyond vv^iere the river goes running
again there where the outspreading platans and the
fresh green wild-olive. Sir, make a right pure and
holy sanctuary of one that is graciousest of all Gods,
Apollo o' the Pastures. Hard by that spot there are
builded rare and roomy quarters for us swains that
^'^

goes running again

'

after leaving the mere.

THE BUCOLIC POETS

^aatXrji iroXvv koX aOeac^arov o\/3op
airopov ev veiolaiv
eaO ore ^aSXovTe<=; kol TeTpairoXoLcnv o/jlolco^;,
ovpov^ /jltjv tcracn ^VToaKaipot dfiTreXoepyoL,^
9 \rjvov<; 8' iKvevvrat, iir-qv Oepo^; oyptov eXOrj.
SeB/JLTjvO^ oi

pvofJieS* vSv/ceco<;, TpLiroXoi^

irav

yap

Srj

TreSiov toS' eTTLcfypovof; Kvyeiao,

iTvpo(j)6poi T

yvai

kcCi

oKodoX hevhprjeaaatf

eV

ec-^ar^a? iTo\vTTihaKO<^ 'KKpcctpeivj^;,

epjoiatv iiTOi')(oiJie9a Trpoirav rjfjbap,
Tj Slkt] ol/C7]Q)v, olaiv /Sea eirXer'' eir
dypov.
av irep pot evcaTre, to rot /cat /cepStov avrS)
eaaerac, ovtlvo<; aySe K6^pr]iJLevo<^ elXrjXoidaf;,
r]e TL Avyeirjv rj kol ipiwwv nva Keivov
CL^eat, OL 01 eaacv ; eyoo be Ke rot aacpa log}^
iTciVTa pbdX! e^eiiroipb,^ in el ov a eye (p7]/,u /cafccov e^
ejjipiepai ouSe Kafcolaiv eoifcora (pv/ubevai avrov,
olov TOO fieya elho^ iirtTTpeTrei, rjpd vv iralhe^
ddavdrcov rocoiSe pberd dvrjTolcrtv eaat/
TOP S' dirapjeil^ojJLevof; Trpoaechrj A^09 a^ (cljjlo^;
/jL)(pL<;

a9

r]iJiei<;

dWa

f r

ViO^'

val yepov Kvyeirjv eOeXoipii icev dpyov ^KireLcov

tov ydp p.e /cal iqyayev ev6dSe '^pecco,
el S' o puev dp fcard darv puevei irapd olcrt TroXiTat^
'

elacBeeiv'

Srjp.ov /cr]86pVO<;,
8fico(ov Sj]

eV

ocTTi^
c /ce

TLva irpecrl^v av jjuol (fypdaov

r)yep.ovev(ja<=;,

dypcJov rcovSe yepatrepo^ aiav/jLvrJTTji;,

TO pep

eiTTOL/jiCy

to

S' esc

(pap^evoco 7rv6oip.r]V.

dXXov eOrjtce 6eo<; iinSevea (pcoTcov.^

TOP S* 6 yepcop e^avTt^ d/nei/SeTO Sio<; dpoTpev^,
dOapaTCOP o) ^ecpe (ppaSf) tipo^ epOdK Udpec^;,

dXXov
'

Sid Se /cpivovcrc de/jicara';,

8'

OLixtriXoepyol

Wil

mss

oi

iroXvepyoi

mss

also arpe/cecys

THEOCRITUS XXV,

24-5^

keep close watch over the king's so much and so

marvellous prosperity aye, we often turn the same
fallows for the sowing three and four times in the
;

year.

And as for the skirts of this domain, they are

the familiar place of the busy vine-planters, who
come hither to the vintage-home when the summer
draweth to its end. Yea, the whole plain belongeth
unto sapient Augeas, alike fat wheatfield and bosky
vineyard, until thou come to the uplands of Acroreia
and all his fountains and in this plain we go to
and fro about our labour all the day long as behoveth
bondsmen whose life is upon the glebe.
But now pray tell me you. Sir, as 'faith, it shall
;

be to your profit what it is hath brought you hither.

Is your suit of Augeas himself, or of one of the
bondsmen that serve him ? I may tell you, even I,
all you be fain to know, seeing none, I trow, can be
of ill seeming or come of ill stock that makes so fine
a figure of a man as you. Marry, the children of the
Immortals are of such sort among mortal men."
To this the stalwart child of Zeus answered, saying '' Yea verily, gaffer, I would look upon Augeas
the king of the Epeians
that which brings me
hither is need of him.
And so, if so be that caring
for his people he abideth with them at the town to
give judgment there, pray, father, carry me to one
of the bondsmen that is elder and set in authority
over these estates, unto whom I may tell what my
suit is and have my answer of him.
For 'tis God's
will that one man have need of another."
And the gallant old ploughman answered him
again ^^ Sure one of the Immortals, Sir," saith he.
:

30s

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ft>9

TOL rrdv o OeXec^; al^}ra %peo9 i/crereXearai,

yap

(5Se

Avyelrj^;, vlo^ (j)iXo<; ^HeXioio,

a(f>coiTep(p (Tvv TracSi, [3irj ^v\fjo<;

')(dt^o^

y el\rfkov6ev

fCTTjaiv eTTO-^oiJievo^i

W9

dyavov'
7roWo2(;

dir^ daT0<;, rj/jLacn

rj

dypcov

ol vr/ptd/jio^ iir

TTOv KoX ^acTiXevaiv eeiherai ev (ppecrlv

avTOL<; /crjSo/bievotcTt aaoorepo^ efifjievai

aXX!

tojiev

aiiXiv

jxaXa irpo^ fjnv

e<^' rj/jLerepTjVy

tva

jjcrip

6lico<^,

eyoo Se rot rjye/jLOvevao)

tcev reTfioi/iev avafcra.^

0)9 elu'cov 7]yLT0, v6(p S'

oy ttoXV

ifjuevoiva,

Sepfia re 6r]po^ opcov ')(ipOTT\rf6rj re Kopvvr^Vy

oiTiroOev 6 ^elvo<^* jxepbovei
a-v^
fjirj

Be jiiv alev

epeaOar

OKVCp ttotI ^6^X09 i\d/jL/3av fJuvOov lovra,

ov Kara Katpov

Tt ol

(nT6p')(o[jLevov*

eiTo<^

^dXeirov

S*

TTpoTC/JLvdycratTO

erepov

voov

cS/neiai

dvhp6<;,

Be

TO't'9

/cvpe<;

dTToirpoBev

irpocTLovTaf;

alv^'

ivor](jav,

diK^oTepov

oBfJbf}

OeanTeaiov

S'

re %/5009 Sovtto) re iroholtv,

vXdovre^; e^rreSpapLov

dWoOev a\Xo9

Wp.(piTpvcovtdSrj ^Upa/cXei' top Be yepovra

d')(^pelov

T0U9

/cXd^op re irepicro-aivov

piev

oye Xdeaatv diro ^^Oovo^ oaaov delpcov

(pevyefiep dyjr ottlcto) BeiBiaaeTO)

7]7rei\eL

fjLefjLoi^ei

S'

Be

(pcovjj

vXaypcov,

av\ip epvvTO
oye tolop eeiirep'

rjcnv, oOovpeicep

avTOv y ov Trapeopro^'
306

Tpr]')(^v

/adXa irdaip, iprjTVcracrKe

^atpcop ip (ppealp

erepcodev.

e7ro9 S'

Buttmann: mss

ixe/jLOivCf

fx^nove, fxefJLaev

THEOCRITUS XXV,

53-77

hath sent you this way, so quickly come you by

you would. Augeas child of the Sun is here, and
that piece of strength, his son the noble Phyleus,
with him. 'Twas only yesterday he came from the
town for to view after many days the possessions he
hath without number upon the land. For in their
hearts, 'faith, your kings are like to other men they
wot well their substance be surer if they see to it
themselves.
But enough go we along to him. I
will show you the way to our steading, and there it
is like we find him."
With this he led on, musing as well he might
concerning the skin of a beast he saw the stranger
clad in, and the great club that filled his grasp,
and whence he might be come
aye, and was
minded and minded again to ask him right out, but
ever took back the words that were even upon his
tongue, for fear he should say him somewhat out of
for 'tis ill reading
season, he being in that haste
the mind of another man.
Now or ever they were come nigh, the dogs were
quickly aware of their coming, as well by the scent of
them as by the sound of their footfalls, and made at
Heracles Amphitryoniad from this, that, and every
side with a marvellous great clamour
and the old
man, they bayed him likewise, but 'twas for haying's
sake, and they fawned him about on the further side.
Then did gaffer with the mere lifting stones from off
the ground fray them back again and bespake them
roughly and threateningly, every one, to make them
give over their clamour, howbeit rejoicing in his
heart that the steading should have so good
defenders when he was away and so upspake and
^^

all

307

THE BUCOLIC POETS

*

iroTTOLy GLov

6t)

TOVTO Osol

djjpLov avOpooirotai
6i ol

Kol

fjhei

8\

(ppeve^;

ovK av ol

re

/jiT/ji/jb6vaty ct)9 7TCfJirj0^^

wSe

')(^pr]

drjpoyv

vorjfjbove^

pa,

evhoOev rjaav,

yaXeiTaivki.Lev
Tt<;

oS

ihr^piaev irepl

vvv Se Xir]v ^dfcoTov re

rj

TTOLTjcrav avaKT<;

t6 Ka\

ovtci,

ti/jltj^;'

/cat dpprjvhs ^yever

avrod^^

eaavjxevo)^ ttotl ToyvXtov l^ov l6vT<;.

fcai

EninnAHsn
HeXto?

fiP eireira ttotL ^6(f>ov

heiekov rjfiap dyojv* rd

etc jSoTavrff:;

avrap

dvLovra

eTrecra /3o9

erpaTtev^ Xttttov^

errrjXvOe iriova fjurfka

avXta re arjKov<^ re.

[idXa pbvpiat dXXat iir aXXai<;
fjuer

ip^ofievao <f)aLvov6 cocrel vecjyi] vSaroepra,

dcrcra t eV ovpav(p elatv eXavvojjLGva Trporepcocre
9}e voTOto ^irj rje %pr]fco<^ jSopeao'
Toyv fzev T

ovTL^ dpidfib^; ev

rjepi

ylveT lovrcov,

dwat^' Tocra ydp re /.teya TTporepoiai /cvXivSet

dvefiov, rd Se t' dXXa fcopvacreTac avTC<; eir

ovS*
t<;

dXXoi^'

Toaa
Trdv

alel pberoTncrOe /Socov eirl

S'

X77/S09

dp

arelvovTO Se

ep)(^oiievr]<;y

/jLV/crjOfxa)'

(TTjfcol

fjuev

ela-Trj/cet
^

308

ovn^

Kar avXd<;

dypol

r]vXi^0PT0.

fC7]Xo<; dTrecpecr ioyv

irapd ^ovalv dvrjp

eTTijUT^Oes

iriove^;

yei,

KeXevOot

Se ^ocop pela TrXy a 6 rj a av

elXiTToScoVy ole^ Se

evOa

BovkoXl

iveTTXrjcrOr} irehlov, Trdorat Se

Musurus

mss

irep eovrcop

Ke')(p7]/jbevo<;

-Oevs

epyov*

^ irpairev

Mus

mss

THEOCRITUS XXV,
said

'^

Lord

what a

78-101

fiery inconsiderate

])east is

If
here made of the high Gods to be with man
there were but as great understanding within him,
and he knew with whom to be angered and whom to
forbear, there's no brute thing might claim such
honour as he but it may not be, and he's nought
but a bhisterer, wild and uncouth." This said, they
quickened their steps and passed on and came to the
!

steading.

The

Visitation

Now had the sun turned his steeds westward and

brought evening on, and the fat flocks had left the
pastures and were come up among the farmj^ards
and folds. Then it w^as that the cows came thousand
upon thousand, came even as the wateiy clouds
which, be it of the Southwind or the Northwind out
of Thrace, come driving forward through the welkin,
till there's no numbering them aloft nor no end to
their coming on, so many new doth the power of the
wind roll up to join the old, row after row rearing
in like multitude now came
crest ever upon crest
those herds of kine still up and on, up and on.
Aye, all the plain was filled, and all the paths of it,
with the moving cattle the fat fields were thronged
and choked with their lowing, and right readily were
the byres made full of shambling kine, while the
sheep settled themselves for the night in the yards.
Then of a truth, for all there were hinds without
number, stood there no man beside those cattle idle
for want of aught to do
but here was one took

"fiery inconsiderate": the Greek word means

see Glass. Rev.
;

acts first and thinks afterwards

one that

THE BUCOLIC POETS

aXX

fiev afjLcjA TroSecrcrtv ivTjUTjroto-iv IfiacTL

/caXoTTeSiX" apapidfce Trapao-raBov iyyv<; ajueXjetr,

aXXo9

S'

av vea reKva <^i\a^

TTtvejuLevac

aXXo9
aXXo9

Xapolo

dWo<^

ecTTJyev ecrco Tavpov<;

A.vyeiri<^ 8' eirl

Tp6(pe iriova rvpov,

Bix^

OrjXeidcov,

7rdvTa<^ loov Orjetro /SoavXov^,

rjVTLvd ol /credvcov /cojuicSyv iriOevTo

(Tvv S' Ufc09 re

tet

irdyxv ydXa/cro'^,

/jbejuaoTa

d/jioXytov e2%',

viro /Jbrjrepa^;

vo/jurjeiif

re ^apv(j>povo^ 'Hpa/cXrjo^;

/3irj

ayfjidprevv fSaaiXriL Step'xopievcp fieyav oXjBov,

evOa Kol dppTjKTov

^Afi(f)LTpvcovcdSri<;

irep e^cov ev aTrjOeai Ovpjjv

kol dpTjpora

efcirdyXw^; davpia^e 6eov

vo)X/Ji<;

roye pLVplov ehvov

ov ydp kv e^aaKe

elcropocov.

alel

tl<;

ovSe

idotXirei

avopo<; Xrjio evo<^ roaarjv epuev ovoe beic aXXcov,

oXre iToXvpprjve^ irdvrayv eaav k jSacnXrjwv,

lieX^09 o

ft)

Tracoi

Toy e^o^pv

odnracre ocopov,

d(f)PLov pbrjXoi^ rrepl irdvTcov epupbevai dvSpcov,

pd

fcai

ol avTb<; 6(f)XX SiapLTrepeco^;

9 TeXo9*

OL'

pLv

ydp

^ord irdvra

eTrrjXvOe vov(JO<; eKeivov

tl<;

^ovKoXioL^, air epya KaTa^Oeipovcn

^ vopUTJcop,

alel Be irXeove<^ /cepaal jBoe^, alev dpbeivov<;

ef 6X609 yivovTO pudX eU ero^' fj ydp diraaat

^cooTOKOL T rjaav ireptcocna OtjXvtokol t.
rat^ Se rptrj/cocnQc ravpot avvdpu eaTixooyvTO
fcvrjpbapyob 6^ eXiKe<; t6, SorjKoo-toL
^

thus

deS>u

Mus

mss

<pi\a.is

^ KaracpOeipova-L

virh fi-nrpdcriv

Mus

mss

ye puev dXXot
"^

-(pOivovffi

deov

Wil

mss

THEOCRITUS XXV,

102-127

thongs cut straight and true and had their feet to

the hobbles for to come at the milking here was
another took thirsty yeanlings and put them to drink
of their dams' sweet warm milk this ag^tin held the
milking-pail^ and that did curd the milk for a good
fat cheese^ and yonder was one a-bringing in the bulls
Meanwhile King Augeas
apart from the heifers.
went his rounds of the byres to see what care his
herdsmen might have of his goods and through all
that great wealth of his there went with him his son
alsO;, and deeply pondering^ Heracles in his might.
And now_, albeit he was possessed within him of a
heart of iron ever and without ceasing unmoved^ the
child of Amphitryon fell marvellously a-wondering,
as well he mighty when he saw the unnumbered
Indeed^ no man would have
bride-gift of the God.
said_, nay_, nor thought^ that so many cattle could
and those ten
belong to ten men_, let alone one
must needs have been rich in sheep and oxen beyond
any kings. For the Sun did give him that was his
child a most excellent gift^ to wit to be the greatest
and what is more^
master of flocks in the world
himself did make them all to thrive and prosper
unceasingly without end^ for of all the distempers
that destroy the labours of a keeper of oxen never
came there one upon that man's herds^ but rather
did his horned dams wax ever year in year out both
more in number and better in kind^ being never
;

known

to cast their young and all passing good

bringers of cow-calves.
Moreover there went with them three hundred
bulls^ white-shanked and crump-horned^ and other

3ti

THE BUCOLIC POETS

aSXoL

8'

av

fjuera

lepoi ^HeXiOLO'

rolcn SvcoSeKa /Sov/coXeovro

^' ^<^clv

XP^V^

yvre kvkvol

15

apy7]a7ai, iraatv he jmeTeTrpeTTOv eiXiirohecrcnv*

ot KoX aTifjiayeXai ^octkovt ipcdrjXea Troirjv
ev vopLcp, ft)S' efcirayXov eirl a(pLcn yavptocovTO,^
fcat

p o'KOT

i/c

Xaaioio 0ool nrpoyevoiaTO Oype^

69 irehiov Spv/jioto j3oo)v eveK

TTpcoTOL Toiye fid^V^he

Kara

aypopbevdoyVy"
%/3009 jjeaav

oSfi'ijv,

heivov 8' i^pv^/j^vTo (j)6vov Xevacrov t TrpocrcoTro),

TMV

[lev

re Trpocpepea/ce

l3i'r)(l)L

re kol aOevel

^aeOcov /xeya?, ov pa /3oTr]pe^

darepL Trdvre^ elaKov, oOovveKa iroXXov ev dXXoc;
virepoirXirj

r/S*

14

iBovalv Icbv XdpLTrea/cev, dpi^rjXo<; S' erervKTO,

09

St]

rot o'fcvXo<;

avov

IScov ^^^p^^'^oco

Xeovro^

avT(p enreLT eiropovaev evaicoTTcp 'Hpa/cXTJc

^pi/jiyjraadaL ttotI
irXevpd Kaprj arcfiapov

re

fiercoTTov.

Tov

fiev

dva^

irpocrtovTo^;

eSpd^aro %6/pl

irax^^J]

aicaiov dcfyap tcepao^, KaTa 8' avyeva vepO^ eirl yatrj^^

fcXdcrae /Sapvv irep eovTa, irdXtv 8e p^iv &aev ottlo-ctco

MfKp eTTL(3piaa^' 6 he

oi irepl

vevpa ravvadeh

e^ VTrdroto ^pa^iovo^ 6pdb<; dvecrrT].

OavjJba^ev 8' avTo^ re dva^ vlo^ re hat(^poyv
^vXev<^ oX T eiTi j^oxjol Kopcoviai /Sov/coXol av8pe<;,
^ AfjLcj^LTpvcovLdhao ^irjv virepoirXov ihovre^.
fjbvoyv

Tft) S* 69

icFTLX^Trjv,
^

mss

ixay4\ai

.312

dcTTV Xiirovre

^vXev<; re

^lt) 6^

also yavpiowvres
(1.

132)

cf.

Od.

Kar avroOt

HpaKXijeLT],

ay pofx^vdoov E, opposed to ari3 which the writer had befor

16.

irlova^ dypov<;

15

THEOCRITUS XXV,

128-154

two hundred dun^ and all leapers grown and over

and above tliese^ there was a herd of twelve sacred
to the Sun^ and the colour of them glistering white
;

they did outshine all shambling

more, they were lone-grazers
all in the springing pastures, so marvellous proud
were they and haughty and the same, when swift
beasts of the field came forth of the shag forest
after the kine that went in herds, ever at the smell
of them would out the first to battle, bellowing
dreadfully and glancing death.
Now of these twelve the highest and mightiest
both for strength and mettle was the great Lucifer,
whom all the herdsmen likened to that star, for that
going among the other cattle he shined exceeding
and this fellow, when he
bright and conspicuous
espied that tanned skin of a grim lion, came at the
watchful wearer of it for to have at his sides with his
great sturdy front. But my lord up with a strong hand
and clutched him by the left horn and bowed that
his heavy neck suddenly downward, and putting his
shoulder to't had him back again and the muscle of
his upper arm was drawn above the sinews till it
And the king marvelled, both he
stood on a heap.
and his son the warlike Phyleus, and the hinds also
that were set over the crump-horned kine, when
they beheld the mettlesome might of the child of
Amphitryon.
like a swan, so that

things

and what

is

Then
the fat
him

at

did Phyleus and Heracles the might} leave

behind them and set out for the town.

fields

11.

68

fF:

mss

ayporepdcov (or Trporepdoop)^ but the cattle

were not wild,

313

THE BUCOLIC POETS

\aocj)6pov

S'

iire^rjaav o9l Trpcorco-ra KeXevOov,

XeTTTrjv icapTTaXifJLOiab Tpi/3ov ttoctIv i^avvaavT<;,

pa

?;

a/jL7r\a)V0<; airo araOfjiOiv

St

ouTt XiTjv
rfj jjllv

apa

Avyetco
rjfca
'

irpocrieiTre Alo<;

(J)lXo(;

vlb^

Wev

rev a

yovov mfrio-TOLO

ixeroTTiaOev lovray^

irapaickiva^ Ke4>dXrjv

^elvey irakat

reravvG-TO

iv v\r} '^Xcopa lovaa,^

apiai'ifjio'^

Kara Se^cov
aeOev

7Tdy)(y

Sy/iov
irepi

fxvOov

aK,ovcra^
0)9, elirepy^

acfyeriprjcnv ivl

(fypecrl

/SdWo/jLat aprt,

rfkvOe yap arei'X^cov rt? cltt^ ''Apyeo^; ft)9 veov aK/jirjv^

V0dS^ 'A;^ai09 dvrjp 'EAi/c?;9 i^ dyx^idXoio,
09

S?7

TOi jjuvOeiTo Ka\ iv irXeoveaaiv 'ETreiwi/,

ovve/cev \f^pyi(i)v tl^ eOev TTape6vT0<=;

oXeaae

07}piOPf alvoXeovra, Ka/cbv repa^; dypoicoTat^,

KOiXrjv avXiv e')(^0VTa Acb^; Ne/^eo^o Trap*

ovfc olS^ dTpfCco<^

avToBev
ft)9

Tj

TipvvOa

Tf

" Apyo<;

ve/jccov

dXao^

i^ lepolo

iroXtv

fceipo^ 7' dyopeve* yevo^ Be

i)e

jullv

M.VK7]vrjv,

elvai ecf^aafceVy

eTov irep iyro /nc/nvyaKOfjat, etc Hepcrrjo^,

eXrroixai ovj(^ erepov roSe TXrjiJLevai alyuaXifjoov
rje ere, Sepfta Se 9r}p6<=;y
rot irepl irXevpa KaXvir^ei^
yeipSyv KapTepov epyov dpKppaSeco^; dyopevei,^
ecir' dye vvv fioc irpCoTOv, Iva yvdxo Kara Ovfjuov,
rjpw^y
irvfJiw^ jxavTevopiai ecre /cal ov/cu,
el avy i/cetvo<;, ov rjfjuv drcovovTeacnv eeiirev
ov^ EkifCTjOev 'A^a^o9, eyoo he ere (ppd^ofxai opffS)^*
elire 8' 0770)9 oXoov roSe Orjpiov avro^ eirec^ve^,
L

eW

lover a E
mss iovari by confusion with the corrupt end of
2 mss also iSvra
^ ^iit^p elliptical as in Plat.
160
Rep. 497 e
veov oLKfM^v E 'still (of. 4. 60) recently (cf.
^

1.

''

314

THEOCRITUS XXV,

155-181

Their swift feet were gotten to the end of the little

path which stretched from the farmsteads through
the vineyard and ran not over-clearly in the midst of
the fresh greenery^ and they were just come to the
people*s highway^ when the dear son of Augeas up
and spake to the child of most high Zeus that
was following behind him^ and with a little turn of
his head over his right shoulder, ^'^Sir/' says he^
there's somewhat I had heard of you^ and O how
late am I^ if of you it were^ to bethink me on't but
now 'Tis not long since there came hither from
Argos an Achaean of Helice-by-the-sea^ who told a
tale^ look you^ unto more than one of us Epeians^
how that he had seen an Argive slay a beast of the
fields to wit a lion dire that was the dread of the
countryside and had the den of his lying beside the
grove of Zeus of Nemea yet he knew not for sure^
he said^ whether the man was truly of sacred Argos
itself or was a dweller in Tiryns town or in Mycenae.
Howbeit^ such was his tale^ and he said also_, if
I remember true^ that for his lineage the man was of
'^'^

Perseus.

Now methinks there is but one of those meno'-the-shore could do a deed like that^ and you
are he moreover the wild-beast-skin your frame is
clad in signifieth clearly enough the prowess of your
hands.
Come on^ my lord^ have me well to wit, first
whether my boding be true or no, whether you be
he the Achaean of Helice told us of, and I know you
for what you are
and then tell me^ pray_, how
yourself destroyed that same pestilent beast and how
;

Horn.),'

i.e. it is

still called recent

mss
Meineke thus transposes the

a thing that can be

ueos aKfx)]v or jxiaos

latter halves of 175

aK/uLTJs

and 176

THE BUCOLIC POETS

oTTTTft)? t'

ov

fjbV

evuSpov

yap

Nsfjierjf;

elarfKvOe

ToaovSe xar

fC

%a)/90Z/'

VVvrtSa KVoohaKov

6VpOC<^

ifxeipwv ISecLV, iirel ov fJbdXa Ti-jXiKa 66(tk,

aX)C apfCTov^ re cua? t6 Xv/ccov t 6\o(^(hiov e6vo<^,

Tco Kol 6 av fjbdi^ecT Kov aKovovre^ Tore /jlvOov
ot Se vv KOL y^revheaBai oSocTropov dvep^ (pavTO
jXcoaarjf; /juayjnSiOLO )(api^6/jievov irapeovatv.^^
0)9 eliTcbv fieaaijf; i^rjpcorjae

KeXevOov

^vXeisy o(j)pa Kcovacv d/na a^ialv cipfcco^

elrj,

Kai pd re p7]tTpov ^afievov kXvol UpaKXrjo^*

09 fjiiv 6/jLapT7](7a<; Toicp irpoaeXe^aro /jivdq)'
" 0) AvyrjidSriy to /juev ottl fxe rrpoyrov dvTjpev,
'

pela Kara ardO/jirjv evorjaa^.

d}X(^l 8e (TOi TCi efcaara XeyoL/jbi fce rovSe TreXcopov
07T7T0)<; eKpdavOev, irrel XeXirjaaL d/coviv,
v6a(l>LV y rj oOev rjXOe' to yap iroXecov irep lovidw
Kpyeicov ovSei^ kev e^oi. adfpa /iiv07]aaadac'
olov 8' dOavdroyp riv it(7Kop.V civSpdat Trrjfia

auT09

fcal fJidXa

'

Ipcov jX7]vi(TavTa

irdpra^ ydp
Xfc9 dfJiOTOv

^opwvrjeacnv

icjyelvat.

TTtarja^ irnKXytcov 7TOTap.o<;

cb<;

Kspai^e, fjidXidja he Hepb^tvaiov^

TT poavalov dTXr)ToiTa6evvTe<^}
TOP fiev ifMol TrpcoTccTTa reXetv eTrera^ev deOXov
KvpvadeiK;, KTetvau Se /jl i(f>iTO Orjpiov aivov.

ol 0V dyxofJiopoL

avrdp

iyo) /cpa<;

l&v ifnrXeiTjp

vypov eXoov

/coiXrjv

veofirjv, ireprjcpi Se

t (^apeTpijv

^dfcrpov

evrrayh avr^cfyXocov iiTTjpec^eo^ fcoTivoto

efi/jLTjrpov, TO jjbev avrb^ viro ^adeqy 'KXlkcovl
^
irpocryalov : mss also va7ou
&r\r}Ta traOeoyres or TraOSvrcs

3^6

aT\7)Toira0^vPT^s

mss

THEOCRITUS XXV,

182-209

he came to be dwelling in the well-watered vale of

for I ween you shall not find such a
creature as that if 3^ou would, the Apian lands around,
seeing they breed not anything so huge, but only
Therefore,
the bear and the boar and the fell wolf.
that
indeed
tale
also did they wonder that heard
they said the traveller lied with intent to pleasure
the company with an idle tongue."
With these words Phyleus bent him sidelong from
the midst of the road both to make room enough for
them twain to go together, and that he might the
Who now
easier hear what Heracles had to say.
came abreast of him, and '^ Son of Augeas " quoth he,
'^ your former
question you have answered yourself,
readily and aright but of this monster, being you
so desire it, I will tell you hovv^ it all fell out every
whit, save whence he came for not one man in all
Argos can speak certainly to that only were we
persuaded it was some God sent him to vex the
children of Phoroneus because
he w^as wroth
concerning some sacrifices. For all the lowlanders
were whelmed with him as he had been a river in
flood he plundered them all without cloy or surfeit,
but most of all the people of Bembina, whose
borders to their very great and intolerable misfortune marched with his.
Now this did Eurystheus make my very first task
he charged me to slay that direful beast. So I took
with me my supple bow and a good quiverful of
arrows, and in the other hand a stout cudgel, made,
without peeling or pithing, of a shady wild-olive which
myself had found under holy Helicon and torn up

Nemea

"the Apian lands

"

the Peloponnese.

THE BUCOLIC POETS

evpodv (jvv TTV/avfjacv oXocr'X^eph ecnracra pii^cu^.
avrap iirel tov )(wpov, ode XZ? rjep, 'Uavov,
Bt]

210

t6t to^ov eXcov arpeTTTrjv iireXacraa KOpa)vjj

kyeaTOvov eWap e^rjaa.

6\obv repa^ ia/coiria^ov,

vevpeirjv, irepl S' lov

TTavrrj S' oacre (f>epcov

irdpo^ tl

ISeadac,
i^Vta TOLD ^
(^paaOrjvai hvvdjXTjv ouS' copvjpLOLO TTvOeoOat.
ovoe fiev dvdpcoTTcov n^ erjv iirl ^ovcrl teal epyoi^;
(paLv6/ivo(; aTTopipLOio hi av\a/co<;, ovtlv ipoifiTjv
Kara aTadp.ov<^ yO^oypov Seo9 el%ez/ eicaaTOv. 220
ov ixr]V iTplv TToSa^ gg^ov opo^ TavixpvWov ipevvtoVy
rrplv lSeiv dXfcrj<^ re p^GravTifca ireipr/Ofivac,
60 fjbiv icraOprjaaL/LiL

TO

YjfJiaTO^ ?}V

fJL(T7]<yVy

fie /celvov

fCOl OvSeTTT]

dWd

rjTOt o fiev cnjpayyd TrpoSeieXo^; eaTt^ev 669 rjv,

/Se^pcoKW KpeiMV T fcal acfiaro^;, djbitpl Se yaiTa^

TTeiraXaKTO (f>6v(p '^apoirov re irpoacoTrop

y\d)aarj Se TreyO^Xt^/xaro jevecov.
avrdp iyo) dd/.Lvoi(TLV d^ap aiaepolaiv ifcpvcbdrjv
av')(^IJL7]pas

arrjOed

re,

iv TpLl3(p vXijevTC SeSeyfiepof; ottttoO^ Zkoito^

KoX /SdXov dcraov Iovto^ dpcarepov 9 Kevecova

T^i/(J6&)9* ov ydp TL /86X09 hid aap/cb<; oXicrdev
ofcpioeVy ')(\(i)pfj Se TrdXiaavTOv e/jureae ttolt).

avTap

KpaTa

oacfjotvop diro ')(6ovo^

(h/c

230

eirdeipe

SteSpaKev 6(f)0a\p.ocaL
XapAjpov^ Se x^vcov vTreSet^ev bSov-

9afji^7](7a^, TrdvTj] Se
cr/c7rT6fJivo<;,

Ta<;}

Tw

S'

eyoo

dWov

da^/aXocov, 6
/jLo-cr7]yv<; S'

0Ti, ws,

318

e^aXov

Tvpiv eTaxTio'^ eK(j)vye

')(eip6<^*

aTijOecov, oOc irvevpiovo^; eSprj,

Cholmeley mss ou5' Sttt} or

mss also vir* o^Suras i<paiv
o added by Hermann
^s

ov^eiry

Tota

oIcttov diro vevprj^; irpotaXkop

jjlol

ovBevhs
^

mss

Hermann

also
:

mss

THEOCRITUS XXV,

210-237

whole and complete with all her branching roots; and

so forth and made for those parts where the lion was.
Whither when I was come^ I took and tipped my
string, and straightway notched a bearer of pain and
grief, and fell a-looking this way and that way after
the pestilent monster, if so be I might espy him ere
he should espy me. 'Twas midday now, yet could I
nowhere mark his track nor hear his roaring;
neither was there any man set over a plough-team
and the toil of the seed-furrow that I could see and
ask of him, seeing pale wan fear kept every man at
Howbeit, I never gave over to
the farmstead.
search the leafy uplands till I should behold him and
put my strength speedily to the test.
Now towards evening he came his ways unto his
den full fed both of flesh and gore, his tangled mane,
his grim visage and all his chest spattered with blood,
and his tongue licking his chaps. To waylay him I
hid myself quickly in a brake beside the woody path,
and when he came near let fly at his left flank. But
the barbed shaft could not pass
it availed me not
the fleshjbut glanced and fell on the fresh green sward.
Astonied, the beast lift suddenly up his gory head,
and looked about him and about, opening his mouth
and showing his gluttonous teeth whereupon I sped
another shaft from the string (for I took it ill
that the first had left my hand to no purpose), and
smote him clean in the middle of the chest where
;

319

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ciW ovo

CO? viTo pvpcrav eov ttoXvooovvo^ lo^,

aX)C eireae TrpoirdpoiOe ttoScov avfjbcoXLO(; avrco^,
TO TpiTov av jjueXkeaKov dacofjcevo^ iv (^pealv

alvo}^

avepveiv

240

o Se

fju

elhe TrepLjXTjvcofitvo^; oacroi^

drjp d/jLOTO^;, /Jiafcprjv Be irep

icepKOv,

dcpap Se

f.id/)(7}<^

Ovfjbov eviT\r)a9rj,

i^yvvrjaiv

eXi^e

ejJLvrjaaTO' 7rd<; Se ol av'X^rjv

irvpaal

S'

(ppL^av eOeipai

aicv^ofievcp, Kvprrj Se pd^L^ ^ever r/vre ro^ov,

'/rdvTodep elXvOevTo^ vtto \ay6va<; re /cat l^vv.

ct)9

orav

S'

dpjbiaT07rr]ryb<; dvrjp iroXecov iSpc^ epycoif

opTTTjfca^ /cdpLTTTrjaiv iptveov

evKedroLo}

OdX'yjra^; iv Trvpl irpoiTOv, iira^ovicp

Tov

KVKXa

SL(f)po),

jiev VTrefc ')(^eipo)v (pv'yev Tavvcf>\oio(; epLveos

Kap/TTTojie.vo'^i
0)9 iir

i/jiol

fjuaipbdcKOV

TrfKov Se

jJLifj

250

7n]8rjcr crvv opfifj'

Xt9 alvo<; diroTrpoOev dOp6o<; aXro

%/)009

daar

iyco S' erepTjcj^t /3e\fiva

X^^P^ Trpoeax^OofjLrjv fcaX dir &ixodv hiirXaica XoDTrr^Vy

8' erepy poiraXov Koparj^; virep avov deipa^
rfi

7]\aaa Ka/c K(f)a\ri(;, Scd S' dvScx^ '^PVX^^ ea^a

avTOu eVl Xaaioto KaprjaTo<^ dyptekatov
6r]po<; dfiacjULaKeTOLO' ireaev S' oye irplv epH iKeaOat
yy^oOev iv jairj, koI iirl rpojJbepol^^ ttoolv earr]
vevaTa^cov KecpaXfj* rrepX yap (tk6to<; oorae ol d/ji<po) 260
rj\6e, I3irj aetaOevTO^ iv odTeco iyKe^dXoto.
TOV fxev iycov oSvvrjcn jrapacf^poveovTa ^apeiau^
vccadjJievo^i irplv avTC<; viroTpoirov d/ji7rvvvdfjvat,

av^ivo^ dppTjKTOLO irap iviov rjXaaa ^ Trpo(^6d<^,

pLyjra^ to^ov epa^e iroXyppaiTTov re (j>apeTpr]v*
^

320

mss

also evKd/xirToto

riKaaa

mss

also ^(pOaaa

THEOCRITUS XXV,

238-265

But nay not even so was the

the lungs do lie.
hide of him to be pierced by the sore grievous arrow;
there it fell vain and frustrate at his feet.
At this I waxed exceeding distempered and made
to draw for the third time. But^ ere that^ the ravening
beast rolled around his eyes and beheld me, and
lashing all his tail about his hinder parts bethought
him quickly of battle. Now was his neck brimming
with irC;, his tawny tresses an-end for wrath, his chine
arched like a bow, as he gathered him up all together
unto flank and loin.
Then even as, when a
wainwright, cunning man, takes the seasoned wild-fig
boughs he hath warmed at the fire and bends them
into wheels for an axled chariot, the thin-rinded
figwood escapes at the bending from his grasp and
leaps at one bound afar, even so did that direful lion
from a great way off spring upon me, panting to be
at my flesh.
Then it was that with the one hand I
thrust before me the cloak from my shoulders folded
about my bunched arrows, and with the other lift
my good sound staff above my head and down with
it on his crown, and lo
my hard wild-olive was
broke clean in twain on the mere shaggy pate of
that unvanquishable beast.
Yet as for him, or ever
he could reach me he was fallen from the midst of
his spring, and so stood with trembling feet and
wagging head, his two eyes being covered in darkness because the brains were all-to-shaken in the
skull of him.
Perceiving now that he was all abroad with the
pain and grief of it, ere he might recover his wits
I cast my bow and my broidered quiver upon the
ground and let drive at the nape of that massy
;

321

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ruj(pv

8'

Trpo?

jJLT)

j(elpa<;

ipeiaa^

adpfca^ airohpy-y^rj ovvx^craL,

ovSa<; irrepyrjCL 7r68a<; arepecof; iirce^ov

ovpaiov^
fjL^pc(;

avv

iy/cparico^ (TTL^apa<;

e^oTTiOeVy

i7n/3d<;, nfKevpfjai re firjp^ icpvXaacroVy

ov i^eTCLVvaaa ^pa')(iovo^

aTTvevarov,

Kol T0T6

yfrv-^rjv
Zr]

Se ireXcopco^

/SovXevov,

OTTcof;

opdov detpa^

eXka^ev^

^^

\a(TLav')(6va

Ki?>ri<;,

^vpaav

Orjpo^ T60vLc!)TO<; dirb jxekecov ipvaai/jLrjv,

dpjakeov fidXa
ovre XiOoL^

fjuox^ov, iirel ovic rjv

t/^t/t^

^ TretpcofjLevo)

oure*

aihrjpcp

ovSi fxev vKrj,

evOa fJbOL ddavdrcov rc^ iirl (ppecrl OrjKe vorjaai

avTol^ hepfJLa Xeovro^ dvaa^'^^i'V ovvx^dGi,
Tolcn 6o&^ dTreSeipa, kol dfjL^eOe^r^v fieXeeaaiv
epKO<;

ivvaXiov

rafiecTL'^poo^;

Ico'x^fjLolo,

0UT09 TOL Ne/teof yever 3> (f)LXe Or}po<; oXeOpo^,

TToXXd irdpo<; /jL7]Xol<; re koI dvSpdai fCTjSea Oevro^J^

also

^ mss also fiexpi

and ovpalrj
ov E
^ mss
mss and Musurus also ^paxiovas and -va
* thus Meineke:
^v ovre Wil
mss Icrxe
eAA.axe^'

mss

T/i47]T-^ oifbh

mss

^23

mss

also ovpaiov

oi

"*

Xidois

THEOCRITUS XXV,

266-281

Then from the rear^ lest he should tear me

with his talons^ 1 gat my arms about his throaty and
treading his hind-paws hard into the ground for to
keep the legs of them from my sides^ held on with
might and main till at length I could rear him backward by the foreleg, and so stretched him strangled
on the ground^ and vasty Hades received his spirit.
That done, I fell a-pondering how I might flay me
^ What
a
off the dead beast's shag-necked skin.
thought I
for there was no cutting that,
task
neither with wood nor with stone nor yet with iron.
At that moment one of the Immortals did mind me
I should cut up the lion's skin with the Hon's talons.
So I to it, and had him flayed in a trice, and cast the
skin about me for a defence against the havoc of
gashing war.
Such, good friend, was the slaying of the Lion of
Nemea, that had brought so much and sore trouble
both upon man and beast."
neck.

'

323

XXVI. THE BACCHANALS

This poem was probably
initiation

of a boy of nine

fvritten

into the mysteries

initiated into
Antistiiis

for a

these mysteries is clear

maiden

poem

exainple.

and

in Callimachus

Artemis asks

atte^idants shall be nine years

and takes

The

of Dionysus

from a jyoem of

the father describes the slaying

his mother,

the

Anthology , which may have been written

the

si7nilar occasion ;

that her
this

171

of

young children were

That

a mock slaying-rite.

by

honoiu^

in

of

old}

In

Penthetis by

credit to himself for following her

slaying

of

the boy is the bringing

of him

Dionysus, even as the eagles rnade Ganymede iinmortal

to

by bringing him to Zeus.

The poem

not by Theocritus, but such poeins

in the competitions
1

Antist.

Anth.

may

line

FaL

Callim.

40,

almost certainly

well have figured

112 of the Ptolemy.

mentioned in
11.

is

3.

14,

quoted by

Cholmeley.

325

XXVL AHNAI H BAKXAI

'Ii/ft>

fcKvTOVoa

%a

^Ayava
ayayov avral iolaai.
Xaaia^ hpvo^ aypia (pvWa

fjLa\o7rdpavo<;

rpel^ didaco^ 9 opo^ rpel^

'yaX jiev d/jiep^dfievat

Kiaaov re ^doovra koI dcr<p6S\ov tov virep jd<;

iv KaOapCp Xecficovc /cd/juov Svo/cauSeKa /Sco/ico^;,
Tft)9 rpel^ ra '^e/jieXa, T609 evvea rco Acovvaqy.
lepa S' eic Kiaras; ireirovafjieva ^epalv eXotcrat
V(f)d/iJb(o<i KareOevTo veoSpeiTTCOv iirl /3ct)/jLMV,
ft)9 ehihaa')^
0)9 avro^ idv/judpet Atovvao^,
,

YlevOev^

dXi^drov irerpa^ airo irdvr iOecopet,

apyaiav Karahv^y i7ri')((i)piov epvo^,

8'

o'Xlvov 69

10

A.vTov6a TTpdra viv aveKpaye hetvov IBoiaa,

avv S* erdpa^e iroalv fiavt(oS0<; opyca Ba/^^j^co,
i^a7riva<; iinola-a'

ra

S*

0^% opeovrt ^e^ifXoL,

fiaivero [xev

0"

dXXai}
HevOev^ fjLv

(fyevyev iTe<^o^Yjpbevo^y at S* iBucofcov,

7r7r\co9

ifc

n6Z/^i'9

/Jiv

avra, /juaivovTO

^(oarTjpo^; 9

S'

dp*

evOv kol

lyvvav ipvaatcrat.
;'

AvTovoa

ToS* eeiire

ToS* 6LiTe

'

'

tlvo^ Ke'X^prjaOe yvvaiKe<i

Td')(^a

yvcoaj} irplv aKOvaai,

fidrrjp

rdv fce^aXdv

oaaov

TTp rofcdSo^; reXeOei, fivKrjfjia Xeaiva^'

'Ij/ft)

S'

i^epprj^e crvv ayfioirXdra fieyav

^

326

fJbVKrjaaTO Traiho^ iXolaa,

&\Aai Ahrens

mss &\\ai

a)juLOv

20

XXVI. THE BACCHANALS

Three dames led three meinies
Ino^

to the mountain^
Autonoe^ and apple-cheeked Agave^ and gather-

ing there wild leaves of the shag-haired oak^ and

Uving ivy and groundling asphodel, wrought in a
lawn of the forest twelve altars, unto Semele three
and unto Dionysus nine. Then took they from a
box offerings made of their hands and laid them in
holy silence upon those altars of their gathering, as
was at once the precept and the pleasure of the
Meanwhile Pentheus spied upon
great Dionysus.
all they did from a steepy crag, being crept into an
ancient mastich-tree such as grow in that country.
Autonoe saw him first and gave a horrible shriek,
and made quick confusion of the sacred things of the
madding Bacchus with her feet, for these things are
not to be seen of the profane.
Mad was she now,
and the others were straightway mad also. Pentheus,
he fled afraid, and the women, girding their kirtles
up about their thighs, they went in hot pursuit.
"
Pentheus, he cried ^^ What would you, ye women?
Autonoe, she cried ^^ That shall you know ere you
hear it." Then took off the mother the head of her
child and roared even as the roar of a milch lioness,
while Ino setting foot upon his belly wrenched
shoulder and shoulder-blade from the one side of
**

meinies": companies.

may

also

mean

**

apple-cheeked "

the Greek

white-faced.'

327

THE BUCOLIC POETS

\af

yaarepa ^daa, koL Avrovoa^ pvOjio^

eTTL

ft)UT09*

ai

S'

aXkai

ret

irepiGaa Kpeavo/ieovTO yvvaiKe^.

9 rj^a<^ S' a^ifcovTO Trecfyvpfievai ai/iari Trdaai,

ef opeo^ TrevOrj/iia koL ov TLevOrja (pepoccrai.

ovK aXeyco* fMTjS* aWo<; aTrexdojJbevw^ Aiovvcr^q)
cf)povTL^OL,

avTO^ B
ifc

fjbrjS^

VvaeT7](;

07]

Ato9

el
rj

'XoKeircoTepa T&vSe fioyTJcrai,^

kul oefcaro) eiTLpaivor

kol evayeeaaiv

evayeoifJbL

e^e^ alerof; ovrco^,

aiyco'X^co rtfiav

evcrejSecov iraiSeaat

ra

aBoLfii.

Xdoia, Svacre^ecov S' ov.

ApaKavo) vK^oevn
Zeu9 viraro^ iieyakav iiTiyovviha /cdrdero \vaa^'
XCLipoi S' VtSr}<^ Se/ieXa kol dSeXcfieal avjd^
j((Ciipoi jxev

Aiovvcro^, ov iv

K.a8fjLtai> 7roXXoi<; p^epbeXrujuevaL rjpcolvat,^

at ToSe epyov epe^av opivavro^ Aiovvaov

OVK

iTTt/jLay/jbarov,

aircxOofifPo)

5' fi6yT](T

328

Bergk

fJur/Belf;

mss

thus Graefe

ra

-uai
:

mss

Oecov 6v6aatT0

Se

Tro\\a7s

fioy-f^ffai

and

Ahr

-fjpoolpais

mss

THEOCRITUS XXVI,

23-38

him, and Aiitonoe made the other side like unto it

and the other women wrought out the rest of the
And so bedabbled all with blood they
butchery.
carried with them into Thebes in the stead of a
kindred wight a kindred woe.
And I care not if they did, and pray no other may
take thought for any that is hated of Dionysus, nay,
not if such an one suffer a worse fate than Pentheus
and be but a child nine years old or going ten years.
As for me, may I be pure and do the will of them
that are pure.
Thus hath the eagle honour of the
Aegis-Bearer. To the children of pious fathers
belong the good things rather than to those that
come of impious men.
All hail to Dionysus, whom most high Zeus took
forth from his mighty thigh and laid down in snowy
Dracanus and all hail to beauteous Semele and her
heroine sisters, the far-honoured daughters of Cadmus
who did at Dionysus' bidding this deed that none
may blame. Where 'tis a God's will let no man
;

cavil.
**
Made the other side like unto it "
the Greek is
*Autonoe's rhythm was the same,' i.e. *Autonoe followed
**
suit.'
Kindred wight" the Greek has a grim pun upon
Pentheus and penthema (woe).
:

329

XXVII. THE LOVERS' TALK

This poem

form was a match between a

whom he had challenged, the stake

in its complete

shepherd and another

being the shepherd's pipe.

The missing part comprised

the lines introducing the match, the whole

piece,

and the prelude of

left is the

and

main part of

award of

the

of

the rival's

What

the shepherd's piece.

the shepherd's piece,

the umpire.

The umpire

its

as, not

having

able to do.

perhaps

to

now he will play him another of

lost his

epilogue,

returns the

shepherd his pipe, and adds a compliment in the

a request that

is

form of

his tu?ies,

pipe in the match, he will

still

be

In the dialogue supposed to be recited, or

be sung, by the shepherd, one speaker answers

the other speaker line for line except in two places rvhere
the

same

speaker

has

two

lines.

These

exceptions,

necessary in order to shift the role

of answerer, have
brought about a wrong arrangement of lines 9 and 19 in

the

ynanuscripts.

imitator

of

The poem may be

Theocritus.

ascribed

to

an

Line 4 he has taken bodily from

him.

ZZ^

XXVII.[0API2TTS]

AKPOTiMH

Tav rnvvrav

'TLXevav

Udpi^;

rfpiraae ^ovko\o<^

AA*NI2
/jLoXKov KOca ^HXeva rov ^ovfcoXov eaal^ (fycXevaa.

AKPOTIMH
/jLTj^

to (f>i\afia Xeyovatv,

Kav')(Sy (TaTvpia/ce* /cevov

AA*N12
eart koX iv KeveoiGt (piXafiaaLv dSea Tep-^i^.

TO GTOfxa

jLiev

AKPOTIMH
ttXvvco KOI diTOTTTvay TO

(piXafjua,

AA4>NI2

7tXvvc^ ')(eiXea aelo; SlSov itoXlv,

6(f)

pa

(f>tXda(o.

AKPOTIMH
fcaXov
^

(TOL

Ko7(T^

Musurus

Ba/jidXa^ (piXeetv, ovk

Ahrens mss
mss omit
:

ido7a'

^cal

d^vya

/ccopav,

iarl

mss

fi^

XXVII. -[THE LOVERS' TALK]

{The Shepherd tells
Daphnis and Acrotime)

of

the

conversation

between

ACROTIME
'Twas a neatherd like you carried off the wise
Helen.
DAPHNIS
Helen is more willing now, for she kisses her
neatherd.
Soft,
'^

my

ACROTIME
satyr-boy, be not so sure

nought goes to a

there's a saying

kiss."

DAPHNIS

Even

in

Look

ye^ I

an empty

kiss there's a

sweet delight.

ACROTIME

wipe

my mouth

o'

your kiss and spit

it

from me.
DAPHNIS
quotha ? then give them hither
again and have thee another.

Wipe thy

lips,

ACROTIME
'Twere rather becoming you to kiss your heifers
than a maiden woman like me.

333

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AA*NI2
Kav^S)' rd^a yap ae rrapep^erac

fjuT]

0)9

ovap

fjj3r),

AKPOTIMH

(na(\>v\L^ orrac^i? icTTL /cat ov poSov avov oXetTac*

10

AA*NI2
9
roSe rrov fxeKi /cat yd\a ttlvco.^
VTTO Ta9 /cotlpov^, Xva aoL Tcva fivOov eVe-v^w. 11

rfSe TL yijpda/cr);
SeO/o'

AKPOTIMH
ovK ideXco*

dSel fivOo),

/cat irpiv fie 7rapr]7ra(pe^

AA*NI2
Sevp^ VTTO Ta9 TTTskea^, Xv ijxa^ crvpcyjo^ d/covar)^,

AKPOTIMH

aavTOv (ppeva

T7]p

(pev

cl)v

repyfrov oli^vov ovhev dpea/cec,

AA*NI5
Ta9 na^ta9 %oXoz/ d^o

/cal

avye

/ccopa,

AKPOTIMH

'X^acperco

IIa<pLa* fJLovov i\ao(; "ApT/jbL<;

etrj.

AA*NI2
fjLT]

Xeye,

firj

^dWrj ae koI

9 \ivov

dWvrov^

evOy^;.

AKPOTIMH

^aWerco
2

dx; iOeXj)*

TrdXiv "ApT/jLt<;

1 this line is omitted in some

mss &K\irou
6.\\vrov Mus (?)
;

apii^ei

334

mss

apiiyri

mss

d/ju/jLCV

yrjpda-Kr)

idsXrj

E
:

dprj^ei.^

mss -(tku
mss ideX'qs
:

I8

THEOCRITUS XXVII,

8-18

DAPHNIS
your youth passes you by

Soft you, be not so sure

like a dream.

ACROTIME

But the grape's

may

in tlie raisin,

and dry

rose-leaves

live.

DAPHNIS (kissing her cheek)

grow old, that is my milk

and honey ? Pray you come hither under those wildolives
I would fain tell you a tale.
Shall this be suffered to

Nay, 1 thank you

your pretty tales.

ACROTIME
you beguiled

Then pray you come

let

me

play you

my

me

before with

DAPHNIS
hither under those elms and

pipe.

ACROTIME
that way you may pleasure yourself; scant
joy comes of a sorry thing.

Nay

DAPHNIS

Alackaday
the wrath of

Dame

you likewise, honey, must e'en

Dame

fear

Paphian.

ACROTIME
Paphian may go hang for

me my
;

prayers

are to Artemis.

DAPHNIS
Hist or she'll have at thee, and then thou' It be
in the trap.
ACROTIME
Let her have at me Artemis will help me out.
!

335

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ov

(f)vyi^

AA*NI5
Tov ^'Epcora, rbv ov (pvye nrapQevo^ aWr],

2(

AKPOTIMH

av

vol TOV J\ava'

(j)vyco

1X7)17 LJSakrj^ Trjv

he i^vyov alev aeipai^}

X^lpa* Kol

elareTL yel\o<^ dfjiv^coJ^

1-

AA*NI2
SeLfjLaivo), firj St]

ae

/ca/ccorepo)

avepl Scoaco.

AKPOTIMH

TToWoL

fi

i/LivcoovTO, v6(p S"

i/jLO)

ovTL^ euSe,^

AA4>NI2
^9 fcal iycb

nroWcov

reo^ ivOdh^

fjLvrjarrjp

l/cdvco.

AKPOTIMH
Kcu TV

yd/jLot

(f)LXo^ pe^acfJLL;

irXrjOovaLV dvia^,

AA*NI5

ovK

oSvvTjv,

ovK aXyo<;

e\;^ ydjio^,

dXka

'X^opeirjv,

AKPOTIMH
vol

fjbdv

(paaL yvvalfca^

oif<;

rpofieeiv irapaKoiTa^,

AA*NI2
fiaXKov del Kpareovar tl koX

wSivecv rpofieo)'

rpofieovaL yvvalKe^;

AKPOTIMH
^aXeTro^ /86X09

ElXetOvLrj^;.

^ aelpais Ahr
^ this line is before 18 in
mss 6.ips
^ eaSe (perf.) Fritzsche:
some mss, after it in others
* tl kuI Wil
mss rha
mss aefSet, Mus. eaSe
:

2v

THEOCRITUS XXVII,

19-29

DAPHNIS
No other maiden escapes Love, nor dost thou
escape him.
ACROTIME
as for you, I only pray you
'Fore Pan, that do I
may ever bear his yoke. (Jie puts his arm about her
and makes to kiss her again) Unhand me, man I'll
bite thy lip yet.
DAPHNIS
But I fear if I let thee go a worser man will have
;

thee.

ACROTIME
Many the wooers have been after me, but never a
one have I had to my mind.
DAPHNIS
Well, here

am

come

to

add one more to those

many.

friend,

what

is

to

ACROTIME
do ? marriage

is all

woe.

DAPHNIS
a marriage is a thing neither of pain nor
grief but rather of dancing.

Nay

ACROTIME
Aye, but I'm told the wives do fear their bedfellows.

Nay

what should wives

'Tis

DAPHNIS
ever the upper hand

rather have they

the throes

fear

.^

ACROTIME
the stroke of Eileithyia
;

I fear

is

hard to bear.

337
2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AA*NI5

aWh

rei]

aWa

AKPOTIMH
TCKelv rpo/Jbeco, /jltj koI xpoa koXov okeaaoo,

/BaaiXeia fjLoyocTTOfco^ "Apre/juL^ iariv,

AA4NI5

he TKr)^ (piXa refcva, veov (j>do^ oyjreav vla^,

Tjv

AKPOTIMH
/cat TL

fJLOL

ehvov dyL^ yd/jiov d^LOV,

rjv

eTTcvevaco;

AA*NI5
iraaav rav dyiXav, iravT dXaea

fcal vofiov e^et^,

AKPOTIMH
ofjbvve fiT) /jiTa

Xi/CTpa Xiircov deKovaav direvOelv}

AA*NI5
ov fJiavTOV TOP Tiava,

/cal rjv iOXr]<s p^e hito^at,

AKPOTIMH
Tvxt<; p.OL da\d/jLOv<;,

reu^et? koI S&p^a

/cat

av\d<;;

AA<INI2

Teup^G) aoi 0dXdp,ov<;'

rd Se

irdoea /caXd vop^evo),

AKPOTIMH
irarpl he yrjpaXeo) ruva p^dv,^ riva pvOov eve^^oy;

AA*NI2
alvrjaet aeo XixTpoVj eirrjv epLOV ovvopu aKovarj,

338

air^vBelv

Reiske

mss

airevdris

fiav

Ahr

mss

kv
|

THEOCRITUS XXVIl,

30-40

DAPHNIS

But thou hast Artemis to thy queen^ and she

h'ghtens the labour.

Ah

but

ACROTIME
the childbirth lose

fear lest

me my

pretty face.

DAPHNIS
thou bear sweet children, thou'lt see a new
light in thy sons.
ACROTIME
And if I say thee yea, what gift bring'st thou with
thee worthy the marriage ?

But

if

DAPHNIS

Thou

my

shalt have all

and pasture

Swear

herd and

all

the planting

possess.

thou'lt

ACROTIME
never thereafter

leave

me

all

forlorn.

Before great Pan

send me. packing.
Buildest

DAPHNIS
swear it, even

if

thou choose to

ACROTIME
a house and a farmstead ?

me a bower and

DAPHNIS

Yea,

build thee a house, and the flocks

feed

are fine flocks.

ACROTIME

But then
to him ?

think well
name.

He'll

my

my gray-headed
o'

father,

DAPHNIS
thy wedlock

what can

when he

say

hears

339
z 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AKPOTIMH
ovvofia aov Xeye tyjvo* kul ovvo/xa iroWdfci Tipiret,

AA*NI2
Ad(j)VL^ iyd), Av/ciSa^; Se irarrip,

he No/juxlt),

fJirjTTjp

AKPOTIMH
i^ evrjyevecov cOOC ov aeOev elfu

j(epeicdv*

AA*NI2
olh\

^AfcpoTL/Jur)

Sei^ov

hevp

Trarrjp Se roi iarc MevaXfca^,

AKPOTIMH
oirrj aeOev XaTajaL av\d?

reov a\ao^,

i/jLol

tSe,

eaai}

AA*NI2
7rw9 dvOevacv ijiaX paSival KVirdptcraoL.

aly<; ifial

AKPOTIMH
^oafceaOe' ra /3ovkoX(o epya

vorjaay,

AA*NI2
ravpoc Ka\a vifiead', Xva 7rap6ev(p aXo-ea

Seu^o),

AKPOTIMH
TL pe^eL^ (TarvpiaKe; ri S' evSodev dyjrao /xa^cov;

AA*NI2
ixaka Ted Trpdrio-ra rdSe ^(vodovTa

ScSd'^co,

AKPOTIMH
vapKCJ pal TOP Hdva. rerjv irdXiv e^eXe %et^a.
^

Jacobs

o?5*

Ti/ii'f}(T(Ti,

^dey

Mus.

av\d

mss

^.
;

ovB*

mss

'AKporifxTt

ia-a-l

rehu Wil
a or aia, Mus. alXis

rifj.T^e(T(ra

mss

mss &Kpa
Mus.

*^0ov,

g^

THEOCRITUS XXVII,

41-51

ACROTIME

Then
in a

me

tell

name

that

o'

thine

there's often joy

name.
DAPHNIS

Daphnis, mine, and

mother's Nomaee.

'Tis

my

my

and

father's Lycidas

ACROTIME

Thou com'st of good stock

am as good as thou.
Aye,

know

it

and yet methinks

DAPHNIS
thou art Acrotime and thy father

Menalcas.

Come, show
farmstead

Lo

me

ACROTIME
thy planting, show

me where

thy

is.

this

way

it

is

DAPHNIS
look how

tall

and slender

my

cypress-trees spring

Graze on,

my

ACROTIME
goats I go to see the neatherd's
;

labours.

DAPHNIS

Feed you well, my

maid my planting.

bulls

would

fain

show the

ACROTIME

What
hand

in

am

art thou at, satyr-boy

why

hast put thy

my bosom ?
DAPHNIS
fain

to

give thy ripe

pippins their

first

lesson.

ACROTIME
'Fore Pan,

I shall

swoon; take back thy hand.

341

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AA*NI5
Odpaec Koypa

tl fioi erpe^ie^;;

cj^iXa,

ox?

fxaka Beikd,

AKPOTIMH
^ciXXeif;

eh

dfjudpav

/jl

koi ec/jLara

Kokd

p.iaLvei<^,

AA<i>NI2

a\X ifiro

(Toi)^

TreirXov^ dnrdkov vd/co^ rjvihe /3dW(o,

AKPOTIMH
</)e

KOI rdv pbirpav dir easier a^;*^ e? T6

(f)v

S'

eXvaa^;
AA*NI2

ra

IIa(f>La TTpdriarov eyco roSe B&pov oTrdaaco,^

AKPOTIMH
fjiifjbve

rdXav Ta^a

Tt? tol eTTepx^Tar

rjj^^ov

ukovw,

AA'f'NIS

dXkrj\aL<;

XaXiovat reov

yd/juov al KvirdpiCTGOi.

AKPOTIMH
diJbTTe')(pvriv

iroirjaa^

ifjirjv

pdKO<^*

elpX he yv/ivd,

AA*NI2
aXKrjV dfnre'^ovrjv

ri}?

crrji;

rot fMeii^ova hcoao),

60

AKPOTIMH
(/j779 /JLOL

TTavra Sojubev rd^x^a

S'

iarepov ovh' oka

hoirj^,

AA*NI2

aW^ avrav hvvdfiav koX

^

p/iTpav

kiriffrix^s

give

it

Winsem: mss
^

tclv yjrv^av

^ikq<xi>

oTracraw E, cf

on the spot

mss

1.

oirafw

64

iirtfidWetv.

aireVxtcas Scaliger; mss

he cannot be said to

* afiir^x^^''^^

-^^^^

diss

THEOCRITUS XXVII,

52-62

DAPHNIS

Never thou mind, sweet

little coward ?

what hadst thou

to fear,

ACROTIME
Thou thrustest me into the water-conduit and
soilest

Nay

my

pretty clothes.

DAPHNIS
I cast
look ye there

my

sheepskin

soft

under thy cloak.

Out, alack

Why

ACROTIME
thou hast torn

didst loose that

off

mv

girdle, too.

DAPHNIS

my firstlings

This shall be

Hold, ah hold

to our

Lady of Paphos.

ACROTIME
sure somebody's e'en coming.

There's a noise.

DAPHNIS

Aye, the cypress-trees talking together of thy

bridal.

Thou

hast torn

ACROTIME
mantle and

my

me

left

my

in

shift.

DAPHNIS
ril give thee another mantle,

and an ampler.

ACROTIME

You say you'll give me anything

soon mayhap will deny me salt.
Would

TCLfiircxopyiu,

paKOS

may

ask,

DAPHNIS
could give thee my very soul to boot
Mus.

Mus

(?)

TOLiuLTrcxovou
:

mss

ifi^v

Hermann

mss

who

i/j,hv

f>dyos

343

THE BUCOLIC POETS

AKPOTIMH
vefxeaa

''ApT/jLt, fir)

(toI<^

prjfjbaaLV^

ovKin

Tno-rf}.

AA*NI5
pi^G)^ TTOpTlV "FipCOTL fCOL aVTO, ^(OV ^Acj^poSLTCL.

AKPOTIMH
irapOevo^ evda ^e^rfKa, jvvrj

S'

et9

oIkov

a(j)ep7r(o,

AA*NI2

dXXa

yvvrj P'TfTrfp refcecov rpo^o^;, ovfcerc Kcopa,

0)9 ot fiV

'xKoepOLGiv laivofjLevoL pLekeeaaiv

aXKrjKot^ y^nOvpi^ov, avtararo

'X^j

(f>(opto<; evvrj,

fiev aveypo/jbevrj ttoXlv ean'XjS^

ofjLjiaaiv atSofjLevoi^^y'^ Kpahirj he ol

fidXa vofxevetv
evhov idvOrj,

09 8' eirl Tavpeia^ dyeXa^; K6)(^apr]iievo<; vvd<^.

KPITH3
hej(yvao rav avpiyya reav irdXcv, 6\j3te TToifiav

rd
^

fcal TTOtfivajayv ^
(Tois

Herm

pij/jiacrip

^f fa?

iraKiv

Ahr

ecrriye

mss -ot, Mus.

mss
recLj^ Ahr
Mus.
mss TToifiaiyvioov
:

344

erepav a/ce^oo/jieda ixoXirdv*

mss

Wil
-77

recov

troi
:

(priiJLas

mss ye
^

^e^a

SieVr.

Mus
"*

mss

al^ofiivois

Lines 72-3 are omitted by

^ Troi/xvaywv E, cf. Kvvayhs
:

THEOCRITUS XXVII,

63-73

ACROTIME

Artemis^ be not wroth with a transgressor of

thy word.
DAPHNIS
heifer of me, and great
shall
have
a
Love
Aphrodite a cow.

ACROTIME
Lo,

came hither a maid and

go home a

woman.
DAPHNIS

Aye^ a mother and a nursing-mother, maiden no

more.

Thus they prattled

limbs.

in the joy of their fresh young

secret bridal over, she rose and went
for to feed her sheep, her look shamefast

The

her ways
but her heart glad within her while as for him, he
betook himself to his herds of bulls rejoicing in his
wedlock.
THE UMPIRE
Here, take the pipe, thou happy shepherd
'tis
and so let's hear and consider
thine once more
another of the tunes of the leaders o' sheep.
;

345

XXVIII. THE DISTAFF

The Distaff
and

is

an occasional poem

Asclepiad

the

metre,

in the Aeolic dialed

and was

almost

modelled upon Sappho or Alcaeus.

It

Theocritus before or during a voyage

Miletus, and presented with the gift
distaff

to

the

wife

of

his

was

certainly

written hy

from Syracuse

of a carved

to

ivory

friend the poet-physician

Nicias,

347

XXVIII. HA AKATH
TXav/ca^

&

yvvat^Lv,

voo<^ oiicoic^eXia^

Odpcreta

a/Jb/jbiv

aKa/cdra Scopov ^AOavda^

aicnv iird/SoXo^j

vfidprr) itoKlv 9

^eiXeo^ dyXdav,

Ku7rpiSo9 Ipov /caXdjLKp j(\o}pov VTT dTrdXo),

OTTTTVL

TvlSe

(ptXepiO^

yap irXoov evdvejiov

^eVVOV 6flOV

OTTTTft)?

airrjiieOa irdp Aio<;,

Tep^jrOfJi

lScOV KdvTL(l)L\rj(JOfJbaL^

l^LKLaVf X.apiT(ov lfjbpo(p(ovcov tepov (fyvrov,

rdv

fcal ere

\e(f>avTo<^ iToXvfioxdo) jeyevrj/jbevav

h&pov ^LKtda<; eh dXo^o) ^ X^ppa^ oirdacrofxevy

(Tvv ra TToXXa fiep epp* ^ eicTeXeaei^ dvSpetoi^
10

TreTrXoL^y
8'

TToXXa

Sh yap

ola yvvauKe^^ (popeoLcr vSdrtva ^pd/crj,

jjudrepe^^

apvwv

/jiaXdKot<; ev

^ordva

itokoi^

Tre^aivT avToerei, @evyevih6^

ovTco<; avvaiepyo^y (^tXeei S'

ov yap 69

dfcipa<; ouS' 9

oTvaacrai ae

S6/jL0i<;

y evveic ivcrcj^vpco*
oaaa aao^pove^,

depyco

dfjb/jbTpa<;

fcev

e^oXXo/nav

ecraav aTrv yQovo'^,

The Aeolic forms and accents are in many cases the

restoration of Ahrens, but a few undoubted traces of them
remain in the mss
2

aXoxoo

Buecheler

348

niss also
:

mss

ipy^

^
KauTicpiX-na-oiuai Musurus
mss -t^o-o^
oAox perhaps rightly
w(a) = ifpia
:

XXVIII. THE DISTAFF

Distaff^ friend of them that weave and spin, gift
the Grey-eyed Huswife above to all good
huswives here below, come away, come away to
Neleus' town so bright and fair, where the Cyprian's
precinct lies fresh and green among the tall soft
reeds ; for 'tis thither bound I ask of Zeus fair
passage, with intent both to glad my eyes with
the sight and my heart with the love of a dear good
child of the Ladies o' the Voice of Delight, by name
Nicias, and to give you, my pretty offspring of
laboured ivory, into the hands of the goodwife of the
same, to be her helpmate in the making of much wool
into clothes, whether the coats of men or those translucent robes the women do wear.
For the fleecy
mothers o' flocks might well get them shorn afield
of

twice in one year for aught

Mistress

Pretty-toes

would eare, so busy a little body is she and

enamoured of all that delighteth the discreet.
Trust me, I would never have given a fellowcountryman into the house of a do-nought or a
sloven.
And fellow-countryman it is, seeing you
** Neleus'
town": Miletus was founded by Neleus, and a
temple of Aphrodite-in-the-Marsh seems to have been one of
its outstanding features.

349

THE BUCOLIC POETS

yap

fcal

TOL irdrpcf;, av o)^ 'Ecj)vpa<^ fCTcacre ttot

'KpxiCL^

vdaay TplvaKptaf;

jjivekov,

dvSpcov

So/cl/jlcov

ttoXlv,

vvv flap oIkov e-xpia avpo<;, 69 ttoW' iSdrj aocpa

dvOpocnTOKTL voGoi^ ^dp/jbu/ca Xvypai<; diraXdXKefxeVy 20
olfC7]aei<;
ft)9

Kara M-lWarov ipdvvav

TreS' ^laoiKov,

va\dfaTO<; evyevL<=; ev SajuLOTLo-iv ireXr],

KUL ol jjLvaaTLV aet tm (jyiXaoiSo)

fcrjvo jdp T^9 epec r cotton tScov a''
8(op(p

350

avv oXiycp' Trdvra Be

TTape')(7}(; ^ivco'
'

TL/jLara

rj

jxeydXa %ayot9

ra Trap ^tXwz^/

THEOCRITtJS XXVIII,

17-25

from the town old Archias founded out of

Ephyra, the sap and savour of the Isle o' Three
Capes, the birthplace of good men and true.
But now you are to lodge at a wiseacre's deeplearned in the lore of such spells as defend us of the
now you are to dwell among
flesh from woeful ills
an Ionian people in Miletus the delectable, to the
end that Theugenis* neighbours may be jealous of her
and her distaff, and so you may serve always to mind
For at the sight
her of her friend the lover of song.
of you it shall be said, ^^ Great love goes here with a

hail

little gift,

and

all is

precious that comes of a friend.*'

'*Ephyra": an old name

for Corinth, the

mother city

of

Svracuse.

351

XXIX-XXX.~THE AEOLIC LOVE-POEMS

These two poems are

The first

friendship.

from Alcaeus, and

to

inspired, like

of No, 1 contains a quotation

poems metre and dialect point

line

in both

The metre

him or Sappho as the model.

case

is

XII, by a passionate

in

and

in

As

in XII, there

is

us

of some of

the foiirieen-sy liable Sapphic Pentameter,

the other the

much here

Greater Asclepiad.

that

is

i^eminiscent

to

the one

the

Elizabethan love-poetry.

353
A

XXIX. HAIAIKON AIOAIKON

'

Olvo<;

'

(5

^i\e

XpV

Kajjufjue^

Xeyerat

/^eOvovTa<;

ra

K7]y(o fxev ipeoy

ovK oXa9 a

TTal

dXdOea'^

/cal

dXaOea^

a'

e/jb/juevai,

cl)p6V(ov /cear ^ iv /jiv'^oy

diXetaO^ dirv Kap8ia<;*

rd^ ^ota<; eyod
^d Tav adv ISeav, to Se Xolirov dircoKeTO,
K&Ta fxev (TV OeXet^y /jba/cdpeoratv taav dyco

ytpcoa/cco'

<^l\7]v

to yap

dfiepav OTa
7r609

dXX

TavT

^ fie

atfjLLcrv

8' ovfcl 6e\eL<;

dpfjueva,

tv, fjidX" iv cr/coToy,

top (^iXeovT oviat^ SlBcjv;

irpoyeveaTepco,

i fJbOi TL iTiOoLo veo<;

10

K Xcoiov avTO<; 6)(^o)p e/ii iiraLveaaL<^,

TTOLTjaov tcaXidv /xtav evv ^ evi SevBpicOy
OTTTTVL ^ firfSev diTL^eTat dypiov opireTOv,
vvv he TwSe fxev d/jLaTO<; dXXov e%6i9 /cXdSov,
avpioVy e^ eTepco o Tpov fiaTrjf;,
aXXov
/cal /V aev to /cdXov tl<; tScov pe9o<^ alveaai,
Tft> S' ev6v<; irXeov rj T/oter^? iyevev <^tXo9,
TOP Trp&TOV Se (piXevTa^ TpiTatov iOriKao
dvSpcov, TOiv virep dvopeav^ hoKeei^ Trverjv*
(piXi; o , a^ Ke ^07)<^y top vfiotov^ ^XV^ ^^'
al yap &8 ttot;?, dya9o<; jmev dicovaeai
6^ adTCdv o be toc k tl-yoo? ov ')(aXeira)^ ^X^^^
09 dvSpcov (pp6va<; evfiapew^; vTroSd/jLvuTai,
KTjfie jjidXda/cov i^ iirorjae acSapuco,
T(f

K&fifjL

Brunck
Kear

(ppVQ)V ip4(a

msR

354

etV

oinrvi

mss
^

Wil

K&fjLfis

ere cplXrjv
:

mss

(im)

thus

mss
or

mss order ra
*

(piKeeiv
'6Tnrn

20

ivu

Wil

(plXevra

XXIX. The

First Love-Poem

In sack, out sooth goes the sayings lad, and

and I are a-drinking we must fain be

tliat 3^ou

now
men

of truth.
I for one will tell what doth lie in my
mind's hold, and it is that you will not that I should
I know it ; for such
love you with my whole heart.
is the power of your beauty that there's but half
a living left me to love you withal, seeing my day is
spent like as a God's or in very darkness according
What righteousness is here, to
as you do choose.
deliver one that loves you over unto woe ?
Trust
me, if you 'Id only hearken to your elder 'twould be

Listen then
profit unto you and thanks unto me.
one tree should hold one nest, and that where no
noisome beast may come at it
but you, you do
possess one bough to-day and another to-morrow,
seeking ever from this unto that and if one but see
and praise your fair face^ straightway are you more
than a three years' friend to him, and as for him
that first loved you, in three days, lad, you reckon
him of those men whose very manhood you seem to
disdain.
Choose rather to be friends with the same
body so long as you shall live for if so you do,
you will have both honour of the world and kindness of that Love who doth so easily vanquish the
mind of man and hath melted in me a heart of
:

very iron.
mss (pLKivvra.
cf. Mey. 33

'^

mss

virepapopewv

rov

vfioiov

= the

same,

355
A A 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

dWa

TTepp^ diToXco o'Tyfiaro^ ae

6/jivdodr]v, oTt TTeppvaiv

KWTt

iTehep')(^oiJiat

rjaOa ve(OTpo<;,

ryrjpaXeoL TreXofJiev irplv aTroTrrvaac

/cat pvaoLy veorara 8' e^^i^ TraXtvdyperop

ovK (TTr 7rTpvya<; yap e7ro/jL/jLadLai<; (j)6pr],
Kd/jL/jL<; 0ap8vTpoc rd Trorrj/jieva avX\d0^]v.
ravra )(^prj ae voevTa ireKrjv TrpOTCjUbcoTepov-^',
Kai fiOL TCdpaixevo) avvepav dS6X(o<^ aeOev,
OTTTTO)?, dvifca rdv yevvv dvhpetav e;)^^9,
dXXdXoiCTL TreXcofjied' ^A'x^tXXeiOL (piXoi.

ravra

at Se
ev

vvv

(j)ep7]p

Be Xeyr)(;

Ov/ji(p

jjiev icr]7c\

gc

dvefJuoiGLV errLrpeTrrji;,
rt fie haifiovi

ra y^pvaea

ivv6)(Xy^;^

jiaX! eve/cev creOev

Kal ^vXatcov veKvcov ireSd K.ep^epov,

ovSe /cdXevro^ ^ err avXetai^ 6vpat<;
wpo/jioXoi/xi ice rravadjievo^ yaXerroy {jlovco^

jSaiTjv

rora

Trepp

S'

Wil

inss voiovTa
^

KaXevTus

and

356

P]

Ahr

^ (re vScj/ra Buecheler

7r6p
mss irepi
mss irporifidTepov and iroTifx6repou kinder E
mss KaXcvvros
mss iroOoo
fiovo) E = madness
:

"^

fuLovvcp (?)

40

THEOCRITUS XXIX,

25-40

O by those soft lips I beseech you remember that

you were younger a year agone, and as we men wax
old and wrinkled sooner than one may spit, so there's
no re-taking of Youth once she be fled, seeing slie
hath wings to her shoulders, and for us 'tis ill
Come then, think on these
catching winged beasts.
things and be the kinder for't, and give love for love
where true loving is and so when Time shall bring
thee a beard we'll be Achilles and his friend. But if
so be you cast me these words to the winds, and say,
and say in your heart, " Peace, man begone," then,
for all I would go now for your sake and get the
Golden Apples or fetch you the Watch-dog o' the
Dead, I would not come forth, no, not if you should
stand at my very door and call me, for the pain
of my woodness would be overpast.
;

**
"
Achilles and his friend": Patrochis.
of the Hesperides ; the fetching of these
were two of the Labours of Heracles.

Golden Apples":
and of Cerberus
**
woodness":

madness.

357

XXX, HAIAIKON AIOAIKON

"fliat

Tw

yS'

Kalvofiopw rwSe voa't^fjuarov

jjirjvd fxe ^ hevrepov,
/xeryoto)?, aX)C oiroaov tQ> irohi 7reppe')(et
tovto %a/o^9, ral^; 8e iTapavFai<; yXvfcv 5

y^aXeTTOi)

reTopraiO's e%6i TratSo^ epo^

KoKoy

ra^
fcal

fiev

jd<;,

vvv

fjiev

J/

rd^a

S'

e%<9e9

yap

to kclkov tol^

oaov

ovS*

ralcn he fiovK

eaaer

vttvco ^Tnrvyrjv

Trapucov eSpa/ce Xeirr

alheadei^ TrpoTiSrjp

ipcoia,

hi 6(j)pvy(ov

apLfjie

dvTto^, r/peWero Se %/ooa,

he irXeov ra^ fcpaSua^; Mpo<; eSpd^aro'

ejJueOev

eh

/mev e^eiy

olfcov

dire^av eXKO<;

e^^^cov

koi

to <Keap

hdic(ov>^
*

IC

eldfcaXeaai^ Ovfiov efJbavTfp SieXe^d/Jbav^

TavT eTTorj^; dXocrvva<^ tl O")(^aT0v eaaeTai;

iroXka
T6 Srj

S'

ovkX fio-ato-O
Tpia^^

Xv/a<;

S)pd TOL cppovajVy

purj

vravT eporj oaaairep

Kol
^

fjbav
juf/j/a

a/xytte

^6 Bergk

thus

Schwabe

fieXKppvywv

358

(ovkI

yXvKv

Bgk
;

St'

ms

fx^i^ia

apTta

yevfjuevoi^^

dp^

4,

5 transposed by Fritzsche

Bgk

irapavKais yK. (x^ihi^' ov

* AeTrr*
Herwerden : ms K^ivra

Bgk

E ms
:

Kp0Td<p0L<;

veo^ tclv ISeav ireXr]

rjv Xco'iov, efifxevai

ms

ra7s ixkv ^x^^

ocppvyoop

^ TrpoTibrjp

iv

S'

ms fxriva

(f)6prj<;

01 to)v eTecov

dXXa ae Xdder to

TrapavFais (so E)

ajULU

ottl

'

Troridrjp

'''^^^

Kcap

Bcikcdv

sup-

XXX.
Aye me^ the

The Second Love-Poem

pain and the grief of

covers

fair, I ovrn,

grace,

is

sw^eetness.

on day

off,

but

all

*Tis true the

He's

the ground his pretty foot

and the smile of

ague takes

his face is

very

me now but day

but soon there'll be no respite, no not for

When we met

a wink of sleep.

me

have been

now a month and more.

sick of Love's quartan

not so

it

yesterday he gave

a sidelong glance, afeared to look

and blushed crimson

in the face,

Love gripped

at that,

me

my reins

home, there to arraign

me wounded and
my soul at bar and

hold with

myself this parlance

"

doing so

still

the more,

till I

gat

What wast

whither away this fond folly

there's three gray hairs

time, or one that

new-taster

o'

is

know'st thou not

on thy brow

no youth

the years.

after,

heartsore

in's

Be wise

in

looks shall play

Other toys thou forgettest;

'twere better, sure, at thy time

o'

life

to

know no

^ ovkI
^leXe^dfjiap Bgk : ms SicAu^e
nis ovk iiriaeTjs 0'
<p6pr]s and rpias Bgk
ms
^ (ppoverju Bgk
ms (ppopeaiv
<f)6pois and rpla
fi^ cdvkI
vos E: uis fi^
ip4os :
.
see Class. Rev. 1911 p. 37
.

plied

by Fritzsche

FiaaiffQ^

"^

ytvjuLevoi

Kreissler

ms

yeycvfji.

359

THE BUCOLIC POETS

^evvov TMV 'X^aXeTTcov TraZSo? <pcov

rj

toov vt>^

pav.

Tw

fjuev

yap

Tekdacrai

Fiaa y6vvot<; iXdcj^co doa^

drepa TrovTorropyjv a avpiov d/juepav,'^

fiio^ epTrec

S*

ovS* avTCO y\v/cepa<; avdefMov d/3a^ TreS' vpaKiKco

fjuever

rw

top eaco fiveXov eaOLei

S' Oprj VVKTO^ eVVTTVLa,
ivtavro^ ')(aXe7ra<^ ovk 1<kovo<^

S' 6 ir66o<; fcal

TToWa

6fljUiL/JiVa(TKO/jL6V(p,

ivavGaadai

8'

ravra Karepa iroWa irpor

efiov^ Ovfxov efiefi-

yjrdfiav

TOVT ecpar' orrtf; hofcifioi^ rov ho\ofJbd')(avov

VLKdcrrjv "^pov^ oSto? BoKL/buoc To)s vrrep d/JL/mecov
evprjv /3pai8iQ)^ darepa^, oTnrocraaKiv evvea'
KoX vvv, LT deXcOy ^(^prj fjie fid/cpov (ryovra rov

o Se

d/ji(f)va

eXKTjv Tov ^vyov, etr ov/cl

^oXkerai 6eo^

OeKw ravra yap,

SyaGe,

09 Ka\ Alo<; a(j)a\ fxeyav voov

Kavra<; K.v7rpoyev7]a^' e/xe /jbdv, ^vWov^ iirdfjiepov

^
(TfjLLfcpa<; hevfievov avpa^, oveXcov a ice (poprj (j)6p7],^
^

epne

p(t)y

d\d(Ti

ms

^ t6op ivT
^

pcclffa

avpiov

S avpiov

hvas supplied

360

ajuepav
^

oLfi.

by

ipTv^i Fiaa E
ms
E
= roX/jL-fja-ai E from Hesych nis
ravrrj rwu Tj/neptiov % avpi6v kari E

supplied by

reXdffffai

x^-^^"^^^
ms ovkL
:

^g^

^^"^ Xkovos
^^^ x^^^^^^'
for aposiopesis cf. 11. 23.

THEOCRITUS XXX,

17-32

more such loves as this. For whom Life carries

swift and easy as hoof doth hind, and might endure
to cross and cross the sea every day's morrow that is,
can he and the flower o' sweet Youth abide ever of
one date ? How much less he that hath yearnful
remembrance gnawing at his heart's core, and dreams
often o' nights and taketh whole years to cure his
lovesickness

"
!

Such lesson and more read I unto my soul,

" Whoso
and thus she answered me again
thinketh to outvie yon cozening Love, as soon might
he think to tell how-many-times-nine stars be i' th'
and so I too, willy-nilly, must fain
skies above us
stretch my neck beneath the yoke and pull, seeing
:

such,

my

lord,

is

the will of a

God that hath betrayed

mind of Zeus, and beguiled ev'n the

Cyprus-born, and catcheth up and carrieth whithersoever he list (as well he may) a poor mortal leaf
ev'n the mickle

like

me

that needs but a puff of air to

* TTpoT E
319 ff.
^ (pvWou Fritzsche

6v\cov

lxvov
(popt]

cf.

Ahr

^
ms ttot'
ms (piXou
ms 6 fxiWcav

lift it."

Bgk ms ^okc? fioi

Bgk ms 5ei;<^Wil ms aiKa
(pSpri

^oicl^uoi
^

Bev/jievop

/ce

Stob. Flor. T. 28. l^Jiii. ols

h)]) iravToiT]

rvxv

<popy

(mss

Tncr(poL\))s oir-q^il

(mss (popr]) Trvev/jLUTos

see Class. Rev. 1911, p. 65 ms <^opet
'6iT7)

al(apoviJ.4frjy

and

361

THE INSCRIPTIONS
These

Utile

poems are

all,

with the exception

of IV,

actnal inscriptions, arid would seem to have been collected

from the works of art upon which they ?vere inscribed.

XII arid XXIII are in all probability by other hands,
and, thei^e is

some doubt of the genuineness of

XXIV

but the rest are not only ascribed to Theocritus in the best

manuscripts, but are fully worthy

of him.

3^^

EnirPAMMATA
Ta p68a ra

Spocroevra /cat a KardirvKvo^; eKeiva

epTTvXXo^ Kelrac Tal<; 'EXtKcovidai,
Tol Se /uLXdfjL(f)vWoc Sd<pvac t\v WvOie Tlaidv,
AeX</)l? eirel irerpa tovto tol dyXdlac
/3co/jl6v S' alfjid^ei fcepao^ rpdyo^; ovto^ 6 fiaXo^y
TepjJbLvOov Tpcoycov ea')(^aTOV dfcpe/jiova,

II

fcaXa Gvpiyyi peXicrhcdV

avOero Havl rdSe,
Tp7]TOV<; hovaKa^, to Xayco^oXov, o^vv d/covTa,

Ad(f)VLi; 6 Xvk6xpo:>^, 6

/3ovKoXi/cov<; v/jbvov^,
Toif^;

v/3pl8a, Tctv iTTjpav,

a ttok

juLaXo(j)6pc*

III

(pvXXoo-TpcoTC irehcp Ad(f)VL aco/ia KK/JiaKo^

EiiSeif;

dv opy]'
tov KpoKoevTa T[pL7)7ro<;

dfiTTavcov, (TTdXiKe^ S' dpTiirayel^

dypevei he tv Yldv

fcal 6

Kvacrov i(f IfiepTO) fcpUTl Ka6airT6iJLvo<^,

avTpov

eVft)

(TTLX0VT<; ojJboppoOoi,

dXXd tv

(^evye,

(pevye fxedel^ virvov Kco/Jba KaTappvjievov.^

^

Karappv/jLcvoj/

Xvfi^yos

3<^4

mss

cf.

Sappho

/r.

KUTaypS/jL^voy or Karay6fjLuoy

kco/jlu

Karappei,

and

THE INSCRIPTIONS
I. [AN INSCRIPTION

FOR A PICTURE]

Those dewy roses and that thick bushy thyme are

an offering to the Ladies of Flelicon^ and since 'tis
the Delphian Rock hath made it honoured_, the
dark-leaved bay, Pythian Healer, is for thee
and
yon horny white he-goat that crops the outmost
sprays of the terebinth-tree is to be the blood-offering
upon the altar.
;

A PICTURE]

II.-~[FOR
These stopped

reeds,

javelin, this fawnskin,

this

and

hurl-bat,

this wallet

this

sharps

he used to

carry apples in, are an offering unto Pan from the

fair-skinned Daphnis, who pi}>ed the music o' the
country upon this pretty flute.

III._[FOR

A PICTURE]

You sleep there upon the leaf-strown earth, good

Daphnis, and rest your weary frame, while your
netting-stakes are left planted on the hillside.
But
Pan is after you, and Priapus also, with the yellow
ivy about his jolly head
they are going side by side
into your cave.
Quick then, put off the lethargy
that is shed of sleep, and up with you and away.
;

365

THE BUCOLIC POETS

IV
T7]vav rap Xavpav, toOl toI

Spv<;,

aliroXe

Kdfjby\ra<^

GVKLVov evpyaei^ apTLy\v(^e<=; ^oavov

aaKeXe^^ avT6(j)Xotojf dvovarov, dXXd (pdXijri,
TracSojovo) Svvarov K.v7TpcSo<; epja reXeiv,

auKo^ S' eviepo^ '/repcSeSpo/ieVy devaov he

peWpov diTO crmXdScov Trdvrocre TTfXeOdeu
8d(f)vac<; /cal

fivprotcn fcal evcoSeL KVirapLaao),

evOa Trepi^ KeyvTai I^OTpvoirai^ eXcKC

ci/jLTreXo^f

elaptvol Se XiyvcfyOoyyoiaiv docSat^^

Koaav^oi dyevaiv itoikCXot pavXa jieXTj,

^ovOal S' dhovihe^ /jLtvvpia/jiaaiv dvra^evac

10
^

fxeXiTOvaaL arofjuaacv rdv fieXijapvv oiva,

e^eo

Ka\ rco ^apievTi

Br) rrjvel

Yipirjircx)

ev')(^e dTToaTep^ai
KvOv^ eTTLppe^eiv ')(ifxapov /caXov, i)v S* dvavevarj,
TovSe TV')((bv ideXco rptaad 0vr] reXeaar
pe^co yap Sap^dXav, Xdcnov rpdyov, dpva top ccx^^

tov<; Ad(j)VLS6<^ jxe ttoOov;,

dtoi

aa/cLTav.

Afj<; itotI

dSv

TL

rdv
juLoc;

8' evfievew^;

6 deo^.

Nvfji(f>dv SiSvpLocf;

avXotacv detcrac

Krjycb Tra/CTcS* decpdp^evo^

dp^evfJLai rt KpeKetv, 6 he /3ov/c6Xo^ dfip^cya OeX^el

Ad(l)vc<;, KTjpohera) irvevp^arL p.eX7r6fiVO<;.
^ a(TKKs
Tpi(TKeKS

366

i.e. a herm, cf. A. P. 10. 8, 6. 20

avrax^vai Scaliger mss auTiax^vai

Jahn,
^

mss

rHE INSCRIPTIONS, IV-V

IV. [A LOVE-POEM IN THE FORM OF
A WAYSIDE INSCRIPTION]

When

you turn the corner of yonder lane, sweet

Goatherd, where the oak-trees are, you'll find a newcarved effigy of fig-wood, without legs or ears and
the bark still upon it, but nevertheless an able
servant

of

the

Cyprian.

There's a

brave

little

round it, and a never-ceasing

freshet that springs from the rocks there is greened
all about with bays and myrtles and fragrant cypress,
among which the mother o' grapes doth spread and
twine, and in spring the blackbirds cry their lisping
medleys of clear-toned song, and the babblingnightingales cry them back their warblings with the
honey voice that sings from their tuneful throats.
Thither go, and sit you down and pray that pretty
fellow to make cease my love of Daphnis, and I'll
straightway offer him a fat young goat but should
he say me nay, then I'll make him three sacrifices if
he'll win me his love, a heifer, a shaggy buck-goat,
and a pet lamb I am rearing and may the God hear
and heed your prayer.
sacrificial

close runs

V._[AN INSCRIPTION FOR A PICTURE]

'Fore the Nymphs I pray you play me some sweet
thing upon the double flute, and I will take my viol
and strike up likewise, and neatherd Daphnis shall
join with us and make charming music with the

;^^_OF_,MD/;^^,^

367

THE BUCOLIC POETS

TLdva Tov alyc/Scirav

6p4>aviaco/jL<; virvov.

VI
'A SeiXaie rv vpat,

to irXeop,

tl

el /carara^et^;

Sd/cpvat SljXtJvov^ WTra? oSvpofievo^;

ol')(eTaLa')(^iliapo^,
Tpa')(y<;

jap

to koKov

Te/co9, ol'^^e/ e^^^Aihav

')(a\al<; d/uLcpeTrLa^e Xu/^09.

at Be Kvve's KKaj^yevvTr tl to TrXeov, avL/ca Trjva^

OGTLov ovSe

Tecf)pa \eiireTaL olxofjLeva^;;

VII
akiKia he

SijTTLOV vlov eXeiTre^y ev

kcli

avTo^,

KvpV/jieSoV, TVfJL^OV TOvSe OaVCOV 6Tf%6?.

(jo\ fiev

eSpa deioicn

jxeT

TLfxaaevpTLi 7raTpo<;

dpSpdar top

/uLpdofxepoL co?

8e TroXiTai

dyaOco,

VIII

^HX^e Kal

^l\7]tov

tov

JJacriopo<; vlo^,

hfTTipi pogcjop dvSpl avpoLcTOfiepo^;

Nifcua, 09 P'iP

eV

fj/jiap

del Oveeaacp ifcpecTaL,

Kal ToS^ diT evcoSov; yXvyjraT ayaXfia /ceSpov,

'VleTLCoPL X^P^^ y\a(f>vpd<; %e/369 ccKpop viroGTa^
o S' et9

/jLiaOop^

368

epyop iraaap dc^rjKe Te^yv^*

mss also Xaaiavx^yos

kyyvQtEv avrpov

THE

INSCRIPTIONS, V-VIII

and
notes of his wax-bound breath
beside the shaggy oak beliind the cave,
goat-foot Pan of his slumber.
;

so standing
let's

rob yon

VI. [FOR A PICTURE]

Well-a-day, you poor Thyrsis what boots it if
you cry your two eyes out of their sockets ? Your
kid's gone, the pretty babe, dead and gone, all
crushed in the talons of the great rough wolf.
True, the dogs are baying him but to what end,
when there's neither ash nor bone of the poor dead
!

left?

VII. [FOR

THE GRAVE OF A YOUNG

FATHER]

Here

Eurymedon, come in your prime to

but you left a little son behind you, and

are you,

the grave

though your dwelling henceforth is with the great

o' the earth, you may trust your countrymen to
honour the child for the sake of the father.

VIIL [FOR NICIAS'

NEW STATUE OF

ASCLEPIUS]
The Great
to live with

Healer's son

is

come

to Miletus

now,

who both
and hath now

his fellow-craftsman Nicias,

maketh sacrifice before him every day,

made carve this statue of fragrant cedar-wood

he
promised Eetion a round price for the finished
cunning of his hand, and Eetion hath put forth all
his art to the making of the work.
;

369
B B

THE BUCOLIC POETS

IX
'B(LV, XvpafCOCTLOf;
')(i}jiepia^

TOL aVTjp Toh^ (f)iTaL"Op6(OV*

jjieOvwv /JLrjSajua pvkto^ Xol^,

Kol yap iyoo tolovtov e^ov iroTfJuov} avrl Se TroXXa?

iraTpiho^ oOveiav Kelfxat

'TfjiLV

dcfyeard/jLevof;.^

TOVTO 6eal Kex^aptcr fxevov ivvea

T&yaK/Jba ^evo/cXrj^
fJiOvaLKO^'

alvov

Orj/ce

to fJiapixapLvov,

ov'x, ereyOft)? Ti9 ipel,

e'xoyv

yiovaecov

ov/c

7rd(TaL<i

aoi^ir) 3'

eVl rfjhe

iirLKavOdverat,

XI
^vaOeveo^ to
Seivo^i dir

ev

fivv

jULvr/fia, cjyvatyvdo/jLcov

09 dptaTO<;,^

6(pda\/jL0v koI to vorj/xa ixaOelv,

e9ay\rav eTalpoi eVl ^eivr]^ ^evov ovtu,

')(^(ovfjLVodTrj(;

&v

TrdvTcov

avTcp

Sat/JLOVLco<; (f)L\o(; rjv,

iireoifcev e^^t

Kaiirep clklkv^ ioov 66%'

TsOvew cro(f)icrT7]<;'
dpa /crjSefjLova^;.

^ mss also odyeiccu

acpea-rdG.I. A. 1. 32. 18
mss i<p4(TT. and
^ ts &pL(Tros E, for the more usual attracted form
ip(X(T.
mss 6 ao(()i(rT^s
(pvffiyvcafjLovos ov (or o'lov) apicrrov^ cf. xiv. 59
^

TrSrjuLov

fieuos

E,

cf.

mss also

fxopov

cLTroo-rTjcrdadcov

from below

THE
IX.[FOR

INSCRIPTIONS, IX-XI

THE GRAVE OF A LANDED

GENTLEMAN]

good Stranger, is the behest of Orthon of

Go you never abroad drunk of a stormy
Syracuse
night for that was my fate to do, and so it is I lie
here, and there's weighed me out a foreign country
in exchange for much native-land.
This_,

X. [FOR AN ALTAR WITH A FRIEZE

OF THE MUSES]
This carved work of marble, sweet Goddesses, is
as
set up for the nine of you by the true musician
Xenocles, who having much
all must name Jiim
credit of his art forgets not the Muses whose it is.

XL [FOR THE GRAVE OF A STROLLING

PHYSIOGNOMIST]
Here

the great physiogcould read the mind by the

And so, for all he is a stranger in a strange
eye.
land, he has had friends to give him decent burial,
and the dirge-writer has been kindness itself.
The
dead philosopher has all he could have wished and
thus, weakling wight though he be, there is after all
somebody that cares for him.
lies

nomist, the

Strong-i'-th'-arm

man who

" Weakling wight "

the name.

an Epic word to point the play upon

37T
B B 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

XIT

fcal ere

top 7]8t(7TOv 9eS)V

lJL6Tpio<; rjv

iv irdai,

avSpcov, KoX TO

fjia/cdpcov avaOeif;,

%o/}a) 3'

KoKov

fcal

eKTrjaaro vLktjv

to Trpoarj/cop 6po)v.

XIII

'H

Ki^TTyOt?

ov

ovpavLi]V,
o'tKO)

IXdaKeo

TrdvSrj/jLOf;,

d<yvf)<^

eK aedev dp^xofxevoL^

Kol Te/cva koI ^lov

Xcolov 69 6to?

acj^cv

dOavdTwv avTol

Oeov

eiTToov

dvOefia Xpvaojov7j<;

iv 'A/i^i/cXeou?/

^vvov, del 8e

Trjv

&

el'x^e

rjp

TroTvia* KrjSo/jievoL

yap

irXelov e^ovaL /3pOToL

XIV
'AcTToZ? /cal ^eivoLCLv taov

dveXoif

0l<;

aXXo9

yjrijipov

ve/nei, T/Se

irpo^

Xojov

T49 7rp6(f)aaiv XeyeTco' tcl

Tpdire^w

eX/co/juevrj^;,'^

S'

odvela Kd'LKO<i

XPVH'Ci'^ci teal vv/cTo^ ^ovXojJbevoi^ dpiOp^el.

^

^AfjL(ptK\ovs

Papp.

372

1.

p. 65,

a Coari

name

Theophr. Char. 24

^
:

mss

^\K0fxP7}Sf

cf.

also apx^ixivris

Hibeh

THE

INSCRIPTIONS, XII-XIV

XII. [FOR

A PRIZE TRIPOD]

Choir-master Demomeles,

who

set

up

this tripod

this effigy, Dionysus, of the sweetest God in

heaven, had always been a decent fellow, and he won
the victory with his men's-chorus because he knew
beauty and seemliness when he saw them.

and

XIIL-[FOR A CO AN LADY'S NEW STATUE

OF APHRODITE]
This is not the People's Cyprian, but pray when
you propitiate this Goddess do so by the name of
Heavenly for this is the offering of a chaste woman,
to wit of Chrysogone, in the house of Amphicles,
whose children and whose life she shared so that
beginning. Great Lady, with worship of thee, they
ever increased their happiness with the years.
For
any that have a care for the Immortals are the better
;

off for it

themselves.

XIV. [FOR THE TABLE OF A BARBARIAN

MONEY-CHANGER]
This table makes no distinction of native and
You pay in and you receive out in strict
accordance with the lie of the counters. If you want
shifts and shuffles go elsewhere.
You may be paid
foreign money by Caicus in the dark.
foreigner.

373

THE BUCOLIC POETS

XV
FvcoaofjiaLy el rt vifiei^

ayadol^ irXeov,

tj

koX 6 SeiXo^;

ifc aeOev ooaavrco^ laov, ohoinrop

ey^et.
^yaipkTdi o5to9 o tz;/>6/3o9 e'yoeZ? ' eireX Y^vpvjxe'
hovTO^
KeiTai TTj^ leprj<; /cov(f)0^ inrep /c(j)a\r]<;.^
,

'

XVI

7ra^9 ft^X^T

eh

a(opo<; ev epoofiq) rjo

eviavro)

^AtSrjv 7roWr}<; rfKiKir]<^ nrporepr),

iroOeovaa rov elKoadfJbrjvov aSeXcfyov,

vrjiTLOV acjTopyov yevad/ievov Oavdrov,
alal eXeiva iraOovca Ueptareprjy co? ev eroifjicp
hetkairjy

dv0p(O7roL<; Saificov 6y)Ke

rd Xvyporara.

XVII

@daat TOP dvhpidvTa tovtov &

(TTrovhdy Kol

AvaKpeovTO^

\ey eirdv

^eve

9 oIkov ev9r)^'

eioov ev lew

eofcov

TOdv irpoaO^ eX rt irepKrcrov (pSoiroicov'

7rpocrdel<^ 8e

%a)T^

epel^; drpe/cico^

tol^ veoiaiv dSero,

'

6\ov rov dvSpa,

XVIII
''A re (j)0)vd Acopio^

evpcop

&

Bd/cx^e

tIv

^(^iyvrjp

rdv

Kco/JLfjySlav

'F^TTLXCl'PI^O^,

ft)S'

ydXKeov

viv

dvr dXaOivov

dveOrjKav,

Tol Xvpafcoacrat^ iviSpvvTac TreXcopcara iroXei,

oY dvSpl TToXcra,
374

THE

INSCRIPTIONS, XV-XVIII

XV. [FOR THE GRAVE OF A BRAVE MAN]

SHALL know, master Wayfarer, whether you
prefer the vahant or esteem him even as the craven
^^
Blest be this tomb for lying so
for you will say
light above the sacred head of Eurymedon."
I

XVI. [FOR THE GRAVE OF

TWO LITTLE

CHILDREN]
maid was taken untimely, seven years
before her, and 'twas for grief, the
poor child, that her brother of twenty months should
have tasted, pretty babe, the unkindness of Death
O Peristere, the pity of it how near to man and
ready hath God set what is woefullest
This

old

little

and her

life

XVII. [FOR A STATUE OF

AT TEOS]

ANACREON

Look well upon this statue, good Stranger, and

when you return home say ^^ I saw at Teos a likeness
of Anacreon, the very greatest of the old makers of
songs " ; and you will describe him to the letter if
you say also ^^ He was the delight of the young."

XVIIL [FOR A STATUE OF EPICHARMUS

IN THE THEATRE AT SYRACUSE]
The speech is the Dorian, and the theme the
inventor of comedy, Epicharmus.
They that have
their habitation in the most mighty city of Syracuse
have set him up here, as became fellow-townsmen,
unto thee, good Bacchus, in bronze in the stead of
375

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Tov el/ce prj/LLaTcov fie/jLva/jbivot ^
reXelv eiriyeipa,
TToWa yap ttottclv ^oav T0t9 Tratalv elrre
fieyaXa %^/3^9 avrw,
(Tcopov

')(^pi]at/jia'

XIX
'O

evOdh^ 'lirirodva^ KetTai,

[jLovcroTTOio^

fcel fxev

irovrjpo^y

/jLT]

'TTOTep')(ev rep TvpL/3(p'

Kprjjvo^ re kol irapa y^priaTtov,

Oapaeayv KaOi^eVi Krjv de\r}<; airo^pi^ov.
el S' icral

XX
'O

/jbtfCKo^;

ra Spataaa
to, oSw icriireypay^e KXe/ra?.

ToS' erev^e

MiySeio? TO p^vap^ eirl

e%e^ TOLV X^P^^ ahvv ami rijvcoVy
0)v TOV Kovpov Wpe-y^e- tl fjudv; ort^pV^^f^^ KaXelrac.

XXI
^ApxiXoxov
TOV Tcbv

fcal

recti ecacSe tov iraXai TroLrjTav

OV TO flVpiOV k\0^

cTTaOi

idfl/3cOV,

Sf.r]\0e kt/ttI vvfCTa /cal ttot

i-jpd

viv at y[oT,(Tai /cal 6

a<S.

AaX^o? rjydTrevv AiroWcoVj

T eyeveTO fcrjTnSe^LO^
eired t6 iroielv irpo^ \vpav t deiSecv*
fo)9 pb/jb\7]<;

thus E,

lK

from

V^oj,

cf.

yap) clx^ ^rjfidr^v (or xRVM-o-tccv)

Horn. eTaa
fjLfxva}ievovs

mss

acophu (or

<r.

THE

INSCRIPTIONS, XVIII-XXI

and thus have remembered to pay him his

heap of words he hath builded..
wages
he hath told their children
things
the
are
For many
the flesh

for the great

profitable unto

life.

He

hath their hearty thanks.

NEW INSCRIPTION FOR THE

GRAVE OF HIPPONAX]

XIX. [A

Here lies the bard Hipponax. If you are a rascal,

go not nigh his tomb but if you are a true man of
good stock, sit you down and welcome, and if you
choose to drop off to sleep you shall.
;

XX. [AN INSCRIPTION FOR THE GRAVE

OF A NURSE]
This memorial the little Medeius hath builded by
the wayside to his Thracian nurse, and written her
name upon it, ^^ Cleita." She hath her reward for
the child's good upbringing, and what is it ? to be
called ^^ a good servant " evermore.

XXL [FOR A STATUE OF ARCHILOCHUS]

Stand and look at Archilochus, the old maker of
iambic verse, whose infinite renown hath spread
both to utmost east and furthest west. Sure the
Muses and Delian Apollo liked him well, such taste
and skill had he to bring both to the framing
of the words and to the setting of them to the lyre.

377

THE BUCOLIC POETS

XXII
Vov TO) Lavo^ 00 v/jllv vlov wvqp
TOP \eovToiJid^av, rov o^v^eipay
7rpdT0<^

T&v

iirdvcoOe

jubcocroTroLcov

Tieiaavhpo^ avveypayjrev ov/c K.a/jLipco,

Xc!>o'aov^ i^eirovaaev elir de9\ov<=;,
TOVTOV S' avTOV
Sd/jbo^, ft)<? (rdcj)' elSfj^;,
earaa ivddSe ^dXfceov irorjcra^

iroWol^

/Ji7}alv

OTTcaOe KrjviavTol^,

XXIII
AvS7]cri TO ypdjjifiay tC adp^d re kcli Tt9 vtt avrCo'

r\avK7]<;

el/jbl

Td(])0<; Trj<; ovopba^ofievr]^.

XXIV
^Ap)(^ata

THir6W(ovL TdvaOrjiiara

virrjp^ev* rj ^d(Ti<; Se rov /Jbev eiKoo-i,

eTTTa, TOV 06 lTeVT, TOV 06 O(O0fCa,
TOV ^
rov he Strj/coaLOKiL vecoTeprj rjh^ evtavTol^-

ToaaoaSe yap rlv^

^

here and below rod Wil

apLO/xhs

378

i^G/Srj fiTpov/JLvo<^,

mss

viv

mss

toTs

r\v E,

supply

THE INSCRIPTIONS, XXII-XXIV

XXII. [FOR A STATUE OF PEISANDER

AT CAMIRUS]
This

is

Peisander of Camirus, the bard of old time

who

first wrote you of the lion-fighting quick-o'-th'hand son of Zeus and told of all the labours he
wrought. That you may know this for certain, the
people have made his likeness in bronze and set it
here after many months and many years.

XXIII. [FOR
The writing
lies

beneath

it

THE GRAVE OF ONE GLAUCE]

will say
:

^^

am

what the tomb

is

and who

the grave of one that was

called Glauce."

XXIV. [FOR A
These

NEW BASE TO SOME OLD

OFFERINGS]

offerings Apollo

had possessed before

but

the base you see below them is younger, than this

by twenty years and that by seven, this by five and
that by twelve, and this again by two hundred.
For when you reckon them that is wliat it comes to.

379

GEOKPITOY An02nA2MATA

Eustath. ad Iliad

5.

905,

ecTTtv "Apco^ rj^il^Tj, 009

p.

620, 29 'ASeXc/)^ Se

koX eofcpiro^; /jLv6o\oyL

II

00^

Etym. Magn., p. 290, 53

irapa eoKpirw,

^valv avTi^epeaOai,

III

Athen.
rfj

eTFLypacpofiepr) IBepepLKj)

^op^evov

284 a Seo/cpcrof;

7,

i')(j9vv

/cat

S*

6 XvpaKoaio^; iv

top Xevtcov

i'TTovofia-

lepov KoXel hia tovtcov*

T^9 avrjp

alrecrai iiraypocnjvrjv re

fcal

6X/3ov,

i^ aXo9

(p ^0}7]y

ra Se hiKTva

Keivco

aporpa,

a(pd^(ov aKp6vv)(p^ ravrr) Oeco lepov I'xjdvvy

yap 6^ lepcoraro^ dWcov,
ov XevKov KoXeovacv,

KuC fc Xlva
epifkea .

380

(7T TjaaLTO
.

Kol i^epvaacTO OaXdaari^

THE FRAGMENTS
Three fragments of

Theocritus have been preserved

in quotations,
I

Eustathius commenting upon Iliad 5. 905 says

Hebe

is

the sister of Ares, as Theocritus

tells us.

II

Etymologicum

In the

To

Magnum

7ve

read

fight against two, as in Theocritus.

Ill

The

third passage is quoted by Athenaeus (7. 284a)

a
poe7n in honour of Berenice, the queen either of
from
Ptolemy I or of Ptolemy III ; it is also referred to by
Eustathius upon Iliad 16. 407 (1067. 43) :

And if a man whose living is of the deep, a man

whose ploughshares are his nets, prayeth for luck
and lucre with an evening sacrifice unto this Goddess
of one of the noble fishes which being noblest of all
they call Leucus, then when he shall set his trammels
he shall draw them from out the sea full to the
brim
.

381

11

THE POEMS AND FRAGMENTS

OF BION

I. THE
Like

LAMENT FOR ADONIS

all the so-called

lyric only in spirit.

songs in this hook, this

song in Theocritus

a conventional hook-rej)resentation of them

The

is

one of the actual songs sung

It is not

at the Adonis-festival, hid, like the

recitation.

poem

suggestion here and there

wiitten

XF,
for

of a refrain

is

intended primarily to aid the illusion, hid also serves the

purpose sometimes of ^paragraphing the ^oem.

helongs to the second part

proper

As

in

XV

of

the

the festival ;

wedding-song

coming dirge, so here the dirge refers

song.

The Lament

he the work

for

Adonis

is

to the

The poem

it is

the dirge

i^ejers

to

the

past wedding-

generally believed to

of Bion,

38s
c c

BI0N02
I.AAONIA02 EniTA<|)I02
Ald^o) TOP "ABcovtv
'

'

aTTcoXeTO /ca\o<; "AScopt<;*

coiXero /cdXo^ ''AScovl^

'

eiraid^ovaiv "Eyocore?.

fjbrjfceTL 7rop<j)vpeoL<^ ivl (fxipeac VivirpL fcdOevSe'

eypeo SeiXata, fcvavocTToXa

o-rrjOea fcal

Xeye iraaiv

'

fcal

TrXardyrjaov

dTTCoXero /ca\o<; "ASo)vl<;,^

ald^co TOP ''ASwvLv iiraidi^ovcnv "Epcore^;,

/celraL /caXo^ "AScopif; ip copeat /jirjpop ooopti,
\VfC(p Xevfcop oSoPTt TVirel^;, /cat l^virpLP dpifj

XeTTTOP diro-^^vx^P' to Se ol fieXap et/Serac alfia

')(^LOpea<;

fcal

KaTci aap/co'^, vtt ocppvcn

TO poBop

(peTjyet tco

^e/Xeo?*

9paa/cC /cal to (piXrjjua, to

J^vTrpiSi

fjiP

TO

dXX' ovK olhep

d/jLcf)!

/jltjttotg

(f)LX7]/jLa fcal

''A8copc<;,

S* o/z-yLtara pap/cfj,

Se T7]P(p

KvTrpL^; dpoiaeL,

ov ^(oopto<^ dpeaiceiy

6 plp dpaa/coPT

i(j)LXrj(7P.

ald^o) TOP "AScopcp* eiraidi^ovcnp "EyOcoTe?.

aypiop aypiop eXKO'^

jiel^op

8'

d KvOepeia
^

386

e'xec

(f>peL

KvavoGToXa Wil

KaTcu

fjurjpop ''AScopl<;*

iroTUcdphtop eX/co^,
mss KvavouT6\

THE POEMS AND FRAGMENTS

OF BION
LAMENT FOR ADONIS

I.THE
I
ir>

CRY woe for Adonis and say The beauteous Ado7iis

; and the Loves cry me woe again and say

dead

The beauteous Adonis is dead.

Sleep no more^ Cypris^ beneath thy purple coverlet^
but awake to thy misery put on the sable robe and
fall to beating thy breast^ and tell it to the world,
The beauteous Adonis is dead.
Woe I cry for Adonis and the Loves cry woe again.
The beauteous Adonis lieth low in the hills, his
thigh pierced with the tusk, the white with the
white, and Cypris is sore vexed at the gentle passing
of his breath
for the red blood drips down his
snow-white flesh, and the eyes beneath his brow wax
dim the rose departs from his lip, and the kiss that
Cypris shall never have so again, that kiss dies upon
it and is gone.
Cypris is fain enough now of the
kiss of the dead
but Adonis, he knows not that she
hath kissed him.
Woe I cry for Adonis and the Loves cry woe again.
Cruel, O cruel the wound in the thigh of him, but
;

greater the

wound

in the heart of her.

Loud did

387
c c 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

TTjvov

^ fjbev

iralSa (plXot Kvve^ thSvpavTO

ire pi

Kol ^v/jLCpac Kkaiovaiv opetdhe'^' a

'Acf^poSiTa

XvaafJLeva iT\o/cafilSa<; ava hpvfjuw^ akaXrjTat

irevOdXea PTJirXefcro^ dadvSaXof;* at Se ^droc vtv

epyppikvav tceipovTi koX iepov aljua Bpiirovrar

o^v Se Kco/cvovaa Be ajfcea fiafcpd (popetrai.

^Aaavpcov ^oocoaa Troatv fcal iralha /caXevaa,
d/jL(f>l

Se viv fJbeXav al/xa irap 6fjb<^a\ov aaypetrOy

S' eK jjur^pSyv (pocviaaeTO, rol S'^ V7rb /xa^ol

(TTTjOea

TO Trdpoidev ^AScovtSt 7rop(j)vpovTO.

alal rdv KvOepet^av eTracd^ovcrtv "E/^coTe?.
c!)\(T6 TOP Kokov dvSpa, (TVVcoXeaev Iepov etSo^,
HvTrptSc fjuev fcaXov elSo^;, ore ^coea/cev 'AScovl^'
KdrOave S* d pLop^d aiw ^AScoviSi, 'rdv KvTTptv
alal
&pea irdvTa XeyovrCj /cat at 8pv6<; 'at rbv "AScoviv.'
/cal TTOTapiol /cXaiovat rd 7rev9ea rd^ ^Af^pohira^,
icaX irayal top "ABcovlv iv copecn Sa/cpvovrt,
dvOea S' ef ohvva^ epvdaiverai- d Se K.vd7]pa
7rdvTa<; dvd Kvapida^;, dvd irdv vdiro^ oiKTpov detSei
'
alal rdv Kvdepeiav, dirdtXeTO KaXo^ "ASoyvi^,^
aTrdiXeTO /caXo<; '^ASwz^i?.'
'A;\;a> 8' avTej36a(jev
K.v7rpL8o<; alvov epcora t69 ovfc e/cXavaev dv alal;
d)(; cSev, &)<? ivoTjaev WSd)PLSo<? da'^erov eX/co^,
ct)9 iSe (f)OLViop alpia papatpop^epcp Trepl pbrjpcpi
'X^Loveoi

'

'

'

ird'XGCi'^

dp^Trerdaaaa /cipvpero'

'

pbelpov" Ahwpi,

BvO-TTOT/Xe pLlP0v"AhcOVi, TTaPVCTTaTOP CW9 ere

ae TrepiTTTV^o)

Kl')(eLOi),

x^iXea 'xeiXecn p.L^co

eypeo TVT0op"Ahcopc, to S' av TrvpaTOP pe (piXrjcrop,
TOcraovTOP pie ^LXrjaop, oaop ^corj to (^iXrjpiay
0)9

388

TTivov

Brunck

/cal

mss

k^Ivov

^ roi 5'

Wil mss
:

ol 5*

BION

I,

18-46

wail his familiar hounds^ and loud now weep the

Nymphs of the hill but Aphrodite, she unbraids
her tresses and goes wandering distraught, unkempt,
unslippered in the wild wood, and for all the briers
may tear and rend her and cull her hallowed blood,
;

she flies through the long glades shrieking amain,

crying upon her Assyrian lord, calling upon the lad
Meantime the red blood floated in a
of her love.
his
navel, his breast took on the purple
about
pool
that came of his thighs, and the paps thereof that
had been as the snow waxed now incarnadine.
The Loves cry woe again saying ''Woe for Cyiherea^
Lost is her lovely lord, and with him lost her
When Adonis yet lived Cypris
hallowed beauty.
was beautiful to see to, but when Adonis died her
With all the hills 'tis Woe for
loveliness died also.
Cypris and with the vales 'tis Woe for Adonis ; the
rivers weep the sorrows of Aphrodite, the wells of
the mountains shed tears for Adonis the flowerets
flush red for grief, and Cythera's isle over every
foothill and every glen of it sings pitifully Woe for
Cytherea, the beauteous Adonis is dead, and Echo ever
cries her back again. The beauteous Adonis is dead.
Who would not have wept his woe over the dire tale
of Cypris' love ?
She saw, she marked his irresistible wound, she
saw his thigh fading in a welter of blood, she lift her
hands and put up the voice of lamentation saying
''
Stay, Adonis mine, stay, hapless Adonis, till I come
at thee for the last time, till I clip thee about and
mingle lip with lip. x\wake Adonis, awake for a
;

little

while, and give

me

so long as ever the kiss

one latest kiss kiss me all

be alive, till thou give up
;

389

THE BUCOLIC POETS

d')(^pL^ a7T0'^v')(r]<^

reov

TTveu/xa

eyu-oz;

to

pevajf,

aTOfxa ksU
8e

crev

rjirap

efjLov

jXvkv (^iKrpov

dfieX^o),

K Se
<9"^

Tov epcoTa,

TTLco

(plXTjfia Se

avTov Tov"ASa)VLV,

irrel

av

tovto

cjyvXd^oo

fie hvcrfxope (f>vjt^,

(^evyei^ fia/cpov "AScovi, fcal epy^eai,

50

eh K'^epovra
^

Trap (TTvyvov /SaatXrja koi a^piov, d he rdXaiva

ov Svva/Ltai

^(oo) /cal 0b<; ififu /al

Xdf.i^ave

TToXXbv

ere Stco/ceiv,

Hepae^ova tov e/j^ov iroatv' iaal jdp

Kpiaawv, to he irdv icaXov

ifiev

avTct

e?

ere

KUTapper'^

e^w

dKopeaTOV dviav,
fcal fcXaLco tov^'AScovlv, 6 fioc 9dve, kul ae (j)o^evfiat,
dvdaKei^ 0) TptTrodrjTe, ttoOo^ 8e jjlol g)<; ovap eiTTa,
XVP^ ^' ^ ^vdepeia, fcevol S' dvd ScofiaT "EyocoTe?.
(Tol S' dfia KecTTO^ 6XcoXe tl yap ToXfirjpe Kvvdyet<;;
KaXo^ ewv ToaaovTov ejJLrjvao Orjpl iraXaieiv;^
ififU S* ejo) TravdTTOTfio^,

S*

60

SyK oXoipvpaTO KvTTpis' eVaiafouoriz^ "Epcore?

'

alai Tav KvOepeiav, dirdciXeTO fcaXo<; "AScovt<;,^

hdfcpvov d Ila(f)La Toaaov %eei, oaaov " Ahiovi^

alfJLa

xeer

tcl

he TrdvTa ttotI ydovi yiveT at

alfxa pbhov TiKTec,

Ta

he hdfcpva

Tav

clvOtj,

dvejuucovav,

ald^co TOV "AhcoviVf dTr(j)XeTO /caXb^ ''Ah(ovL<;.

fjLTjKeT

dyaOd

ovfc

XeKTpov
^

0)5-

Ti;

S90

5e

tov dvepa

jjbvpeo YLinrpi.

(JTL^d<; eaTiv ^Ahcovtht (f)vXXd^ epr^fxa'

e'xpt

Mus
3

6,ppL

or

evl hpvfiolai

$xoi

K.v0epeia to crov

mss Sos a-'

Valckenaer

due to taking

koI

fcal ^

'

'

mss koX
mss yvv Se

Karappu Stephanus

mss ^x^*
and "
as
:

veKpb^ "Ahcovc^. 70
>^^

BION

47-70

I,

my mouth

and thy spirit pass into

have drawn the sweet milk of thy
love-potion and I have drunk up all thy love and
that kiss of Adonis I will keep as it were he that
gave it^ now that thou fliest me^ poor miserable^ fliest
me far and long, Adonis^ and goest where is Acheron
and the cruel sullen king, while I alas live and am
O Persephone,
a God and may not go after thee.
take thou my husband, take him if thou wilt for
thou art far stronger than I, and gettest to thy share
all that is beautiful
but as for me, 'tis all ill and
for ever, 'tis pain and grief without cloy, and I
weep that my Adonis is dead and I fear me what
thou wilt do. O dearest and sweetest and best,
thou diest, and my dear love is sped like a dream
widowed now is Cytherea, the Loves are left idle
in her bower, and the girdle of the Love-Lady is
lost along with her beloved.
O rash and overbold
why didst go a-hunting?
Wast thou so wood to
pit thee against a wild beast and thou so fair ?"
This was the wail of Cypris, and now the Loves cry
her woe again, saying Woe for Cytherea, the beauteous
thy breath into

my

heart,, till I

Adonis

is

dead.

The Paphian weeps and Adonis bleeds, drop for

drop, and the blood and tears become flowers upon
the ground.
Of the blood comes the rose, and of
the tears the windflower.

I cry woe for Adonis, the beauteous Adonis is dead.

Mourn thy husband no more in the woods, sweet
Cypris the lonely leaves make no good lying for
such as he rather let Adonis have thy couch as in
life so in death
for being dead, Cytherea, he is yet
;

**

wood "

mad.

THE BUCOLIC POETS

/cal

vKvs

oyv

koXo^ iari,

/ca\o<; veicv<;,

ola KaOevScov.

/cdrOeo viv jxakaKol^ ivi ^dpecnv ol^^ eviavev,

c5

fierd reu?

dva vvicTa rbv lepov vttvov

i/no'x^Oet

TTay^pvcrefp /cXcvTrjpr 7ro6el koI aTVjJbvov^^Khayviv.

/3aXXe Be vtv arecpdvoicn

dvdear irdpra avv

icai

avTcp,
Trjvo<;

ft)9

TeOvaice koX dv6ea Trdvra Oavovrcov^

palve he vtv ^vpioLCTLV

oWvaOcd

dXi(j)aat, palve ixvpotcnv*

to aov pLvpov coXer

jjivpa Trdvra'

''AScovt's*

fce/cXi^rat d/3po<; "AScovc^; iv e'lpaai 7rop<^vpeoiaiV'

d/jL(j)l

Be vtv K\aiovT<; dvaaTvd^ovaLv"^pcoT<;

KetpdjjLevoi ')(aiTa<^ eir ^ABoovcSr

^w

fiev

80

oIgtw^,

09 S' eVl To^ov e/SaWeVy o^ Be nrrepov, 09 Be (\>ape-

rpav*

^A

fxev eXvcre ireBiXov ^ABoovcBo^;, oc Be Xe^rjrt

')(pvaei(p (popeovcTLV

09
'

S'

vBwp, o Be
'

eTracd^ovacv

ea^eae XapbirdBa iraaav

'

Xoveiy

oTTcdev TTTepvyeaatv dvayjrv)(^ei tov "ABcovtv.

aiaV rdv Kvdepeiav

fcal

/jurjpca

eirl

<jTe^09 e^eireTaaae yajjurjXiov

Tfirjv ovfcer

deiBei eov fieko^;,

"EyO(i)Te9.

(pXiat^ ^Tfievatof;,

ovKen

aXV

S' ^Tfjbrjv,

iiraeiBeL

alat /cal * rov ''ABcovlv en ifkeov rj "Tpbevaiov,

at Xa/3^T69 KXaiovTi tov vlea rco Hcvvpao,
*
cjXero /ca\o<; ''AB(ovl<; ' ev dWdXatat Xejovaac,
'
alal B' o^v XeyovTL ttoXv irXeov rj Uacwva.^
p^a6^^ Motpac TOV 'ABcovtv dva/cXeiovcnv * "ABcoviv^
'

'

'

^ ^1^: mss rols

t%vs Wil: mss <re{)
Steph: mss ol
^ irdura
E, see C.R. 1913, p. 76: mss nrrvyvou
mss icavr^ e/aapdveij emended from Jpit.
eav6vTu>v E, cf. 78
Bion. 69 after wdvra avv avr^ had come in from above
^

oXs

3 crrvfivhy

90

BION

I,

71-96

death as he were asleep. Lay him

coverlets wherein he used to
soft
the
down in
couch
of solid gold whereon he
slumber^ upon that
used to pass the nights in sacred sleep with thee
for the very couch longs for Adonis^ Adonis all
Fling garlands also and flowers upon
dishevelled.
him now that he is dead let them die too^ let
every flower die. Pour out upon him unguents of
perish now all perfumes^
Syria^ perfumes of Syria
for he that was thy perfume is perished and gone.
There he lies^ the delicate Adonis^ in purple
wrappings^ and the weeping Loves lift up their
voices in lamentation they have shorn their locks
This flung upon him arrows^ that
for Adonis' sake.
One hath done
a bow^ this a feather^ that a quiver.
off Adonis' shoe^ others fetch water in a golden
basin^ another washes the thighs of him^ and again
another stands behind and fans him with his
wings.
The Loves cry woe again saying " Woe for Cytherea,'^
The Wedding-God hath put out every torch before
the door_, and scattered the bridal garland upon the
ground the burden of his song is no more ^^ Ho for
the Wedding " there's more of ^' Woe " and
^^
Adonis " to it than ever there was of the weddingcry.
The Graces weep the son of Cinyras^ saying
one to another^ The beauteous Adonis is dead, and
when they cry woe 'tis a shriller cry than ever the
cry of thanksgiving.
Nay^ even the Fates weep and
wail for Adonis^ calling upon his name
and morelovely^ lovely in

Ruhnken

^ e^aW^v h Wil
mss fivpoKji
mss
^ thus Ahr: mss
Lennep mss ahrav
aeiSoi'eos fxiXos aWerai at at
^ ami Pierson
mss avral
Uatwpa Ahr mss ti> Aicova
^^
mss koI
x^'- Meineke

:$vpioi(Ttv

$aiv'

"05

'^

alal

393

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Kai VLV iiraeihovc-iv* o he a^iaiv ovy^ viraKOver
ov fiav ovK eOeket, Kcopa Se vlv ovk airoXvet,
Xrjye yocov ILvOepeia to adp^epov, i(Tyeo icojiiiSdV^
Sel

(T

rFraXiv

tcKavaai,

Trakiv

eh eVo?

Bafcpvaac.
^

394

dXXo
10(

Kofifiiav

Barth

mss

Kiaficov

BION

I,

97-100

over they sing a spell upon him to bring him back

again, but he payeth no heed to it ; yet 'tis not from
lack of the will, but rather that the Maiden will not
let

him

go.

Give over thy wailing for to-day, Cytherea, and

beat not now thy breast any more thou needs wilt
wail again and weep again, come another year.
;

395

IL ACHILLES AMONG THE MAIDENS

This

fragmentary shepherd-mime

ascribed to an imitator

of Bion.

is

probably

At Myrsons

to

he

request,

Lycidas sings him the tale of Achilles at Scyros,

397

II. [MYPSON KAI AYKIAAS]

MYPSnN

A^9 vv

aSv XtyaiveLV,

TL fioi Av/ciBa ^LfceXov fieXo^

Ifiepoev fyXvKvOvfjiov ipcortKov, olov o I^vfcXcoyjr

ai(Tev TloXv(j}a/jLo^ eiraovia^

VaXaTeia;

AYKIAA2
Kr]ixol ^

(TVpiaheVi

dWa ri jjieX-^o);

yivpawv, (piXov

MTPSnN

&

%icvptov

AvfCiSa ^aXa)jbLvov^ dSvv epcora,

Xddpta JIr]XebSao
TTO)^ Tral^ ecrcraTo

XdOptov evvdv,

(jytXafiara,
cf)dpo(;,

oVca?

^'y^evcraro^ /Jiopcjydv

S'

KTjv Kcopaiatv ottco^^ AvKOjjii^hicnv

r/eiSr)

^'

Kara

'A^tWea

Traarov

ArjiSd/jLeia.

AYKIAA5
Apiraae rdv ^lkivav ito9^ 6 /3ovk6Xo^, dye

Olvcova Kaicov dXyo^*

1

E,

^TTCLovia

Brunck
^

aTraXiyoLaa

mss

fjLoi

Canter,

c-tpEvcraTo

cf.

398

d AaKe^alfioDv,

S'

(aXdo/aevou

thus Wil mss Kr}v 'S-ncas iv Kwpais

E, cf. Moero ap. Athen. 491 B mss

e9

2 ^^^^1
mss eV rfCovi
Wil mss (a\a>u jueuos
Nonn. Dion. 44. 289 mss eyevcraro

Theocr. 25. 249

cf.

kiv

lyo^craTQ

S'

(from
ra

tjcIStj

ar)tir}V7ja

olBa)

Kara

II._[ACHILLES

AMONG THE MAIDENS]

MYRSON

prithee^ Lycidas^ wilt thou chant me some

pretty lay of Sicily, some delightful sweetheart song
of love such as the Cyclops sang to Galatea of the

Then

sea-beaches

LYCIDAS

myself should like to make some music^ Myrson

so what shall it be ?
I

MYRSON

The sweet and

enviable love-tale of Scyros^

Lycidas^ the stolen kisses of the child of Peleus and
the stolen espousal of the same^ how a lad donned
women's weeds and played the knave with his outward seeming, and how in the women's chamber the
reckless Deidameia found out Achilles among the
daughters of Lycomedes.

Once on

LYCIDAS (sings)
a day, and a woeful day for the wife that

loved him well.

The neatherd stole

fair

Helen and bare her

to Ida

fell.

The wife that loved him well

''

Oenon^, wife of Paris.

399

THE BUCOLIC POETS

\aov ayetpev P^yaiKov, ovSe rc^'^l^Wrjv

TTCLvra he

ovre ISJivKTjvaiwv ovr "HX^So? ovre AaKoyvcov,

fielvev kov

Kara

\dv6ave

iv fcwpat<; KvKOfjbrjhicn

S'

Sco/ma (l>vya)V

Svaravov" Aprja,^
fjLovvo'^

'A^^Weu?,

etpta S* av0' ottXcov ihihaaiceTOy koX %epl Xevica

irapdevLfcov koitov

Koi yap caov

^ el')(eVy

ec^aivero S* rjtre fccopa'

OrfKvvero,

T7]vac<;

kcll

tocov avOo^

to ^ahiafia

^coi'ai<; 7rop<j>vp irapiqiaiy fcal

TrapOeviicTj^ e/3aSV>fe, KOfjba's S* eirvfca^e fcaXvirrpa.

dvfjbov 8' avepo^'^ ^^%^>

i^ dov<^

S' eTrl

/cat TTore fiev

orrdfjLova

^<^i'

vv/cra Trapii^ero^ ArjlSajuLeia,

i(f>iXi

T'/ji'a<?

koXov

%epa, iroXkdicL

rd haihaXa

aeipSy

dWa avv

i]or6i S* 01) K

civepo'^ el')(ev epoora'

o/jidXiKi,

drpi

S'

Trdvra

(TTrevhcov kolvov e? vttvov, eXe^e vv icaX

'

dXXac ^

avrdp

[xev

al hvo irapOeviKol

dXXd

fJLovaL

Nvaraia

^^

he <tv

avTd<^

eTrrjver

8' eTroiec

Xoyov avra*

Kvcoaaovai avv dXXdXaiaiv

iycb fjudiva, ficova

S'

dheXff)ab,

vv/jL(f>a /ca66vSeL<;,

avvofjidXtice^, at

hvo KaXal*

/card^ Xe/crpa KaOevhofie^* d he Trovrjpd

hoXta

ov yap iyco aeo

fjue

fcaKco^ diro crelo /xepLahec,

'

^ <pvya}y hvaravov
Bentley mss (pipoiv 8i(T(tI avau or Siffalu
^ kSttov E
avav or dvalv ayvhy
"ApTja Scaliger
mss &pya
5'
mss K6pov or x^p^^
avepos Lennep
mss 8* "Apeos
^ (rrafxova Seal
mss ^epif.
irapiC^To Canter
mss (ttS^^
^ aWai E
ava
datdaXu S' drpi* Len mss 5' adea daKpv
:

"^

'^

mss

400

^AAtti

'

^wva

jixwi'a

Len

mss

fjLwya {xifivw

^ al

Bvo w.

BION

II,

12-32

Sparta was wroth and roused to arms Achaea wide

and far
Mycenae, Elis, Sparta-land
No Greek but scorned at home to stand
For all the woes of war.
Yet one lay hid the maids amid, Achilles was he hight
Instead of arms he learnt to spin

And

with wan hand his rest to win,

His cheeks were snow-white freakt with red.
He wore a kerchief on his head.
And woman-lightsome was his tread.
All maiden to the sight.
Yet man was he in his heart, and man was he
his love

in

From dawn

to dark he'ld sit him by

maid yclept Deidamy,
And oft would kiss her hand, and oft

Would

set her weaver's-beam aloft

And

Come

And
^^

praise the web she wove.

dinner-time, he'd go to board that only

beside.
do his best of

deed and word to win her

may

for his

bride ;
The others share both board and bed," such

wont

words to be,
sleep alone and you alone though we be maidens
his

^^

free.

Maidens and

fair

maidens,

'Tis that cruel crafty

you.

we

sleep on pallets two

is parting me and

Nysa that

."

"with wan hand": the un-sunburnt hand

of

an indoor-

living person.

Salmasius
^^

Nva-aia

mss

Wil

ai
:

S'

virh

tt.

Karh Seal

mss

kuI

mss Nvaaa or Nvada yap

401

D D

III-XVIII

The

remaining poems and fragments are preserved hi

quotations
last,

which

made hy
is

Stohaeus, with the exception

of

the

quoted hy the grammarian Orion (Anth.

5,4).

403

D D 2

III. [KAE0AAM03 KAI

MYPSON]

KAE0AAM02
Eta/509
7}

yivpcrcov

i)

^eliJLaTO<^

rj

(^Oivoirdopco

dSv; ri he irXeov eiJ^eat iXOelv;

avifca irdvra reKeierai ocraa p^oyev/jie^;

Oepeo^i TL TOL

Tj

Oepo';,

rj

yXvfcepov (pOivoTTCOpov, or avSpdo-cXifib^ iXacj^pd;

rj

Koi

%e?/-6a hvcrepyop;

eVel

/cal ')(eiiJLaTL

ttoXXoI

daXTTo/Jbevot OiXjovrai^ depjeta re koX okvo)'

i] rot fcaXov eap irXeov evahev;
elire, ri roc (f)prjv
alpetrac; XaXeeiv yap iirirpaTrev a (t^oXcl d/jufjicp,

MTP^nN
KpiveLV ovK, lirkoiKe Oerjta epya /Sporolcrr
Trdvra yap iepa ravra teal dhea' crev Se efcart
i^epew K.Xe6Safjiy to

fxoL

ireXev dScov dXXcov,

roKa

OVK iOeXco

06po<^

OVK iOeXco

(jyOcvoircopov, iirel

ovXov
clap

rjiJieVy

eirel

/jl

dXio^

voaov &pLa

OTrrfj,

ri/crei,

%er/>ta cpepetv vtcj^erbv /cpv/jbco^ re ^oySeO/xat.

i/jLol

rpcTToOrjTov oXcp Xvicdj3avTL 'wapeirj,

dvLfca fi7]T Kpvo^

fJbrjO^

dXio^

dfjLfjie

^apvvei.

etapi irdvra Kvei, Trdvr etapo<^ dSea ^XaareCf

yd vv^

dvOpd)7roL(Tiv Xaa Kai ofJLOuo^;

404

deXyovrai Ursinus

d(o<;.

mss ddATrouras

III. [FROM

A SHEPHERD-MIMEJ

CLEODAMUS
you have is sweetest., Myrson^ springs
winter, autumn,, or summer ? which are you fainest

Which

will

Summer, when all our labours are

fulfilled, or sweet autumn when our hunger is least
and lightest, or the winter when no man can work
should come

for winter also

hath delights for

many with her warm

and leisure hours or doth the pretty springtime please you best ? Say, where is the choice of
your heart ? To be sure, we have time and to spare
firesides

for talking.

MYRSON
unseemly for mortal men to judge of the
works of Heaven, and all these four are sacred, and
But since you ask me,
every one of them sweet.
Cleodamus, I will tell you which I hold to be sweeter
than the rest. I will not have your summer, for
then the sun burns me I will not have your autumn,
neither, for that time o' year breeds disease
and as for your winter, he is intolerable
I
cannot away with frost and snow.
For my part,
give me all the year round the dear delightful spring,
'Tis

when

cold doth not chill nor

spring the world's a-breeding,
world's all sweet buds, and our
our nights and our nights as our

sun burn. In the

in the spring the
days are as long as
days.

405

THE BUCOLIC POETS

IV
'I^efxa? Tt KMpos ev akcrel SevSpdevrt
opvea Bripevcov top airorpoTTov elSev ''Epcora
eahojxevov ttv^olo ttotI /cXaSov &>? S' ivoTjae,
'^atpcov covefca
Tfe)9

jmeya (paivero rcopveov avrcp,

KoKcLfJiw^ afia iravTa^ eir

ra Tov^Epcora

TO, /cat

Tral^

^ft)

Brj

da^dXdwVy

aXXaXotac avvdirrcdv

/jLeTdX/jievov dfKJyehoKeve,

0K.a^ ol Te\o<; ovSev dirdprrj,

dporpea irpeajivv LKavev,

09 VLV rdvSe T)/vav iScSd^aro, kol Xeyev avT&,
TC09 /caXd/jiO)^ puyjra^; iror

KaL

01

BL^ci'"KpcoTa KaOrjfJievov.

avrdp

o irpea/Sv^;

/jbetOtdcov fciprjae fcdp7] /cat dfiet/Sero iralha*

'

(peiSeo

Ta9

9'r^pa<^y /nrjB'

9 roSe Tcopveov ep^ev,

KaKQv iari to O^jptop. 6\/3co<; iaaf],

elaoKa fir) viv e\rj<;' rjv K dvepo^ 69 /uLerpov e\6r)^,
ovTo^ 6 vvv (fyevyMV kol dirdXjjevo^^ avT0<^ d(f> avrcb
(j)vj jiafcpdv,

e\6d)V ^a7rLpa<; K(j)aXav

'A fieydXa

eirt

aelo fcadi^el.

Trapeara,
dyoiora
ecppaae
/jLvOop'
/jloi
Xa^cop top "EpcoTa

jxoi Kv7Tpi<; ed' vttvcoovtl

vr]TTiaxov TOP "Epcora icaXa^ etc

9 yQopa pevard^opTaf roaop Se
'

/jbiXTretp

ft)9

Xeye'

fjioc

0)9

^ovra

yd puep dirrjpBep,

P7]7no<; C09
cf)9

cJ)lX

iyoo S*

oaa /SovfcoXiaaSop,

iOeXopTa puaOelp TOP^EpcoTa hSaa/cop,

ox; avXop ^KOdpa,

evpe irXayiavXop 6 II dp,

j(eXvp 'Ep/jidcop, KiOapcp
^

406

^(^eipo^

OKU Person

ft)9

dSi)^ AttoXXcop,

mss ovueKa

lo

BION IV-V

AND THE FOWLER]

IV. [LOVE

One day a fowler-lad was out after

coppice^ when he espied perching upon

birds in a
a box-tree
Rejoicing that he had

bough the shy retiring Love.

found what seemed him so fine a bird^ he fits all
his lime-rods together and lies in w^ait for that
hipping-hopping quarry. But soon finding that
there was no end to it^ he Hew into a rage^ cast
down his rods^ and sought the old ploughman who
had taught him his trade and both told him what
had happened and showed him where young Love
did sit.
At that the old man smiled and wagged
^^ Withhold thy hand^
his wise head^ and answ ered
my lad^ and go not after this bird flee him far 'tis
evil game.
Thou shalt be happy so long as thou
;

catch him not^ but so sure as thou shalt come to

the stature of a man^ he that hoppeth and scapeth
thee now will come suddenly of himself and light
upon thy head."

v. [LOVE'S SCHOOLING]
DREAMED and lo the great Cyprian stood before
Her fair hand did lead, with head lianging,
the little silly Love, and she said to me " Pray you,
sweet Shepherd, take and teach me this child to sing
and play," and so was gone. So I fell to teaching
I

me.

master Love, fool that I was, as one willing to learn

and taught him all my lore of country-music, to wit
how Pan did invent the cross-flute and Athena the
flute^ Hermes the lyre and sweet Apollo the harp.
;

407

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ravrd

dWd

vlv

i^eSiBaaKov o

S' ov/c i/jiird^To /jLvdcoVy

fioi avTo<; deuhev ipcorvXa, Kai

fjb

iSiBaafce

Ovarodv dOavdrcdv re ir69(o^ koX {xarepo^ epja,

K'^joov ifcXaOofiav fxev oacop top "Epcor eSuSaa/coVy

ocraa

S' "Ep(o<; fi

ehiha^ev ipcorvXa irdvT^

iStSd')(^07]v.

VI
Tal

M^OLcrac top

"Epwra top dypLov ov (po^eoprac

K OvfiS) Se (j)t\vpTt /cal ifc ttoSo? avrco erroPTai.

dpa yjrvxdp tc<; )(cop dpepaarop deihrj,
rrjpop v'7TK(f)vjoPTi /cal ov/c iOeXoPTt BiSda/cetP*
^ ''Epcort Sopev/aepo^ d8v /JbeXiaSj],
Tfp he POOP TL^
69 rrjPOP fjbdXa irdaai eireiyopLepai Trpopeopn,
fjidpTV^ iycoPf OTL ixv9o<^ oS' eirXero irdcrip d\a6rj<;
Tjp /jLP J dp ^pOTOP dXkop Tj dOapdrcop rtpd fjieXTrco,
^a/jL/3aLPi /JLOL jXcocraa /cal co? Trdpo^ ovket deiher
Yjp S' avT 9 T0p"Ep(>Ta /cal 69 Av/ciSap tl juLeXicrSco, 10
/cal To/ca fJbOL ')(aipoLaa Scd aro/jLaro^ peei avSd,
icfjp /jLep

VII
v/c

OLO

ovd

eireoi/cep

jurj

pbauopie^ Trope-

eaOat,
el

fJLOL

KoXd

ireXei

rd fieXiiSpta, /cal rdSe ficopa

rd fiot 7rdpo<^ ayiraae Mo?yoa*

/cf}So9 ifiol OrjcropTL,

el S'

ou% dSea ravra, tl fioi ttotV^ TrXeiopa iJiO')(^delp;

yap ^lotco SlttXoop 'X^popop dfjufJULP eSco/cep

el fjbep
Tf

KpopL8a<;
^

408

Tis

Tj

yiolpa 7roXvTpo7ro<;, wctt dpveaOai

Brunck

mss t^

^ irorl

Ahr

mss

ttoXv

BION V-VII
But nay^ the child would give no heed to aught I
might say rather would he be singing love-songs of
his own^ and taught me of the doings of his mother
and the desires of Gods and men. And as for all the
lore I liad been teaching master Love^ I clean forgot
it^ but the love-songs master Love taught me^ I learnt
;

them every

one.

VL [A LOVE POEM]
The Muses know no fear of the cruel Love rather
their hearts befriend him greatly and their
And let one that hath
footsteps follow him close.
;

do

not love in his soul sing a song^ and they forthwith

slink away and will not teach him
but if sweet
music be made by him that hath^ then fly they all
unto him hot-foot. And if you ask me how I know^
that this is very truth^ I tell you I may sing praise of
;

any other^ be he God or man^ and my tongue will

wag falteringly and refuse me her best but if my
music be of love and Lycidas^ then my voice floweth
from my lips rejoicing.
;

VIL [THE POET'S PHILOSOPHY OF

... I know not^ and 'tis unseemly to
we wot not of. If my poor songs are

LIFE]

labour aught
good^ I shall

have fame out of such things as Fate hath bestowed

upon me already they will be enough but if they
are bad^ what boots it me to go toiling on ?
If we
men were given^ be it of the Son of Cronus or of fickle
Fate^ two lives^ the one for pleasuring and mirth and

409

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Tov

jjbev

V(^poavvav

<;

/cat

')(^dpfiaTa,

top

iirl^

S*

fioxOcp,

Taya

jioyOriaavTi ito0* varepov iadXa heyeaOaL,

el he Oeol fcarevevcrav eva xpovov <; ^iov ekOelv
avOpcoTTOi^y /cat rovSe ^payvv kol [leiova ttcivtcov,
69 TToaov a SeiXol Kapbdrco^ /cel<; epja 7ropevpLe<;,

rjv

'\}rv')(^av S*

dy^pt tlpo<; ttotI fcepSea /cat irorl Te%z^a9

oX/Sw

/SaXXoyLte?, lpLeipovTe<=; del ttoXv TrXecovo'^

^ft)9

dpa^ iravre^, on dvarol jevopieo-Oa,

^pa'xpv ifc Moipa^ Xa^oyLce? yP^^^^

XaOopieO'

Y)

>

VIII
''0\/3toL ol (f)iXeovTe<;, eirrjv tcrov dprepdcovrac,

oX^to^

(^Tjaev^ toj HetpcOoco irapeovro^;,

rjv

Kal dpietXifCTOio fcarijXvdep eh ^AtSao,

rjp yaXeiTolcnv ep 'A^eipoco-tv 'Opecrra?,

el

6X/3io^

TlvXdSa^ aprjro^

copefcd 01 ^vpd<^

/ceXevOco^,

Ala/ciSa^ erdpco ^wopto<; A')(^iXXev';'

dpdaicwp, on ol pbopop oIpop dpuvpep.

rjp pbdfcap

6Xl3io<; rjp

IX
'

EcTTre/oe, Td<^ epard'^ ')(^pvaeop (f)ao<; ^A(j)poyPeLa<;,

"EjCTTrepe fcvavea^ lepop (j)iXe pvfcro^ dyaX/jba,

Tooraop dcpavporepoi;
^/^Xo9,

Kai

pirjpa^,

X^lp^
dvn aeXapala^ rv SlSov

eVi

mss

410

Wil

StpotTo

mss

ivl

or apKro

oaop

e^o')(^o<^

pLOC ttotI TTOtpuepa /ccopcop

^ cf.

dcrrpoypy

dy opn

^do<^, 6)peKa rr/pa

Mosch.

2.

140

aprjro

Grotius

BION VII-IX
the other for toil^ then perhaps might one do the
But
toiUng first and get the good things afterward.
seeing Heaven's decree is^ man shall live but once,
and that for too brief a while to do all he would^
then O how long shall we go thus miserably toiling
and moiling^ and how long shall we lavish our life
upon getting and making, in the consuming desire
Is it that we all
for more wealth and yet more ?
forget that we are mortal and Fate hath allotted us
so brief a span ?
.
.

VIIL [REQUITED LOVE]

Happy

are

lovers

when

their

love

is

requited.

he found Hades at the last implacable, was happy because Perithoiis went with
him and happy Orestes among the cruel Inhospitables, because Py lades had chosen to share his
wanderings happy also lived Achilles Aeacid while
his dear comrade was alive, and died happy^ seeing
he so avenged his dreadful fate.
Theseus_, for

all

IX. [TO HESPERUS]

Evening

which art the golden light of the

the Foam, dear Evening Star, which
art the holy jewel of the blue blue Night, even so
much dimmer than the Moon as brighter than any
other star that shines, hail, gentle friend, and while
I go a-serenading my shepherd love shew me a light
instead of the Moon, for that she being new but
Star,

lovely Child

of

o'

" Inhospitables "

the Black Sea.

''Child

o'

the barbarous inhabitants of the shores

''his dear comrade": Patroclus.
the Foam": Aphrodite.
:

411

THE BUCOLIC POETS

adfjiepov apypjxkva

dW

Tayiov hvev*

ovk, iirl (j^copav

iva vvkto<; oBoiiropeopraf; eVop^Xeo.)*

ep'x^Ofiai, ovS*

ipdco' fcaXop Se t' epaaaap^evcp crvvapeaOac.

X
'^Afjiepe

Kvirpoyeveiai Ato^ t6ko<;

TLTTTe rocrov OvaTolcn koX

rje

OaXdao-a<;,

dOavdrocat ^aXe7rTe9 ;

tvtOov e(pav' Th vv roaaov dirrj^Oeo koI reCv'^

avrdy
ToXiKov 0)9 TTuvreaac icatcov top "Epcora reKeaOat/'
dypiop, dcTTOpyoVy
ft)9 firj

voov ovhev o/iolov

eKa/36\ov Miraaa^; rjfieVy

fiopcjia

69 TL he VLV TTTavov KoX

TTiKpov iovra hwaLfieOa ttjvov

dXv^ai;

XIEI2 TON YAKINON

.

dpb^aaia top ^ol/3op eXep to

Si^To

(f)dpfiafca

irdpTa,

<top

aocjydp

dXyo^ opcopTa,^
iTre/jualeTO^

S*

TexvciVf
^' d/jb/3po(Tia Kat peiCTapi,
XP^^^
XP^^^ diraaap
(pdp/xafca
dpaXOea
yioipaicri
S'
irdpTa
wTeiXdp*

XII
avTcip ijoop ^aaev/xac ifxap 686p 9 to KdTapTe<^
dlova ylndvpLoScop,
Xtcrao/JLepo^; VaXdTetap dTrrjpea' Td<^ Se yXv/cia<;
eX7rtSa9 vaTaTLO) fi^XP^ yr]pao^ ovk, dTToXecyJrM
.

T7]po TTOTi yp'd/jLadop T KoX

X^^^'^'^^^

re'iv

412

Hermann

you were troublesome mss

^ reK^adai Herm
mss rly

x^^^'^'reis

mss

rcKTjai

BION IX-XII
yesterday

quickly

too
highwayman
is

'tis

but a lover

not for

be no thief nor
that Fm abroad at night
set.

and lovers deserve

all aid.

X. [TO APHRODITE]
Gentle Dame of Cyprus^

be'st thou child of Zeus^

me why

or child of the sea^ pray tell

alike unto

Gods and men

nay^

I'll

wast so unkind
say more^ why so

unto thyself^ as to bring forth so great

and universal a mischief as this Love^ so cruel^ so
heartless^ so all unlike in ways and looks ? and
wherefore also these wings and archeries that we
may not escape him when he oppresseth us ?
hateful

XLOF HYACINTHUS
When he beheld thy agony Phoebus was dumb.
sought every remedy^ he had recourse to cunning
arts^ he anointed all the wound,, anointed it with
ambrosia and with nectar
but all remedies are
powerless to heal the wounds of Fate
.

He

XII. [GALATEA'S LOVER]

But I will go my way to yonder hillside^
singing low to sand and shore my supplication of
the cruel Galatea for I will not give over my sweet
.

hopes
'^

till I

bpwvra

mss

come unto uttermost old age

Usener

eire^aiVero

mss exovra

or eTre^wo-aro

ivefxaiero

Vulcanius

THE BUCOLIC POETS

XIII
.

ou KoXov

irdvTa \6yov ttotI reKTOva

(j^iXe

S)

(})OLrdp,
fjLTjS*

TrdvT

eTTi

aXXco

%peo9

l(T')(eiiev*

dXka koX

Te'xyacjOaL avpuyya' TriXet 8g tol ev/xaph epyov

XIV
Motcra?

MoZcrat

y\vKpdv

rav

yiolaai top '^Epcora

"E/)Cj)9 icakeoL,

jULoXTrdv ral

(pipotep.

del iroOeovTi ScSolev,

/jiot

fioXirdv,

dScov

^dpfxaicov

Ta<;

ovSev,

XV
.

da/jiLva<;

e/c

pa9d/jLiyyo<;,

ottco^

X0709,

ale^;

loiaa^
-yd \i6o^ 69 pco^^/JLOV fcotkaiveTaL,

XVI
.

\i7rrj(;

/jbrjSe

dyepacrroj/, iirel

fi

yia

^ol^o^

delSoop
fiLaOoBofcet,^
TTOtel
^

juLT)^'

aAAo

414

eiil
'^

TijJid
.

rd

he

Trpdy/jLara

Kpeaaova

Grotius

mss

aeidwp (jLiaOoBoKe7

|Urj5e

rot

mss

&A\co Salmasius
aeiBeiv fxiordhv ^Bmkc

mss

BION XIII-XVl

XIIL [DO
... It

pipe

neither

crafts-

and

'faith,

make you

not

'tis

so

hard,

May Love
;

go to a

but rather to

business,

XIV. [LOVE
Love

to

matters, nor to resort unto another

yourself;
.

YOURSELF]

not well^ friend,

is

man upon all

man in every
a

IT

AND SONG]

the Muses, and the Muses bring

call

and may the Muses ever give

desire, dear

me

song at

my

melodious song, the sweetest physic in

the world.

XV. [PERSISTENCE]
.

'Tis said a continual dripping will e'en

hollow in a stone

wear a

XVI. [WORTHY OF HIS HIRE]

...

pray you leave

me not without some

for even Phoebus is paid

maketh things better
.

for his music,

reward;

and a meed

4^5

THE BUCOLIC POETS

XVII
.

drjXvrepatac

fiop(f)a

akKCi

TreXec

/cakov,

avept

S'

XVIII
Trdvra 6eov y iOeXovTo^; avvaifia, iravra ^porolcnv
i/c /jLUKapcov paiard kol ovk arekeaTa yevovro}
^

416

pdiara

Ahr

mss yap pdaTa

yevopro

Ahr

mss yhono

BION XVII-XVIII
XVII. [AFTER THEIR KIND]
.

The woman's

his strength

glory

is

her beauty, the man's

XVIII. [GOD WILLING]

All things may be achieved if Heav'n will all
possible,, nay, all is very easy if the Blessed make
so

is
it

4^7
K E

Ill

THE POEMS OF MOSCHUS

E E 2

I._THE RUNAWAY LOVE

Iypris has

lost

her hoy Love, and

cries

him

in

the

streetsy

421

M02X0Y 2IKEAIOTOY
I.EPOS APAHETHS
'A

Kv7rpi<; Tov ''Epft)Ta tov vlea [larcpov i^fjoarpei*

" o(7T9 ipl rpcoSotcn TrXavcofiepov elhev ""Epcoray

SpaTrertOa^;

ifjLO^;

jjbiaOo^^ TOL

TO

ianv

^iXfqfjLa

6 jjuavvcras yepa^; e^er

TO l^virpiho^*

rjv

8'

aydjrj

ViVy

ov yvfjLvov TO

(j)tX7]fia,

tv

S'

&

^eve koI TrXeov k^el^.

TraZ? irepiaafjio^* iv eiKOcn Tracal^ /ndBoi^;

ecTTt S'

ViV,

-^p&Ta

fiev

ov XevKo^, irvpl

S' ecKeXo^;'

o/ubfiaTa 8'

avTcp
hpifjivKa KoL (pXoyoevTa* /caKal

cfypeve^;,

d8v XaXTj/xa*

ov ydp tcrov voeeu fcal (pdeyjeTUL' w? fjueXc (pcovd,

ft)9 Se '^oXd v6o<; iaTlv*
dvd/jL6po<;, rjTrepoTrevTdf;,
ovSev dXadevcov, SoXiov ^pe(^o<^y dypia TraiaScov,
evirXoKafiov to Kdpavov, e%e^ S' LTafibv to fieTcoirov,
fjbiKKvXa jjbev TTjVcp tcl "x^epvSpca, jmaKpa Se /SdXXet,
ddXXec fceh ^ A.')(epovTa /cat 69 ^AtSa /SaatXeca,
yvfjLvo^ oXo^ TO ye aco/jba, v6o<; Se ol ev TreirvKaarai.
KOL TTTepoec^ 0)9 opVK; i<pL7TTaTat dXXov iir aXXo),
dvepa<; rjhe yvvaiKa^y iirl airXdy^voi^ Se /cddrjTai,
ro^ov e'x^ei pidXa ^aiov, virep to^co Se /SeXe/LLvov,
^

422

(jLiadSs

mss

julktOSv

^ Traicrl

Heinsius

mss

naa-i

THE POEMS OF MOSCHUS

RUNAWAY LOVE

I.THE

made hue and

Cypris one day

Love and

said

'^
:

cry after her son

Whosoever hath seen one Love

loitering at the street-corners^

know

that he

my

is

and any that shall bring me word of him

and the reward shall be the
shall have a reward
if
he bring her runaway with him^
kiss of Cypris and
He is a notable lad he
the kiss shall not be all.
shall be known among twenty complexion not white
but rather like to fire eyes keen and beamy of an
ill disposition but fair spoken_, for he means not what
runavray^

he says

'tis

voice of honey^ heart of gall

cozening^ a ne'er-say -troth

play.

His hair

is

a wily brat

plenty, his

froward^

makes

forehead bold

cruel
;

his

baby hands tiny but can shoot a long way, aye, e'en
across Acheron into the dominions of Death.
All

naked his body, but well covered his mind. He's

winged like a bird and flies from one to another,,
women as well as men, and alights upon their hearts.
He hath a very little bow and upon it an arrow 'tis
;

423

THE BUCOLIC POETS

tvtOov fJLev TO ^eXefivov, e? aWepa S* aj(^pt (popetrat,
Kul ')(pvcreov irepl vS)Ta (paperptov, v8o0l S* ivrl
Tol ITLKpol KokapbOLs TOtS TToWciKt Kapue TLTpCOCTKei.

aypia ravTW iroXv irXeov a haC^ ^ avT&'

0ata XayLtTra? iotaa rov akiov avrov avaWet,
TjV TV J ^^\r)<; TTjVov, hrjaa^ a^e puijS* e\e^]ar)^*
KTjv ttotlStj^; KKaiovTa, (pvXdcraeo purj are irXavdar],
KTjv ye\drj, TV vtv eX/ce. fcal rjv eOeXy ae (piXrjaai,
^evye* /ca/cov to (fylXrjpba, rd '^eiXea (pdppiaKov ivri,
TjV he Xeyy 'Xd^e ravra, ')(apL^opLai oaaa puoi oirXa,^
purj TV Biyrj'^
irXdva Bcopw Ta yap irvpl irdvTa
irdvra

puev

/3y8a7rTat."
^

irK^ov a dafs

30

alal KoX rh

Wil

mss

crtSapoz/,

irKeov

which can hardly belong here,

424

8'

ael

or itX^^ov B4

rhv Trvpoevra Kadi^ci.

is

ol

This line,
omitted by some of the mss.

MOSCHUS

I,

19-29

but a small arrow but carries even to the sky. And

at his back is a little golden quiver^ but in it lie
the keen shafts with which he ofttimes woundeth
And cruel though all this equipage be^ he
e*en me.
hath something crueller far^ his torch 'tis a little
lights but can set the very Sun afire.
Let any that shall take him bind and bring him
and never pity. If he see him weepings let him have
a care lest he be deceived ; if laughing^ let him still
hale him along but if making to kiss him^ let him
flee him^ for his kiss is an ill kiss and his lips poison
and if he say ^ Here^ take these things^ you are welcome to all my armour/ then let him not touch those
mischievous gifts^ for they are all dipped in fire."
;

425

II.

MoscHus

tells

in

EUROPA

Epic verse how the virgin Europa, after

dreaming of a struggle between the two continents for the

was carried off from among her companions by Zeus in the form of a bull, and borne across
possession

the sea

The

metal

her,

from Tyre

earlier

Europa

to

Crete, there to

become his

bride.

half of the poem contains a description of

s flower-basket.

lo crossing

heifer,

and

of

It bears three pictures in inlaid

the sea to

Egypt

in

Zeus restoring her there by a touch

the birth

of

the peacock

from

the shape
to

of a

human form,

the blood

of Argus

slain.

427

II.EYPOnH
^vpcoTTT] TTore KuTr/)^? iirl

vv/CTO^ 6t Tpirarov
V7rvo<;

jXvkvv

r/Kev ovetpov,

\d^o<^ laTarac, ijyvOt

ore yXv/cicov fieXtro^ /SXecfxipoiaip

XvaijuLeXrj^ irehda fiaXaKO) /card (jydea

S' rjoi?,

<f}L^o^v

Secr/jur^y

VT Kal drpe/cecov TTOifiaiveTaL eOvo'^ oveipcov*

Trj/iio<;

v7ro)po(j>iOL(TLV evl /cvcoaaovara 86/jlol(TC

^OLVCfco<;

6vydT7]p ert 7rap6evo<^ HvpcoTreta

ooLaar yTretpov^ Socd^; irepl elo

/jid')(^a6aL,

daaiov

e^oz^ oca yvvatf<;,

T&v

S*

dvTiTreprjv re*
fjLev ^Lvrj(;

7]

ivSaTTLT),

(^daKev
7)

S'

(f>V7]v

8'

^op(^7)v e%ez/,

rj

S'

dp

iclKet

Kal fJbdWov
Trepttcr^ero KOvpr]<;,
TCKT fcal &>? driTrjXe /jllv avrrj,

S* 0)9 jullv

ereprj Kparepfjo-i ^Lcoo/juevT] 7raXdfir)aLP

etpvev ovK dkicovaav, iirel (^dro

/jLopai/jiov

K At09 alyLo^ov jepa^

^vpdoiretav,

Tj

S'

diro

[Jbev

arpcoTCOV

efjufjuevat

Xe')(e(ov

TTaXXofievrj KpaSirfv to
ei^ofjbevT] S' eirl

yap

'

Tt9
^

virap elSev oi'eipov,

Srjpov aKTjV e'^ev, dfuporepaf; Se

ec'X^e

yvpatfca<;

Se Sei/jiaXerjv dveveiKaro irapOevov^ avSijv

fJ^oi

TOidhe

Tpirarov

Musurus

mss

20

iirovpaviayv TrpotrjXev

(f>d(JiJbaT

Doric by Eustath. 1643. 32

428

elo^

6 ope heLfiaivovaa,

ct)9

elo-en ireirrafjuevoicnv ev ofjbfxaaLV

oyjre

10

rj<;

rpirov
;

avrtir^prjp

dcffiov

= d,(raov, called
= r^v avr. E

cannot

II. EUROPA

Once upon a time Europa had

of the Cyprian a
'Twas the third watch o' the
night when 'tis nigli dawn and the Looser of Limbs
is come down honey-sweet upon the eyelids for to
hold our twin light in gentle bondage, 'twas at that
hour which is the outgoing time of the flock of true
dreams, that whenas Phoenix' daughter the maid
Europa slept in her bower under the roof, she dreamt
that two lands near and far strove with one
another for the possession of her. Their guise was
the guise of women, and the one had the look of an
outland wife and the other was like to the dames of
her own country.
Now this other clave very vehemently to her damsel, saying she was the mother
that bare and nursed her, but the outland woman
laid violent hands upon her and haled her away nor
went she altogether unwilling, for she that haled her
^^ The Aegis-Bearer hath ordained thee
said
to be
mine." Then leapt Europa in fear from the bed of
her lying, and her heart went pit-a-pat for she had
had a dream as it were a waking vision. And sitting
down she was long silent, the two women yet before
her waking eyes. At last she raised her maiden voice
^^ Who of the People of
in accents of terror, saying
Keaven did send me forth such phantoms as these ?

dream.

delightful

mss

affaav, aa-ida

^ leijxaXeTiv

mss

r\

&(r(ra^\

also 5^

ao-cdB^

/UciA' CTreir'

^ efo

Ahr

irapQivov

mss ehai
mss also -os
:

429

THE BUCOLIC POETS

iroloi

jjL

crrpoyTcov Xs'X^ecov virep iv OaXdfJbOLcnv

f]hv fjuoKa /cvwacrovaav dveTrroLrjcrav ovetpoL,

TL^ 8' rjv Tj ^6LV7], TTjv etaihov vTTVcoovcra;

&^

6\a0

fi

/cpaSiTjv Keivrj^ iroOo^, &<;

dcTiraGLO)^ virehetcro kol

ciXkd

fioc

l<;

ft)9

/jl

/cat avrrj

(J(^eTepy]v the iralSa,

dyaObv fiaKape^ Kprjveiav ^ oveipov^

W9 SLiTova avopovcre, (piXa^

eTreoL^eu

eracpa^

7]\cKa^ olerea^; Ovjjbrjpea^ evirarepeia^;,

rfjarcv

del crvvdOvpeVj or e? %o/5oz^ ivrvvoirop'

30

Tj'OTe (f)ac8pvvocTO^ %/^oa Trpo'XpfjCTLV dvavpcov,

oiTOT eK

Tj

evirvoa XeipC dfiepyoi,

Xec/jLcovo';

at 8e ol alyjra cfydavSev e'xpv S' ev ')(epcrlv e/cdarr]

dvOohoKOv rdXapov* ttotI Se Xeifxcova^ ejSaivov
dyx^idXovf;, o6l t alev ofjbiKahov rjryepeOovro
TepTTo/jievaL poherj re

avTT) 8e

(j^vf)

/cat /cvfjuaro^

xpvaeov rdXapov

VXV*

(fiepev FiVpcorreca,

OrjrjTov, fieya davfiay fjueyav ttovov 'HcfyaLaroco,

ov Al^vtj
rjlev

rj

rrrope Scopov,

riTe ol aLfjLaTO<;
fJL7]Tr)p

6t 9 Xe^o^ ^Evvoacyaiov

he iropev TrepL/caXXel TrfXec^adaarj,

eaKev*

40

dvvfJLcjxp S' ^vpcoTreij)

TrjXe^daaaa irepL/cXvTov cdTraae 8(opov

SauSaXa iroXXd Terev^aTo {jLapixaLpovTa.

ev TO)

ev /lev erjv

'^(^pvo'oco TeTvy/jbevrj

eiaerc iropTi^ eovaa,

(^OLTaXer) he TroSeacrcv
vr]')(pfjievrj ifceXr]'

Kpijveiav

e(f>

/cvavrj S*

Socol S' ecrraaav vy\rov

Wakefield

-ovro, -aivTOy -airo

^Iva^lt; Tco,

(pvrjv S' ov/c el'x^e yvvairjv,

eV

dX/jLvpd ^atve /ceXevOa,

irervKTo OdXacrcra.
ocppvo^ alyiaXolo

^ evrvvoiro Wil
mss Kpiveiav
mss also (paidpvvoivro

mss

MOSCHUS

II,

22-48

the strange dreams that did affray me

most sweet slumber I had upon the bed in
chamber? And who was the outland wife I did

What meant
in

til at

my

behold in my sleep ? O how did desire possess my

heart for her, and how gladly likewise did she take
me to her arms and look upon me as I had been her
I only pray the Blessed may send the dream
child
turn out well."
So speaking she up and sought the companions
that w^ere of like age with her, born the same year
and of high degree, the maidens she delighted in
and was wont to play with, whether there were
dancing afoot or the washing of a bright fair body at
the outpourings of the water-brooks, or the cropping
Forthwith were
of odorous lily-flowers in the mead.
they before her sight, bound flower-baskets in hand
for the longshore meadows, there to foregather as
was their wont and take their pleasure with the
springing roses and the sound of the waves.
Now Europa's basket was of gold, an admirable
thing, a great marvel and a great work of Hephaestus, given of him unto Libya the day the Earth-Shaker
took her to his bed, and given of Libya unto the fair
beauteous Telephassa because she was one of her own
blood and so the virgin Europa came to possess the
!

renowned

And

gift,

being Telephassa was her mother.

in this basket

were wrought many shining

pieces of cunning work.

Therein first was wrought
the daughter of Inachus, in the guise of a heifer yet,
passing wide over the briny ways by labour of her
feet like one swimming; and the sea was wrought of
blue lacquer ; and high upon the cliff-brow stood two

**

daughter of Inachus

"

lo.

431

THE BUCOLIC POETS

^5x69 aoWySj]!/, OrjevvTO he irovroTTopov ^ovv.
iv

%po

Zeif^ KpoviSr)^ eirat^dojJLevo^; rjpeixa

S' Tjv

TTopTio^ ^Ipa^t'V^y TTjv

^ S'

K ySoo9 evfcepdoio iraXiv

dpyvpeo^

jxev erjv

'X^aX/ceLrj, 'y^pvcrov

NetXou

^
I

eTTTaiTopcp TTupa NctXco

/jLerd/jieL^e

/0009,

S'

rj

jvval/ca,

dpa

auT09

Se TTvyfjL6V0<;

7r6pTt<;

Zeu9.

erjv

Se hivrjevTo^ vtto o-recj^dvrjv raXdpoco

d/ji<j)l

ireXa^ he ol e/CTerdwo-To

'Eipfieli]^ TjafCTjTO'

"Ap709

dKOijJbi^Toiai KeKacrfjbevo<^ ocjyOaX/uLoccrL.

TOCO Se

(f>otv7]PTO<i

d(f)^

i^avereWev

aifjbaro^

6pvL<^ d'yaXkofievo^ ivTepvy(s}v TroXvavdel XP^^V*

Tapcrbv dva7r\d>aa<; &)c7etTe 7^9 oi)Kva\o<; vrjv^*

Xpyo-Lov ToXdpoto irepiarceire x^lXea Tapao^?

rolo^

at

erjv

dWr]
Tcov

ovv

Tj

^vpco'7reLrj<;,

\ei/jLcova<; 9 dvOe/jLoevra^; ifcavov,

dWoioiac tot dvOeai

eir

jjiev

S' lov,

fj

Td\apo<; irepucaWeo'^

S' 7rel

rj

vdp/ccaaov ivTTVOOV,
S'

rj

dvfJLov eTepirov,
S*

vd/civOov,

epiTvWov diraivvTO' 'iroWd

S'

epa^e

Xet/JL(opo)v iapOTpecj)ecov daXeOecrice ireTrjXa.

avTe ^avOolo Kpoicov Ovoecraav eOeipav

SpeiTTOv epihfxaivovaai, aTap /uLecrcriO'Tr] ^ dvaaaa
dy\atr]v TTVpaolo poSov ^(eipeaai Xeyovcray
old irep iv ^apiTeaac hieirpeTrev ^A(ppoyeveLa,
ov fjirjv Srjpov efieWev err* dvOecn dvfiov laiveiv,
ovS* dpa TrapOevirjp /jULTpyv dxpavTOV epvaOac.
?! yap Srj Kpopi8r]<; W9 p^LV (l>pd(Ta6\ 0)9 ioXrjTO
at

S*

mss

also Z.

mss

iva\ir]S'

-o7s

eTr.

rip,

x^'P^ Oeelrj

mss also

t^u Pierson
mss
rapahs Wil
^ fieaaiarrj E,

'li/axi^v-

r^v or ehai \7ii(rT^v

iaijKvdov ay6/jL6epras

432

MOSCHUS

49-74

II,

men

together and watched the sea-going heifer.

Therein for the second piece was the Son of Cronus
gently touching the same heifer of Inachus beside
the seven-streamed Nile, and so transfiguring the
horned creature to a woman again and the flowing
Nile was of silver wrought, and the heifer of brass,
and the great Zeus of gold. And beneath the
rim of the rounded basket was Hermes fashioned,
;

and beside him lay outstretched that Argus which

surpassed all others in ever-wakir^ eyes and from
the purple blood of him came a bird uprising in the
pride of the flowery hues of his plumage, and
;

unfolding his tail like the sails of a speeding ship till

the lip of the golden basket was covered with
the same.
Such was this basket of the fair
beauteous Europa's.
Now when these damsels were got to the
blossomy meads, they waxed merry one over this
flower, another over that.
This would have the
odorous daffodil, that the flower-de-luce here 'twas
the violet, there the thyme for right many were the
flowerets of the lusty springtime
budded and
bloomed upon that ground. Then all the band fell
a-plucking the spicy tresses of the yellow saffron, to
see who could pluck the most only their queen in
the midst of them culled the glory and delight of
the red red rose, and was pre-eminent among them
even as the Child o' the Foam among the Graces.
Howbeit not for long was she to take her pleasure
with the flowers, nor yet to keep her maiden girdle
undefiled.
For, mark you, no sooner did the Son of
all

cf.

fx^aaroSi

vearos, rpiraros

mss

fieacroKTiv,

fjL(r(Tr)<TLi/,

fjL<rrj

earri

433
F F

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Ovfjbov av(oiaTOi(nv vTroSjjLTjdelf; /SeXeeacn
K-VTrpiBo^;,
Sf)

yap

rj

fjuovvr}

hvvarat kol Zrjva

Safjudo-aat.

a\v6fiv6<; re ')(pXov ^TfKrjixovo^^'Yipr]'^

r iOeXcov draXov voov i^airarrjcrai

Kpv-^e Oeov fcal rpeyjre Se/jua^; koX jetvero Tavpo^,
ovx 0I09 cTTaOfiol^ ivL^epjieTaiy ovSe jmev olo^
a)\/ca 8iaTfjL7]yec avpcov ev/cafjuire^ aporpov,
ovS* olo<; 7roLfjLvr](; ein^oaKeTai, ovSe fiev olo<^
oarc^ VTToSfirjOeW ipvec iroXv^oprov dirrjviqv,
Tov hrj TOL TO jjbev akXo hefJLa^; ^avOo^poov ecr/ce,
TrapOevLKTj^;

icvk\o<;

S'

dpyvcfyeo'; /juecraq) p^dpfiacpe /xeTC07r&),

oaae S' v7royXavcrcr6(TK koX lifiepov dorrpaTrreaKev,

lad T eiT dXkrfKoiai Kepa dvereXke Kaprjvov
avTvyo^ rj/jLLTo/uiov /Cpa7]<; ^ are /cv/cXa aekr}vr]<;,
rfKvOe S' 69 Xei/uLMva teal ovk icpo^Tjae <f>aav9ei<;
irap9evLKd<;, Trdcrrjcn

S' ep(o<;

jiver iyyv^ l/ciadac

yfravaat 6^ Ifieproco /3o6^, tov

8' a/jb/SpoTO^; oSfirj

T7]\66l kol Xet/jicovo^ eKaivvTO

\apov

(TTTj

Kai
fj

Be

dvTfiTjp.

he ttoSmv irpoirdpoidev d/jLvp.ovo<; EiVpco7rirj<;,

oi Xcx^juid^ea-Ke Sepr)v, icaTedeXye he KOvpr]v.
fjitv

dfi^aipdaaKe kol

iroXkov diro aTOfidTcop

Tavpov,

7]pejJLa

'xeipeaiv

dirofiopyvvTO,

avTap

d^pov

/cal

/cvae

o p.eLki'X^LOV fJLVKrjaaTO' (f)at6 ksv avKov

M.vyBoviov yXvKvv ^%oz/ avrjirvovTO^ aKOveiv.
MicXaae Se irpo iroholtv, eSepfceTo 8' EvpcoTrecav
av')(ev eTTcaTpe^jra^ Kai 01 irXaTV heiKvve vmtov.
7} Se /3a0u7T\o/cd/jLOLac {jLeTevveire TrapOevLK^ar

434

mss

also apra

icepairip TifxiToixov

MOSCHUS

II,

75-I02

Cronus espy her, than his heart was troubled and

brought low of a sudden shaft of the Cyprian, that is
the only vanquisher of Zeus. Willing at once to
escape the jealous Hera's wrath and beguile the
maiden's gentle heart, he put off the god and put
on the bull, not such as feedeth in the stall, nor yet
such as cleaveth the furrow with his train of the
bended plough, neither one that grazeth at the head
of the herd, nor again that draweth in harness the
laden wagon. Nay, but all his body was of a yellow
hue, save that a ring of gleaming white shined in
the midst of his forehead and the eyes beneath it
were grey and made lightnings of desire and the
horns of his head rose equal one against the other
even as if one should cleave in two rounded cantles
the rim of the horned Moon.
So came he into that meadow without affraying
and they were straightway taken
those maidens
with a desire to come near and touch the lovely ox,
whose divine fragrance came so far and outdid even
the delightsome odour of that breathing meadow.
There went he then and stood afore the spotless may
Europa, and for to cast his spell upon her began to
Whereat she fell to touching
lick her pretty neck.
and toying, and did wipe gently away the foam that
was thick upon his mouth, till at last there went a
kiss from a maid unto a bull. Then he lowed, and so
moving-softly you would deem it was the sweet cry
of the flute of Mygdony, and kneeling at Europa'
feet, turned about his head and beckoned her with a
look to his great wide back.
At that she up and spake among those pretty
;

" Mygdony " Phrygia, whence the flute was supposed to

have come with the worship of Dionysus.
:

435
F F 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

^Sevd^ erdpat (piXcat fcal ofxrfKLKe^,

e^OfievuL Tavpo) TepTrco/bueOa'

v&Tov

if IT

Srf

yap

o(f)p* 7rl

rwSe

air da a^

o a TO pea a<; dvahe^erat, old r ivrjr)^

T elo-iSeeiv /cat /X6t\t^09, ouSe ri ravpoi^

aXkoLCTL TTpocreoiKe- voo^ Se ol rjvre (f^coro^;

iTpr}v(;

acac/jLO'^ dfjL(f>t6eei, /jlovptj^; S'

0)9 (jyafjuevr) vcotolctlv

at

aXkai

eiriheveraL

avhrj<^.^

<pL^av fieihiowaa,

fieWea/cov,

dcj^ap
S' dveirrfkaTO
Tavpo^y
IK
fjv 6eXev dpTrd^a^' odkv^ S' iirl ttovtov Xicavev,
rj Se jxeTacTTpe^Oelaa (j^iXa^ /caXiea/cev eraipa^
')(6lpa^ opeyvvfievr), ral S* ovk iSvvavro fctxdvecp,
d/crdcov S' i7n^a<^ Trpoaaco 6eev rjire SeX^t?
'^rjXaL^i d/3pKT0Laiv inr^ evpea Kv^xara l^aivcov,
S'

rj

Se TOT ep')(0[Mevoio yaXr^vidaaKe

icrjTea 8'

dfjb(f>\s

yr}06(7vvo(;

OdXaaaa,

ctTuXXe A^09 TrpoirdpoiOe TToSotLV,

vTrep

B^

KV^idTee

olBfia

^vaaoOe

8eX(f>L^'

dveSvarav vire^ dXo^, at S* apa Trdaai

vcoTaaLv (po]/jievat iaTt^ocovTO.
Kal S' avTo^ ^apvSovTTO^; VTreipaXo^ ^ ^^vvoaiyaio^
fcvfia KaTcOvvcov dXtrjf; rjyeLTO /ceXevdov

l^rjpeiSef; S'
Kr)Teioi<;

avTOKacnyvrjT(p' toI
TpLTcove^y TTOVTOLO

8' dficfyL [mlv

^apvOpooi

12i

r/yepeOovTO

avXrjTTjpe^;,

Ko'yXoLaLv Tavaol^ yd/jnov /jl6Xo<^ rjirvovTe^*

fj S' ap" i(j)e^ofi6vr] Z7]vb<^ ^oeoi^ eTrl vcotol^

Tavpov SoXc^ov icepa^, ev %e/?t S' ciXXr)

etpve 7rop(f)vperjv koXttov iTTvya^ 6(j)pd fC /jlt] fitv
hevot i(l)XK6fjLP0V TToXirj^ aXo9 aairsTov vScop,
Tjj fxev ')(ev

1
vwipa\os E, cf. virelpoxos and 11. 23, 227 virelp aKa
^ mss also fiaOvOpooi
vnelp akhs or virelp oi\a
avA
also eVvaeTT^pes
mss also Trop<pvpeas and tttvxO'S

mss
mss

*^

MOSCHUS

103-128

II,

curly-pates saying ^^ Come away, dear my fellows and

feres ; let's ride for a merry sport upon this
bull.
For sure he will take us all upon his bowed
back, so meek he looks and mild, so kind and so
gentle, nothing resembling other bulls moreover an
understanding moveth over him meet as a man's,
and all he lacks is speech." So saying, she sat her
down smiling upon his back and the rest would
have sate them likewise, but suddenly the bull,
possessed of his desire, leapt up and made hot-foot
for the sea. Then did the rapt Europa turn her about
and stretch forth her hands and call upon her dear
companions ; but nay, they might not come at her,
and the sea-shore reached, 'twas still forward, forward
till he was faring over the wide waves with hooves
as unharmed of the water as the fins of any
dolphin.
the sea waxed calm, the sea-beasts
And lo
frolicked afore great Zeus, the dolphins made joyful
ups and tumblings over the surge, and the Nereids
rose from the brine and mounting the sea-beasts
And before them all that great
rode all a-row.
rumbling sea-lord the Earth-Shaker played pilot of
the briny pathway to that his brother, and the
Tritons gathering about him took their long taper

my

and sounded the marriage-music like some

Meanwhile Europa, seated
on the back of Zeus the Bull, held with one hand to
his great horn and caught up with the other the long
purple fold of her robe, lest trailing it should be wet
in the untold waters of the hoar brine and the robe
shells

clarioners of the main.

"unharmed of the water": the salt water

to rot the hoofs of oxen

was supposed

437

THE BUCOLIC POETS

fcoXTrcodf] 8' cofioion 7re7rXo9

^aOv^

l&vpco7rLrj(;,

IcTTlOV old T VrjO^, \a(j>pL^G'/C Se KOVpr]V,

A

C>

rj

o ore

OX

orj yaLr](;

-?

if

airo 7raTpLoo<; rjev avevUev,

(paLVSTO o ovT a/cTT] T^9 aKippouo<; ovr opo<; atirv,

aXV a^p yu-ez^ dvoyOev, evepOe he ttovto^ direipayVy

dfKpL iraTTTTJvaaa roarjv dveveLfcaro (JxovtJv

'
TTTJ fjb (j}pL<; OeoTavps; rt? eirXeo; 7rco<; Se

fci-

Xevda

dpyaXe elXtTToSeaai^ hiepx^cii^i ovSe 6d\aa(Tav

hetfJiaivei^; vrjvalv yap eiri^pofjio^ ian ddXaaaa
CDKvdXoL^y ravpoL

S'

dXurjp rpojuueovacv drapTTov,

tl'^ e^ d\o<; eacrer iScoBr);

6e6^ icrar 6eol^ y ^ iireoLKora p6^L<;.

irolov TOt iroTov rjSv;

rj

dpa

TL<;

ov6' aXcot S\(f)LV(; iirl ')(6ovo^ ovre re ravpoi

iv TTovTcp aTL'Xp(ocn, (TV Se x^ova zeal Kara irovrov
dTpoiJLO<;'^ dtcraei^,
r)

rd^ct

%?7Xa6 Be roi elacv eperfjid,

depOel^

fcal y\av/crj(; vTrep rjepof; vyj/oa'

ecKeXo^; al^jrTjpolat ireTrjcreai olcovoIctlv.

cifjLOC

iyoy fjueya hrj

Svcrdfjifxopo<;,

TTarpo^ dTroTTpokiiTOVcra
^eivr]v vavTcXi-np icpeTrco

rj

pd re

real ecnrofxevr)

fcal

Bcop^a

ySo'i'

rwhe

TrXd^o/maL oh],

dWd

(TV jxob [lehecov ttoXlt}^ dXo^ ^^vvoaiyaie

X\ao^ dvTidaeLa^, op eXirofxai elaopdaadat
TOpSe KanOvpopra iropop irpoKeXevOop ifjieio,
ovK ddeel yap ravra Scep^Ofiai vypd KeXevOa."
ft)9
'

(jydro' T7JP S'

Qdpaet

avrof; roc Zev<;

ravpoi'
^

thus

2 7'

vpvKpcos

438

iirel

Ahr

E mss
:

&Se TTpoae^dcfPeep

7rap0ept/i]y

5*
^

eljjLi,

rjiiKepoy^^ /3ov^'

helhidi itoptlop olS/jia.

fir]

Kel

Bvpafiai ye

eyyvOep

ellBo/jiai

(f>api]fievat

elpai

ottc OeXoific.

mss k\v6op apya\er)v (or -\4oi(n) Trodccra-i

^ mss also ^jSpoxos, cf. 114
^ mss also
mss koI
Kcl Mcineke
:

MOSCHUS

II,

129-156

went bosoming deep at the shoulder like the sail of

a ship, and made that fair burden light indeed.
When she was now far come from the land of her
fathers, and could see neither wave-beat shore nor
mountain-top, but only sky above and sea without
end below, she gazed about her and lift up her voice
saying ^^ Whither away with me, thou god-like
bull ? And who art thou, and how come undaunted
where is so ill going for shambling oxen ? Troth,
'tis for the speeding ship to course o' the sea, and
What water
bulls do shun the paths of the brine.
What food shalt thou get
is here thou canst drink ?
thee of the sea ? Nay, 'tis plain thou art a God
For bulls go no
only a God would do as thou doest.
more on the sea than the dolphins of the wave on the
land ; but as for you, land and sea is all one for your
travelling, your hooves are oars to you.
It may well
be you will soar above the the gray mists and fly like
a bird on the wing.
Alas and well-a-day that I left
my home and followed this ox to go so strange a seafaring and so lonesome
O be kind good Lord of
the hoar sea for methinks I see thee yonder
piloting me on this way
great Earth-Shaker, be
,
kind and come hither to help me for sure there's
a divinity in this my journey upon the ways of the
waters."
So far the maid, when the horned ox upspake and
said '' Be of good cheer, sweet virgin, and never thou
fear the billows. 'Tis Zeus himself that speaketh,
though to the sight he seem a bull ; for I can put on
what semblance soever I will.
And 'tis love of
:

439

THE BUCOLIC POETS

a6<; Be iroOo^

ravpo)
7] fJb

/jl

averjKe to(T7]v

LoofJLevov'

riprjTr} be

eOpe-^e fcal avrov,

dXa

fierprjCFaaOat

ae oe^erau

oirrj vvfji^rjla

rjor],

aelo

eacrerar i^ i/ieOev 8e k\vtov<; (pcrvo-eat

01 o-KrjTTTOV^ot
0)9

avaKT6(;

iirl ')(6ovLOLcnv

^dro' Kai reTeKearo rd

vla<^,

eaovrai^

irep (f)dTO,

(j>aLVTO

fjiev Sr)

KpTjrr],

Xvae
7]

Zeu9 Se iraXiv

(Tcj)Tpr]v

dveXd^eTO

he irdpo^ fcovpr]

\6%09 evrvov '^flpac,

Zrjvo^ jever avriKa vvfKprj,

Koi J^poviSy re/cva rcKre kol avruKa jLvero

440

fiopcpTJVy

Se ol fxiTprjv, Kai ol

iMrjTrjp,

lei

MOSCHUS
me

thee hath brought

in a bull's likeness
in Crete, that

was

to

II,

make

and ere

my

157-166

nurse

'tis

so far a sea-course

long thou shalt be

I was with her

when

and there shall thy wedding be, whereof shall spring

famous children who shall all be kings among them
that are in the earth."

what he spake was done

So spake he, and lo
appear it did, the Cretan country, and Zeus
took on once more his own proper shape, and upon
a bed made him of the Seasons unloosed her
maiden girdle. And so it was that she that before
was a virgin became straightway the bride of Zeus,
and thereafter straightway too a mother of children
!

for

unto the Son of Cronus.

44 T

LAMENT FOR BION

III.THE
This poem seems

Lament

for

to

have been suggested by Bions own

Adonis

Song of Thyrsis.

in

The

form

writer

hahled from Southern Italy, but

it

closely resembles the

was a pupil of Bion, and

is

otherwise unknown.

443

PCiXivd

/jbOL

III.EniTA^IOS

BION02

aT0va')(^6tT vdirai

koX Acopiov vScop,

rov IfJbepoevTa ^i(ova,

fjivpeaOe, /cal aXcrea vvv ^odoicrOey

/cal TTorafjiol fcXaiotre

vvv (fyvrd

fioc

dvOea vvv arrvfjivolaiv ^ diroirveioiTe /copv/jb/Soi^;,

vvv poSa (j)OLViO'cr(T0 rd TrevOt/juay vvv dveficovac,
vvv vdKLvOe \d\et rd era ypdfM/jiaTa fcal TrXeov alal
^d/ji^ave^ Tol<^ TrerdXotcrf /ca\o<; reOvaKe fieXL/crd^,
dp')(Te ^t/ceXifcal tco irevOeo^ apj^ere M.ol(7aL,

dhove^ at

TrvfCLVolcrLv

vdfjuacn tol<; S^/ceXoi?

OTTt

WlWV
TO

/cal

Te0Va/CV 6

yLceXo? reOva/ce

ohvpofievai ttotI

(f)v\Xoc<;,

djyeiXare rd^ ^KpeOoiaa^,

^OVICOXO^, OTTC dvv avTcp
Kal coKero Acoph dotSd,

dp'xere ^CKeXi/cal tm rrevOeo^ dp)(6T6 M.OLaat,

%Tpv/x6vL0L fjbvpeaOe irap vSaatv acXcva /cv/cvoLy
/cal yoepoL^ aro/jbdrecrcrL fieXiaSere Trevdtfiov qjSdv,

oiav vfjberepoi^ ttotI ')(eiXecn yrjpa^; deihei^^

ecTrare 8' av /covpai^; Olaypiaiv, etTrare irdaai^
^Laroviatf; lSivfJi(f)o.taiv ' dTTwXero Adopios 'Op(f>6v^.^
dp')(T Xo/ceXiKal tco irevOeo^ dp')(^eTe yiolo-ai.

arv^voiiTLv

Bion

444

6.

E,

mss

cf.

Bion

Xafx^ave

i.

74
^

mss

(Trvyv.

yripas aeiSei

^ ^ff^a^ajfe, cf.

Wil

msf? yripvs

III. THE

LAMENT FOR BION

Cry me waly upon him^ you glades of the woods^

and waly^ sweet Dorian water you rivers, weep I
pray you for the lovely and delightful Bion. Lament
you now, good orchards gentle groves, make you
;

your moan

be your breathing clusters, ye flowers,

Pray roses, now be your reddishevelled for grief.
speak
ness sorrow, and yours sorrow, windflowers
now thy writing, dear flower-de-luce, loud let thy
blossoms babble ay the beautiful musician is dead.
A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.
You nightingales that complain in the thick leafage, tell to Arethusa's fountain of Sicily that neatherd
Bion is dead, and with him dead is music, and gone
with him likewise the Dorian poesy.
A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.
Be it waly with you, Strymon swans, by the waterside, with voice of moaning uplift you such a song
of sorrow as old age singeth from your throats, and
say to the Oeagrian damsels and eke to all the
Bistonian Nymphs ^^ The Dorian Orpheus is dead."
A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.
;

" flower-de-luce "

the petals of the iris were said to bear the

" Strymon" a river of Thrace, where
Orpheus lived and died swans were said to sing before their
**
death.
Oeagrian damsels " daughters of Oeagrus king
** Bistonian "
of Thrace and sisters of Orpheus,
Thracian.
:

letters AI, **alas."

445

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Kelvo^ o TOL^ afye\ai(7LV ipda/uito<; ovk6ti /teXvre^,

0VK6T

iprj/jLataiaLV vtto

aWa irapa
Sypea

'S

Spvalv

^/xei^09 oiSei

TTKovTrjl fjbeXo^ ArjOatov aeihei.

icrrlv d(f)ci)va, /cal at /Soe^ at irorl

ir\al^6fjL6vai

Tavpot^

^odovri kol ovk iOeXovTi vefieaOaL

apx^T %LK\iKal TcS 7rev0O^ ap^ere MoZcrat.

aelo TAlcov eKXavae ra^xpy fiopov avro^ KttoWcov,
^

KOL Xdrvpoc fjivpoPTo fjLekd^x^aivol re

KOL Hdve^ aTova')(evvTO

lipirjTroL-

to aov pbiXo^, at t

Ka&

vkav
Kpaz/^Se? o)SvpavTO, zeal vSara Sdfcpva yevro,
'A^ft)

S'

iv ireTpaicnv oSvperat, ottl atwirfi

rd ad p^etXea. cra> S* eV oXeOpcp

hevhpea fcapirov epiyjre, rd S' dvOea irdvT ifxapdvOrj,
fidXcop OVK eppevae koKov jXdyo<;, ov fxeXt aifju^Xodv,
icovKeTL /jLCfieiraL

Kardave

Tw

S'

/jbeXLTo^

ev

XvTrev/uievov' ovk6tl

fCTjpo)

TM

ao) reOva/coTO^

dp^ere ^CKeXt/cal
ov Toaov elvaXiaiai
ovhe Toaov

iroic

aocri

Set

avrb rpvydaOat,

tco irevOeo^

map

ydp

dp^ere

puvparo

^lolcraL,

^QLprjVi'^

detcrev evl crKOireXoLcriv AyScov,

ovSe TOGOv dpTjvrjorev dv copea fiaKpd X.XlScov,

^AXkvovo^
ovSe Toaov

(5e,

446

S'

OV Toaaov

yXavKok

mss
(TToi/ax^vyTo
y4) TTpip or 5eA^ti/
:

evl

eV dXyeatv

K.rjv^,^

KVfxaaL KrjpvXo^ aSev,

-evuri
^

lax^

Krjv^

'^ip'r)v

Aldus

Buecheler

mss

K-i^pv^

mss

tre

MOSCHUS
He
carols

20-42

III,

that was lovely and pleasant unto the herds

now no more, sits now no more and shigs

but singeth in the house

of Pluteus the song of Lethe, the song of oblivion.
And so the hills are dumb, and the cows that wander
with the bulls wail, and will none of their pasture.
'neath the desert oaks

song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses,

Your sudden end, sweet Bion, was matter of weep-

ing even unto Apollo the Satyrs did lament you,

and every Priapus made you his moan in sable garb.
;

Not a Pan but cried woe

o'

the spring but

for

your music, not a

made her complaint

of

it

Nymph
in the

wood and all the waters became as tears. Echo^

mourns among the rocks that she is silent
;

too, she

and can imitate your lips no more. For sorrow

that you are lost the trees have cast their fruit on
the ground, and all the flowers are withered away.
The flocks have given none of their good milk, and
the hives none of their honey for the honey is
perished in the comb for grief, seeing the honey of
bees is no longer to be gathered now that honey of
yours is done away.
A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.
Never so woeful was the lament of the Siren upon
;

the beach, never so woeful the song of that Nightingale among the rocks, or the dirge of that Swallow
amid the long hills, neither the wail of Ceyx for the
woes of that Halcyon, nor yet the CferyFs song among
'*Pan, Priapus, Satyrs, Nymphs": the effigies of these
which stood in the pastures.
"the Sirens":
these were represented as half bird, half woman, and
bewailed the dead.
lines 38-41
The references are to
birds who once had human shape; see index.
deities

447

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ov Toaov acpoLCTiv

iv ay/cecn iralha tov 'AoO?

iTrrdfievo^; irepl aa/jia /civvparo M./jivovo^ 6pvi<;,

oaaov

Karcohvpcwro Qio}vo<^,
%LKeKLKal roy irevOeo^ ap)(T Mocaat,
dSoviSe^; Traaai re ^eXtSoi^e?, a? ttok 6Tpirev,
a? \aXeeiv ihi^acrtce, fcaOe^oftevac ttotI TrpefMvot^
d7rocf>0L/jL6POio

ap')(Te

dvTiov
'

dWdXatGiv

i/cco/cvov

at

opviOef; \vTTi(T6* ai 7rvOdSe<;'

dpx^re ^LfcekiKal
Tt9 TTore

aa

S'

vire^dovevv

dWd

avpi^/'yi pbeXi^erai

S)

ra ad

50

TpiTroOrjre;

TLS S' eVt aol<^ KaXdpboi^ 6rjcrt aro/JLa;

^ap

/cal r]fXi<i^^

rco irev6eo<; dp)(eTe Mo^crai.

tl<^

Opacrv^

koX to <tqv daOpua,

a')(a o P oovaKeaai rea? eTi
poa/cer aoLoa<^,
Tiavi cj>epco to pbeXiafjua; Tdy^ dv koX k6lvo^ ipelaai
TO (TTOjjia heifjLaivoLy pur] hevTepa crelo (f>ep7]TaL,
eiaeri

Trveiec

')(eiXea
"^

dp')(T XtfceXtKal

tw

irev6eo<; dpyeTe. IsKolarai,

Kkaiei KoX FdXdTeca to crov yu-eXo?, dv ttok erepTre?

e^opbevav pusTa ^ crelo Trap" dioveaai OaXdcraa^,
ov yap tcrov J^^vkXcottl p^eXiaSeo' tov piev ecpevyev
d KoXd VaXdTeta, ere S' dSiov e^Xerrev dXpia^,
KOI vvv Xaaapieva tS> KvpaTO^ iv '\\rapbd6oLaiv
6^T ipripiaiaiaiy /36a^

8' eTC crelo vopLevei,

dp')(eT6 XcKeXi/cal rco irevOeo^ dp')(eTe Motcrat.

TrdvTa TOL eJ /Sovtu avytcaTOave Scopa Ta Motadv,

TrapOevLKav epoevTa (ptXrjpLaTa, ')(eiXea TraiBcov,

a(^oi(TLv

mss
6'

eV

mss

448

* Kvirclffd' at Ahr
and ol(*)V.
^ ^^^^
mss also rifxas and u^ets
mss dxeSi/^, axeScJoz^, axeSo^/et
It* ;8. Brunck
^ ^erct Hermann
mss Trapa

mss

XvK^laQai,

Ahr

67ri,8.

also ^^voiaiv

-06, -Qe

ye

Q{

MOSCHUS

43-66

III,

the blue waves, nay, not so woeful the hovering bird

of Memnon over the tomb of the Son of the Morning in the dells of the Morning, as when they
mourned for Bion dead.
A song of 7voe, of woe, Sicilian Muses,
The nightingales and all the swallows, which once
he delighted, which once he taught to speak, sat
upon the branches and cried aloud in antiphons, and
they that answered said ^^ Lament, ye mourners,

and so

will

we/'

song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses,

O thrice-beloved man who will make music upon
thy pipe ? Who so bold as to set lip to thy reeds ?
For thy lips and thy breath live yet, and in those
straws the sound of thy song is quick.
Shall I take
and give the pipe to Pan ? Nay, mayhap even he will
!

fear to put lip to

it

lest

he come

off

second to thee.

song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.

There's Galatea, too, weeps for your music, the
music that was erst her delight sitting beside you
upon the strand. For Cyclops' music was all another
thing she shunned him, the pretty Galatea, but she
looked upon you more gladly than upon the sea.
And lo now the waves are forgotten while she sits
upon the lone lone sands, but your cows she tends
;

for

you

still.

song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.

All the gifts that come of the Muses have perished,
dear Neatherd, with you, the dear delightful kisses
*'bird

of

Dawn and
called

Memnon"; The tomb

Tithonus,
Meranonidae.

of

Memnon, son

of the

was visited every year by birds

"Galatea": Bion seems to have

written a first-person pastoral resembling the Serenade, in

which a neatherd lover of Galatea sang to her on the beach.
If so, Fragment XII would seem to belong to it.

449
G G

THE BUCOLIC POETS

KoX arv/nvol ^ Trepl aSyjia reov KXaiovatv *'EpT9.
')(a Ku7rpt9 irodeei ^ ere ttoXv irXeov rj to ^LXri/jia,
TO irpdoav TOP "AScovtv airoOvaaKOVTa (f)L\r]ai^,
TovTo TOi S) TroTUfjicov XtyvpcoTaTe SevTepov aXyo<^,
TOVTO, M.6\rj, veov d\'yo<;,
aTrcoXeTO irpdv tol^
"OfMTjpO^,

TO KaXXioTra? yXvKepov (TTOfJia, Kai ae

XiyovTC
jjbvpaaOaL ^ fcaXbv via TroXv/cXavTOLcn peeOpot^,
iraaav S' eirXTjaa^ (f)0)vd(^ aXw vvv iraXiv oXXov
TTjvo

vlea SuKpvei.^, kulvo)

S' evrl TrevOel tclkt),

dfjb(j>6T6poi Trayal^; 7re<^CXr]ixevoL,

HayaaiSo^

Kpdva<;^

09 fiev einve

S' e'xev irofjia Ta<;

^KpeOoiaa^,

TvvhapeoLO fcaXav aecae OvyaTpa

@T^So9 iikyav via Kal ^ATpeiBav M.V6Xaov
T7]vo<; S' ov 7roX6fiov<;, ov Sd/cpva, Udva S' ep^eXire,
Kal ^ovTa^ eXlyatve Kal delScov ivofieve,
Kal crvpiyya^; 6Tev)(e Kal dhea iropTiv apbeXye,
Kal TralScov iSiSaaKe ^iXrjfjbaTay Kal top '^EpcoTa
Tpe(f>V iv koXttolo-l Kal rjpeOe tclv ^A(j)po8iTav*
/JLV

')(ol}

fcal

dp'xeTe Xi'KeXiKal tco TrevOeo^ dp'^eTe ISJiolaaL,

Wiwv Oprjvec a kXvtcl ttoXl^;, acrTea iravTa,

irdcra

"AaKpa

yodei ae ttoXv irXeov ^YLcnohoto*

UivSapop ov iToOeovTi togov l&0LC0TiS<; vXar
ov TocTOV ^AXKaicp nrepifJivpaTO Aecry8o9 epavvd'
ovoe Toaov ov aoLOov oovpaTO^ Irjiov aaTV*
a irXeov ^ Ap')(^tX6')(^oto irodel Udpo^;' dvTl
/JLV

he

^air<^03<^
^
74 mss (rrvyvoi or -hv
x^ Wil
^ roi
mss also ttoi and
mss (piXeei
^ kpavva Heringa
* fivpaffdai Mein
mss -ea-Oai
mss
fjLoi
^ hu Wakefield
mss rhp
oHparo
ipevpcLy pVa, ipe/jLva
Wakef mss i/xvparo
^

mss

arvfxvoi

E,

cf.

TToOeei

Bion

Herm

i.

450

MOSCHUS

III,

67-91

of the maidens, the sweet lips of the lads round

your corse the Loves weep all dishevelled, and
Cypris, she's fainer far of you than the kiss she gave
;

Adonis when he died the other day.

tunefuUest of rivers, this makes thee a second

grief, this, good Meles, comes thee a new woe. One
melodious mouthpiece of Calliope is long dead, and
that is Homer that lovely son of thine was mourned,
'tis said, of thy tearful flood, and all the sea was filled
and lo
now
with the voice of thy lamentation
thou weepest for another son, and a new sorrow
melteth thee away. Both were beloved of a waterspring, for the one drank at Pegasus' fountain and
the other got him drink of Arethusa and the one
sang of the lovely daughter of Tyndareiis, and of the
great son of Thetis, and of Atreid Menelaiis but this
other's singing was neither of wars nor tears but of
Pan as a herdsman he chanted, and kept his cattle
with a song he both fashioned pipes and milked the
gentle kine he taught the lore of kisses, he made
a fosterling of Love, he roused and stirred the passion
of Aphrodite.
A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.
O Bion there's not a city, nay, not a humble
Ascra makes far louder
town but laments thee.
moan than for her Hesiod, the woods of Boeotia long
not so for their Pindar not so sore did lovely Lesbos
weep for Alcaeus, nor Teos town for the poet that
was hers Paros yearns as she yearned not for Archi;

**the other day": The reference to Adonis' death is

doubtless to a recent Adonis-Festival.
Meles "
the
river of Smyrna, birthplace of Bion and claiming to be the
'
birthplace of Homer.
the poet that was hers " : Anacreon.
'

'

'

G G 2

THE BUCOLIC POETS

a MirvXava*
XvpafcoaiotaL ^eoKpiro^;' avrap iyco tol

elairt^ (T6V to fieXta/jia /civvperaL

el

Se

AvaovLfcd^ ohvva^
^ovKoXiKCi^y
H:Xapov6fio<;

dXXoL<;

alal ral

ov ^evo^

pueXTrco pueXo^;,

(p8a<;

avre StSd^ao aelo pbaOrjTa^

Motcra? Ta9 AcopiSo^,

reov oXjSov,

fjbev

ap^ere

aSX

l^i/ceXtfcal

tm

a.

jme^ yepaipcov

ipbol h' aTreXeiire^

aotSdv,

irevdeo^ dp'^^ere rioter ao,

pbaXd')(^aL p.eVy inrdv

Kara

kclttov oXcovrai,

rd "xXcopd aeXiva to t eu^aXe? ovXop avrjOov,

vaTepov av ^cjoovto /cat eh ero? dXXo (f>vovTr

r/Se

a/ji/jLe^ 8'

ol pLeydXoL /cal KapTepol, ol^ aof^ol dvhpe^,

OTTTTOTe TrpaTa Odvcopie^;, dvdfcooL ev

yQovX KoiXa

evSo/ie^ ev /mdXa fia/cpov aTep/jLova vrjypeTov vttvov*

fcal

av

&v ^

fiev

crija 7re7rvKacrjjL6V0<; ecraeac ev yd,

Tot^ NvpL(f)atcrc

Tah

^ S'

S^

eho^ev del tov j3dTpa')(pv aSeiv,

yap

eyo) ov ^doveoipir to

/ieXo? ov

KaXbv

dSec,
dp')(^eTe

Xi/ceXcKal too 7revdeo<; dp'y^eTe M-olaat,

(j)dpiuLa/cov TjXOe,
r]Oe<;

^icov, ttotI

gov

aTOjJia, (f>dp/iiaKov

TOLOVTOL^ Xel'Xeao-L iroTehpajJie kovk eyXvKdvOi];

T69 Se /3poTo^ TocraovTOV dvdfjiepo^ o)?
rj

Sovpai fcaXeovTc to (pap/xaKov;

dp'X^eTe ^L/ceXi/cal tco irev6eo^

dXXd
^

Ai/ca

efVeVt =2

Briggs

mss

fci')(e

evermore
afiiJie^

'd/nfic,

KaprepoX or KapreptKol

452

e?

5e

dfji/j.ya
^

Siv

Wil
^

Wakef

Kepdaat tol

e/cyjrvyev (p8d.^

eVl TrevOel Tcphe

mss eV 8e, oi5e

Kaprepoiy ot Briggs
:

1^

dp^eTe MoZcra^.

iyco 8'

irdvTa^.

'^

mss

iv

tols

^
:

fxe

mss
Wil
:

MOSCHUS

III,

92-114

lochus, and Mitylene bewails thy song evermore instead of Sappho's. To Syracuse thou art a Theocritus;
and as for Ausonia's mourning, 'tis the song I sing
thee now ; and 'tis no stranger to the pastoral poesy
that sings it, neither, but an inheritor of that Dorian

minstrelsy which came of thy teaching and was my

portion when thou leftest others thy wealth but me
thy song.
A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Mnses.
Ay me when the mallows and the fresh green
parsley and the springing crumpled anise perish in
the garden, they live yet again and grow another
year but we men that are so tall and strong and
wise, soon as ever we be dead, unhearing there in a
hole of the earth sleep we both sound and long a
And so it
sleep that is without end or waking.
shall be that thou wilt lie in the earth beneath a
covering of silence, albeit the little croaking frog
o' the tree by ordinance of the Nymphs may sing for
evermore. But they are welcome to his music for
!

me

but poor music he makes.

song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.
There came poison, sweet Bion, to thy mouth, and
poison thou didst eat O how could it approach such
lips as those and not turn to sweetness ? And what
mortal man so barbarous and wild as to mix it for
thee or give it thee at thy call ? and Song went cold
;

it is

and

still.

A song of woe, of woe, Sicilian Muses.

Howbeit Justice overtaketh every man and as for
me, this song shall be my weeping sad lamentation
;

Tots
' 00s Ahr
mss %s or ^
^K<pvy^v (or ^ (pvy^v) (}hhv

mss

I^Krpvyev

^da

mss

453

THE BUCOLIC POETS

Sa/cpvx^ecov reov olrov oSvpofiat,

*0^(^eu9

ft)9

/cara^a'^

el

Swd/jbav

Tdprapov,

ttotI

(5?

Se,

ttok

^OSvaaev^y
ci)9

IIXouTeo9, W9
ft)9

av

rrrdpo^ ^A\Ki8a<;, KrjyoD rd')^

av

fCv lSoljulc,

koX

el

9 86/jlov yivOov

UXovrrji

dicovcraifjbavy tl /jbeXicrBeai.

aXV

fJueXiaSet^;,

dye ^ K.copa

Xi/ceXiKov Tc Xiyaive kol dhv tl ^ov/coXcd^ev,

Kol fceiva XtfceXdy kol iv^ Alrvaiacaiv eirac^ev

aoaL, fcal /ieXo9 otSe to Axopiov ovfc dyepacrro^

iaaeW d

/jLoXird,

^0)9 ^Op(^el TrpoaOev eSojKev

dSea ^opfJLii^ovTi iraXia-avTov ^vpySiKecav,

el Se re Krjycbv
KOL ae Ulcop irefi'^eL rol^ copeaiv,
avpuaScop Bwdjubav, nrapd TiXovrel k avro^ deihov.
^

a\A' a76

Wil mss ctAAa

some mss omit
:

iraffa,

irapa

(rt;ceAi/ca

iv (or koI eV), (TLKQKuiouaLV ip

454

Koi

aAA' eVl,

Si/ceAa, koI ip

/cat

iracra,

Teucher

koX

mss

MOSCHUS

III,

115-126

thy decease. Could I but have gone down into

Tartarus as Orpheus went and Odysseus of yore
and Alcides long ago, then would I also have come
mayhap to the house of Pluteus, that I might see
thee, and if so be thou singest to Pluteus, hear what
But all the same, I pray
that thou singest may be.
thee, chant some song of Sicily, some sweet
melodious country-song, unto the Maid ; for she too
is of Sicily, she too once sported on Etna's shores
she knows the Dorian music ; so thy melodies shall
not go without reward. Even as once she granted
Orpheus his Eurydice's return because he harped so
sweetly, so likewise she shall give my Bion back
unto the hills and had but this my pipe the power
of that his harp, I had played for this in the house
of Pluteus myself.

for

" the Maid" Persephone, who was carried off by Pluto

here called Pluteus when she was playing in the fields of
:

Sicily.

455

IV-VII

Of

the reynaining

The

Stobaeus,
Plan._, 4.

owing

poems

last

is

the first three are quoted

found

in the

htj

Anthology (Anth.

200)^ and was wrongly ascribed to Moschus

to its

mention of Europas

bull.

457

IV

Tav aXa rav yXavKav orav

rav

Mvefio^ arpefxa ^dWrj,

SeiXav ipedu^o/jLac, ovS* en fioi jd^
iroOiei he iroXv irXeov a fjueyaXa fjL aX?.^

<f>peva tclv

iarl

(fyiXay

aW'

orav cL')(^i](Trj TroXto? ^v66<;, a Se OaXaaaa

KVpTov iTracfypL^rjy ra Be /cv/jbara fxarcpa fjLe/jL7]vrj,
9 yQova iraTTTaivoi) fcal SevSpea, rap S' aXa (fievyo),

yd

8e

evOa
rj

fjbOL

dcriraardy

ya

SdafCLO<;

evaSev vXa,

/cat rjv TTvevar) 7r6\v<; cive/jLO^,

KaKov

6 ypL7rev<; ^coet /3lov,

ddXaaaa,

iarl

fcal TTOvof;

c5 So/jlo^

/cat

ttLtv^ aBei.

l')(dve<;

vav<^,

d irXdvo^

aypa*

avrdp

Kol 7rayd<;

y\vKV^ vttvo^

ejjbol

(^Ckeoifjn

repTrei yjrocjieocaa

vtto irKardvcp /3a6v'

top 677i;^ei^ ^%oz/ dKOveiv,

top dypiKOp^ ovyl rapdacrei.

V
''H/oaro^ Ilai/ 'A%cli9 tS? yeiTovo^, Tjparo S* 'A^co

(TfcipTard ^aTVpco, Z^drvpo^

S'

iirefiyparo

AvSa.

TOP Hdpa, Toaop XdTvpo<; (j>\eyep 'Ap^co,

KOI Avha ^arvpLCTKOP' "Etpco^ S* eo-fivx^r d/jLOc^a.
0)9 'A^j^ci)

mss
^

jjLoi

ijparo

4S8

ya Bosius

irXeova jueydXav

Wakef

mss

fio^a-a

a\a

mss

f}pa

'

^ irXeov a fieydXa ;u' a\s E

aypiKhv Stephanus
mss aypotKov
:

IV. [A COMPARISON]

When

the wind strikes gently upon a sea that is

blue^ this craven heart is roused within me, and my
love of the land yields to the desire of the great

But when the deep waxes grey and loud,

and the sea begins to swell and to foam and the
waves run long and wild, then look I unto the shore
and its trees and depart from the brine, then welcome
is the land to me and pleasant the shady greenwood,
where, be the wind never so high, the pine-tree sings
her song. O *tis ill to be a fisher with a ship for his
house and the sea for his labour and the fishes for his
Rather is it sleep beneath the leafy
slippery prey.
plane for me, and the sound hard by of a bubbling
spring such as delights and not disturbs the rustic
waters.

ear.

v. [A LESSON TO LOVERS]
Echo loved a
neighbour Echo
and
Satyr,
he
was
head
over ears
frisking Satyr
As Echo was Pan's flame, so was Satyr
for Lyde.
'Twas Love reEcho's, and Lyde master Satyr's.

Pan loved

his

459

THE BUCOLIC POETS

oaaov

'yap ttjvcov

ti<; i/juicree

rov (ptXeovra,

o/nco';
a ttoUl,
ravra \ey(o iraoriv ra SiSdy/jLara TO69 dvepdaroc^'
crrepyeTe rw? (f^tXeovra^, Xv rjv (ptXerjre (pcXrjaOe,

Toacrov

(ptXecov rj'xOaipeTOy Trda'xe S'

VI
Yilaav iirrjv Kara irovrov ohevrj,
^Apedooaav dycov /convrjipopov vScop,
ehva (f>po)v KoXa (pvXka fcal avOea koX koviv
AX(f)io<; jubera

ep'^erac e/9

IpdVf

rdv Be ddXaaaav
vep6ev viTOTpo^deiy kov fxiyvvTai vSaaiv vhwp,
d S' ovfc olSe OdXaaaa Siep^ofievco irorapbolo,
K(x)po<^ Xivo6eTa<^ ^ fcafco/jid')(^avo^ alvd StSda/ccov
/cal

^aOi)^

efjL/3aiVc To2<i /cv/Ltacn,

Kol TrorajULov Sid (pLXrpop "Kpco^ iSiSa^e

koXv/jl/Stjp.

VIIEI2 EPOTA APOTPIONTA

Aa/jiTrdSa Oel^ koX ro^a ^orjXdriv ecXero pd/3Sov

o5Xo9
KOI

''E/3ft)9, TTTJprjv S'

l^ev^a<;

raXaepyov

6(Tireipev Arjov^;
elvre S' dvco
/jurj

460

^vpcoTrrjf;

\lvo0Tas E,

cf.

/carco/jiaSLTjv,

avykva Tavpcdv

avXa/ca Trvpo^opov.

Ad'
^ovv

^Xe^^ra^ avrcp

ae rov

el^^

viro ^vyov

TrXrjaov dpovpa<;,

'

vir

Theocr. 21. 10

dporpa
mss

/SdXco,^

Beivoeeras

MOSCHUS

V-VII

by just course, even as each of those

scorn its lover, so was it also scorned
being such a lover itself. To all such as be heartwhole be this lesson read: If you would be loved
where you be loving, then love them that love you.
ciprocal

for

hearts did

VI. [A RIVER IN LOVE]

When

Alpheiis leaves Pisa behind him and travels

he brings Arethusa the water that makes
the wild olives grow ; and with a bride-gift coming,
of pretty leaves and pretty flowers and sacred dust,
he goeth deep into the waves and runneth his course
beneath the sea, and so runneth that the two waters
mingle not and the sea never knows of the river's
passing through.
So is it that the spell of that
impish setter of nets, that sly and crafty teacher of
troubles, Love, hath e'en taught a river how to dive.

by the

sea,

VILOF LOVE PLOUGHING

Love the Destroyer set down his torch and his
bow, and slinging a wallet on his back, took an oxgoad in hand, yoked him a sturdy pair of steers, and
fell to ploughing and sowing Demeter's cornland
and while he did so, he looked up unto great Zeus
saying " Be sure thou make my harvest fat for if
thou fail me I'll have that bull of Europa's to my
;

plough."
"sacred dust": the dust of the race-course at Olympia
(Pisa).

461

MEGARA

MEGARA
The poem
at

home

gives a picture

of Heracles wife and mother

in his house at Tiryns while he is

The two women

his Labours.

bewails his

mad murder of

abroad about

weeping.

The wife

their children,

and gently

sit

mother might give her more sympathy in her

hints that the

sorrow if she would not be for ever lamenting her own.

To which
the

for
by

day

is

the kind old

the evil

the safety

an

evil

of

Alcmena

thereof

but though her

dream,

is

some

to

to

now

food enough, God knows, for

Megara must

for her sorrowing daughter

a resemblance

own anxiety

the labouring Heracles, increased

lamentation, she feels, as indeed

well,

replies, ^'sufficient unto

\Theocritus'\

too.

XX F,

The
and

is

knoiv full

poe7n bears

thought by

belong to the same author.

465

H H

MEFAPA
TLcj)0^ wSe (f>iKov Kara OvfjLov IdineL^
dykovGa, to irpiv hk tol ovKer epevOo^
a(p^T iirl peOeeaat; tl /jlol roaov r^virjcrai;
'

M.7]Tp

ejjbrj,

i/cTrdyXco^

dXyea

OTL

r]p^

7rdc')(eL diTeipLTa (^aihipio^; vlo^

avopo^ VTT ovTLoavoio, Aecov coaeiu vtto veppov;

Mfioi iycoy TL vv hi] jie 6eol toctov rjTLfJirjaav
dOdvaTOi; tl vv p! &he /caKj) yovee^; Teicov accrrj;
8vcrp.opo<;, r/T irrrel dvSpo<; dp,vp.ovo<; 69

Tov

puev ijco

Xe^o?

rjXOov,

TieaKOv taov (^aeeaaiv ifiolaiv

^S' eTi vvv ae^op^ai re koI alheopuaL KaTcu dvp^ov

TOV S* ovTL^ yeveT aXXo9 diroTpiOTepo^ ^coovtcop,

ovSe Toacov (j(\>6Tepr]aiv iyevcraTo (j^povTiac /CTjSecov,
(T')(^6t\lo^,
rje

Tivo^

09 To^oiatv,

K.r]pct)v

rj

ol TTOpev avTo<^

KttoWwv

^EpLvvo^ alvd jSekepiva,

iraLha<^ eot'9 fcaTeTrecfyve /cal

i/c

(j^lXov

etXeTO^ Ovpuov

piaivopievo^ icaTa ol/cov, o S' epTrXeo^ ea/ce (J)6polo

TOL'9 p^V e^ft) 8vo-Tr}po<; ep^ol^ thov 6(j)0a\p.otat

^aX\op,Vov<; vtto TraTpi, to

S'

ouS'

ovap rjXvOev

dW(p*
ovSe

cr(j>iv

puTfTep

erjv, iirel
^

466

KoXeovanv dprj^at
iyyv<; dvLKrjTOV kukov rjev,

8vvdp,r}v dhivov

eXXero

mss

also ic\e<r

MEGARA
Megara

the

wife

of Heracles

addresses his

mother

Alcmena,

" Mother dear^ O why is thy heart cast down in this

exceeding sorrow^ and the rose o' thy cheek a- withering away ? What is it^ sweety hath made thee so sad ?
Is it because thy doughty son be given troubles innumerable by a man of nought^ as a lion might be given
by a fawn ? O well-a-day that the Gods should have
sent me this dishonour and alas that I should have
been begotten unto such an evil lot Woe's me that
i
that was bedded with a man above reproach^ I
that esteemed him as the light of my eyes and do
render him heart's worship and honour to this day,
should have lived to see him of all the world most
miserable and best acquaint with the taste of woe
O misery that the bow and arrows given him of the
great Apollo should prove to be the dire shafts of a
Death-Spirit or a Fury, so that he should run stark
!

mad

in

his

own home and slay his own children

them of dear life and fill the

withal, should reave

house with murder and blood

Aye, with my own miserable eyes I saw my
children smitten of the hand of their father, and
that hath no other so much as dreamt of.
And
for all they cried and cried upon their mother I
could not help them, so present and invincible was
!

467

H H

THE BUCOLIC POETS

ft)9

8'

opVL^ hvprjTaL

oWvfievoL^,

oi/ctt'

eirl ai^yeTepoLcn veo(7crol<^

alvo^

6(f)i^

en

Odfivoi^; iv irvKLvolai fcareaOier

TTCOTCLTaL

pr)7rtd)(^ovTa^
fj

0)9 ijo)

rj

tfxev fxeya rdp/3o<^ d/jietXi/cToto

alvoTO/ceia (piXov yovov

jjbaiVOjJievoiCTL
ci<i

Kar avToi)^

KXd^ovcTa fjuaXa \Lyv iroTPca

ovB^ dp* e%ef Te/cvoionv iirapiceaar

dacrov

Se

TroSeaai

o^eKov

Sojulov

^ jbLTjrrjp,

yap

ol avrfj

TreXcopov

ald^ovaa

/cdra

ttoWov

i(f>OLTQ)v,

koI

Tratalv dfia Ovrjaicovaa

jjuera

aifTT)

KelcrOaL (pap/jbaKoevra

St'

rjiraTo^ lov e')(ovo'a,

"ApTefiL drjXvTepyat fieya Kpeiovaa yvvaL^L

Tcp %' rj/jia<; Kkavaavre ^iXrja evl %6/9(tI roKrje^
7roXXoL<; avv Krepeeaai Trvpr)^ eTre^rjaav o/xoLrji;,
Kai KV eva ')(^pvaeLov e? ocrrea Kpcoaabv dTrdvrcov
Xe^avre^ /careOayJraVy 60 1 irpcorov yevofJicada,
vvv S' 01 fJiev rj^rjv inT7roTp6<^ov evvaiovaiv
^AovLov irehiOLo ^aOelav ^SiXov dpovvTe<^'

avrdp

iyo)

Tipvvda Kdra

/cpavarjv ttoXlv '^Hpij^

TToXXolacv 8vcrTr]vo<; IdTrro/jiat dXyeacv rjrop

acev oyLtco?' oaKpvcov oe Trapearc /jloc ovo c epcorj,
dXXd iTOdiv jxev opS) iravpov 'y^povov 6(f)daX/jLoc(TCV
oXkco iv rjfierepcp' iroXecov ydp ol epyov eroL/uLov

yalav dXcofievo^ r)he OdXaaaav

/>60%^t^t Trerprj^ 6y ex^^v voov r)e atSypov
Kaprepov iv arTJOeaar av S' yvre Xel^eai ^ vScop,
vvKTa<; T KXaiovaa Koi ire Alo<; ijfjLad' oiroacra,
dXXo^ fjidv ovK dv tl^ iv(f>prjvaL fxe Trapao-rd^;
IJb6')(j9(i)Vy

TOV<; iirl

KrjSefjLovcov
^

TrSrvia

also Aei/Serat

468

ov ydp

a(j>e 86/jbcov

raving E, cf

Kara TeL^P^ iepyer

IloTVial, ttotviols, iroTfido/jLai

mss

MEGARA,

21-48

hap.
But even as a bird that waileth
upon her young ones' perishing when her babes
be devoured one by one of a dire serpent in the
thicket^ and flies to and fro^ the poor raving mother,
screaming above her children, and cannot go near
their evil

to

aid

them

for

her

own

great

terror

of that

even so this unhappiest of

mothers that 's before thee did speed back and forth
through all that house in a frenzy^ crying woe upon
her pretty brood. O would to thee kind Artemis^
great Queen of us poor women^ would I too had
fallen with a poisoned arrow in my heart and so
Then had my parents taken and wept
died also
over us together^ and laid us with several rites on
one funeral pile^ and so gathered all those ashes in
one golden urn and buried them in the land of our
But alas they dwell in the Theban country
birth.
of steeds and do till the deep loam of the Aonian
lowlands^ while I be in the ancient Tirynthian hold
of Hera, and my heart cast down with manifold pain
ever and unceasingly^ and never a moment's respite
from tears.
For as for my husband, 'tis but a little of the time
my eyes do look upon him in our home, seeing he
hath so many labours to do abroad by land and sea
with that brave heart of his so strong as stone
or steel and as for you, you are poured out like
water, weeping the long of every day and night Zeus
giveth to the world and none other of my kindred
they be no nextc;4n come and play me comforter
door neighbours^, they, seeing they dwell every one
remorseless monster

469

THE BUCOLIC POETS

iravre^ ye ireprjv 7n,TvcoSeo<; ^laOjUbov

fcal \irjv

vaiovcr

ovSe

fioi

eari

ovrcvd

irpo<;

ola yvvrj iravdnroTfJiO^ dvayjrv^at/jLC

v6a(j)L

ye

fee

Hypprj^; avvopbaipovo^'

Srj

/SXeyJraaa

cf^tKov Krjp,
fj

8e /cal avrrj

iroaei (T(^eTep(p irXeov d')(yvTai ^I<pLKX7]L,

d/ji(f>l

a(p veer Trdvrcov

yap ol^vpcorara reKva

yeivaaOai cre 6e(p re kol dvepi Ovtjtw eo\7ra'

(W9 ap ecpT]' ra oe ol uaXepcorepa oaKpva /itjXmv
koXttov 9 Ip^epoevTa fcard ^Xecjydpcov

e')(eovTO,

re kol S)v /JLeTerreiTa ro/crjcov.

auTC09 Sa/cpvocai iraprjla XevK ehlaivev

pvrjaafjievr) reKvayv
0)9 S'

/3a pv

'AXfCfJbijvr]'

S* rjye /cal e/c OvfJLOV (7Tevd')(^ovaa

vvov coSe /jueryvSa'

/.ivdoiacv TTVKiVolai ^ikrjv

vv tol (^pealv epureae tovto

eOeXet'^ opodvvefiev djbL(f)(iy
Xeyovaa; ra 8 ov vvv Trpcora

'SatfiopLT] TralScjov, tl
7rVH:a\[fiai<;

7roj<; d/njii

aXaara

fCTj^e

fceKXavrai.

ovK dXi^,

Tj

oh exofieaOa

to Bevrarop alev

eir

rjfiap

ytvofjbevoi^;

fidXa

ye

fjuev

(l>LXo6p'r)v'}j<;^ /ce tl<; ecrj,

dp 10 pur) a e Lev e^' rjp.eTepot<^ dyeeaai,

Odpaer ov roirjcrS' ifcvpyaafiev eK Oeov atar)^,

0<TTi9

/cal 8'

avTr]v opoQ)

ere (j>iXov TeKO<;

drptfTOccrtv

dXyecTL pb0')(9it^Gvaav. eTnyvcojjiwv he tol elput

dGyciXdav, OTe StJ ye /cal ev(f)pocrvv7j<; /copo<; eVrr

Kai ae

p.d'X! e/c77dyXco<; 6Xo(j)vpo/jLat ^ ?;S'

ovve/cev rjfieTepoio

oa0^

'

cf.

mss

470

rjjULip

11.

also

Xvypov

iXeaupcOy

fJueTa Sai/jLovo<; 6cr^e9,

e(pv7repde Kdprj^; /Sapv^ alcopecTaL,

17.

437

(pL\o(ppit)v))5

iir*

^^ap

mss

cf.

Theocr. Inscr.

also iiroBvpofiai

8.

'

MEGARA,

49-74

them away beyond the piny Isthmus^ and so

have none to look to^ such as a thrice-miserable
woman needs to revive her heart save only my
sister Pyrrha^ and she hath her own sorrow for her
husband Iphicles^ and he your son for methinks
never in all the world hath woman borne so ill-fated
children as a God and a man did beget upon you/'
So far spake Megara^ the great tears falling so big
as apples into her lovely bosom^ first at the thought
of her children and thereafter at the thought of her
father and mother.
And Alcmena^ she in like manner did bedew her pale wan cheeks with tears^ and
now fetching a deep deep sigh^ spake words of
wisdom unto her dear daughter
^^
My poor girl/' says she^ '^ what is come over
How is it thou wilt be disthy prudent heart?
quieting us both with this talk of sorrows unforgetof
I

hast bewept them so many times

are not the misfortunes which possess us
;
Sure he that
enough each day as they come ?
should fall a-counting in the midst of miseries like
ours would be a very fond lover of lamentation.
Be '^f good cheer Heaven hath not fashioned us of

Thou

table ?
before

sucn stuff as that.

And what is more^ I need no tellings dear child,
of thy sadness for I can see thee before me labouring of unabating woes, and God wot I know what
'tis to be sore vexed when the very joys of life are
loathsome, and I am exceeding sad and sorry thou
shouldest have part in the baneful fortune that hangs
us so heavy overhead.
For before the Maid I swear
;

" the misfortunes which possess us": the Greek is *Are

not the woes which possess us, coming every latest day,

enough

'^

47'

THE BUCOLIC POETS

taro)

yap

a?

fieya /3\a(j)di(;

/C6

YLovpr] re /cat eveavo^ ArjjuLTjTTjpy

tl^; etccov

iiTioptcov ojiocFcrai

hvafjbevecov,'^ jjirjOev ere ^(^epeLOTepov cjypealv fjcn

arepyeLV^
Kai

rj

etirep

vireK vrjBvto^Lv rjXde^;

/jlol

TrfkyyeTTj evl hdofxacn irapOevo^^ rjaOa,

fJbOi

ovS* avrrjv je vv irajjunrav eokira. ere tovto j Xrjdetv.

tS

jjb

fjLTj

/jirjS'

e^ei7rr}<^

iror

ijuiov

9ako<^y

W9

crev a/ajSeco,

K TjVKoiiov ^io^y]^ irvKLvdorepa KXaico.

yap

ovS^ &)9

vepbearjTov virep re/cvov

yodaaOat

SvairaOiovTO^;' iirel Se/ca firjva^ eKajivov

/jLTjrepc

Kai vrep r ^ iheeiv jJbiv, ejjLM vtto 7]iTaT e^ovaa,

fjL6 TTvXdprao a'X^eSov Tjyayev AlScovrjo^;*

irpXv
fcai

oiSe e Svarofceovcra KaKa<; a)Slva<; dperXrjv,

jjboi oiyerai olo<; eir dWorpirj^ veov aOXov
efcreXecov ouS' olSa Suadfji/jLOpof;, ecre fxiv avrc^
evOdSe vocTTTJa-avO^ viroSe^ofjiaiy ecre /cat ov/cL

vvv he

8'

ert p! e7rT0ir]ae Soa yXvicvv alvo^ opetpo<;

virvov Setp^aivo) Se iraXiyKorov o^iv ISovaa

Trpo^

diroOvp.LOV epSoc,

i/CTrdyXco^,

purj

eiaaTO ydp

pLoi e')(a)v p.aKeXr]v

Trat^
Tjj

p,oi

Tefcvoi<;

evepyea X^P^''

e/>609 dpcfyoreprjcrty (Sltj 'llpa/<:X7jeLr)'

p^eydXrjv eXd^acve SeSeypevo^; co? 7rl p,ia6a>

rd^pov

TrfX9dovTO<=; evr' eaxarufj rivo^ dypov,

yvp.vo<^

arep

avrap

eTreiSrj

re Kai evp^LTpoio p^^rwi/o?.

iravro^ dcftcKero 7rpo<; TeXo9 epyov
Kaprepov olvo(f>6poio irovevpuevo^ epKO^ aXwrj^,
r/TOL o Xidrpop ep^eXXev eirl irpov)(ovTo<; ^ epeiaa^;
dvirjpov KaraSyvat, a Kai irdpo^ e'lpbara earo'
e^aTTivi']^ S' dveXdp.yfrev virc-p KaireTOio ^aOeiri^
^

oix6(Tffai

<Tr4pyLv

472

')(Xaiv7]<^

Brunck

mss

-(jr)

syntax 'shifted

dv(r/jLv4a)v

participle

owing to the intervention

of

MEGARA,

75-103

and before the robed Demeter and any that

willingly and of ill intent forsweareth these will rue
it sore
I love thee no whit less than I had loved
thee wert thou come of my womb and wert thou the
dear only daughter of my house. And of this methinks thou thyself cannot be ignorant altogether.
Wherefore never say thou, sweetheart, that I heed
it,

I should weep faster than the fairFor even such laments as

tressed Niobe herself.
hers are no shame to be made of a mother for the
why, I ailed for nine months big with
ill hap of a child
him or ever I so much as beheld him, and he brought
me nigh unto the Porter of the Gate o' Death, so illbested was I in the birthpangs of him and now he
is gone away unto a new labour, alone into a foreign
land, nor can I tell, more's the woe, whether he will
be given me again or no.
And what is more, there is come to disquiet my

thee not, albeit

sweet slumber a direful dream, and the adverse

vision makes me exceedingly afraid lest ever it
work something untoward upon my children. There
appeal ed unto me, a trusty mattock grasped in
both hands, my son Heracles the mighty
and
with that mattock, even as one hired to labour,
he was digging of a ditch along the edge of
a springing field, and was without either cloak or
And when his labouring of the strong
belted jerkin.
fence of that place of vines was got all to its end,
then would he stick his spade upon the pile of the
earth he had digged and put on those clothes he
wore before but lo there outshined above the
deep trench a fire inextinguishable, and there rolled
;

ofx6<T(Tai, cf.

Theocr.

2.

^ trpiv Kai tt^p t' cf. II. 15. 588,

Theocr. 12. 4
^ niss also Xicrrpov iirl irpovxovTos airevdcu
147

473

THE BUCOLIC POETS

K

TTvp dfjLOTOv, ire pi

avrov aOecr^aro^ elXeiro ^\6^,
07'
avrap
aiev OTrtcrOe 6ool<^ ave^dl^ero iroaaiv,
i/ccpvyeecv

/jL6/jLaa)<;

6\oov

fievo^;

^H^aiaroLO'

alel Se TrpoirdpoiOev eov %/3oo9 rjvre yeppov

8' ofijuacrLV

VMfiacr/cev /jua/ciXrjv* irepl

irdiTTaiveVi
Tft) fjiev

fjurj

Stj /jllv

eTn^Xe^et

ev6a kov evOa

hrjiov Trvp.

doacrrjcrai XeXirf pievo<^ , &<; fioi eiKTOy

^IcjyiKXerj^ /Jbyd6v/JL0<; iir

ovhel Kdirirea oXtadcov

hvvar avTt<;,
dXX^ darefJL^e^ e/cecTOy yepcov ooaeir dpLevrjvo^y
ovre KoX ovk iOeXovra /3i7]aaTo yrjpa^; drepire^
irplv eXOeiVy ovS* 6p6o<; dvaarrjvat

Kairireaeetv

Kelrat

S'

07'

eirl

')(9ovo^

efXTrehov

avTco^y

elaoKe ti<; ')(etp6^ /jlcv dveipvcrar) irapiovTcov

^alSeadeh OTrcSa Trporeprjv ttoXloIo yeveiov,
ft)? iv
yfi XeXiacTTO aafCa7rdXo<; ^IcpLfcXetrj^;'
avrap ijco /cXaiecTKov dfjLYjyaveovTa<^ opcoaa
7ralSa<;

i/jLOV^;,

fi^XP^

^^

/^^^

direaavro

vrjhvjio^

v7rvo<;

6(f)0aX/x(oVy ^(w? Se Trapavrlfca (^aivoXi^ rjXde,^

Tola.y (^iXrjy fioL

iravvyxjij)'

OLKOV

tcl

lJLvos

(paivero d7a

474

upo^ EvpvaOrja rpeTrotTO

jevotro Se pdvn^ eKeiv(p

dXXo irapetc reXiaete re SaLfjUcov,^

dcf)^ rj/jberipoLOy

dvfjLOf; i/M6<;, /jH^S*

^

oveipa hia ^peva^ iirroirjaav

he irdvra

mss

also jSeAos

^ <paLv6\is

?)\d

mss

also

MEGA R A,

104-125

about him a marvellous great flame. At this he

went quickly backward, and so ran with intent to
escape the baleful might of the God o' Fire, with his
mattock ever held before his body like a buckler and
his eyes turned now this way and now that, lest the
consuming fire should set him alight. Then methought the noble Iphicles, willing to aid him, slipped
or ever he came at him, and fell to the earth, nor
could not rise up again nay, but lay there helpless,
like some poor weak old man who constrained of joyless age to fall, lieth on the ground and needs must
lie, till a passenger, for the sake of the more honour
of his hoary beard, take him by the hand and raise
him up. So then lay targeteer Iphicles along and
as for me, I wept to behold the parlous plight of
my children, till sleep the delectable was gone from
my eyes, and lo there comes me the lightsome
dawn.
Such are the dreams, dear heart, have disquieted
me all the night long and I only pray they all may
turn from any hurt of our house to make mischief
unto Eurystheus against him be the prophecy of my
soul, and Fate ordain that, and that only, for the
;

fulfilment of it."

475

THE DEAD ADONIS

THE DEAD ADONIS

This piece of Anacreontean verse

and

rnetre to

porated

in

be

of

late

the Bucolic

date,

is

and was probably

Collection

connexion in subject with the

shown both by

only because

Lament

style

incor-

of

its

for Adonis.

479

Bit

NEKPON AAflNIN

0)9 e^oe

veKpov

arv/jLvav

e'XpvTa ')(^aLTav
re rav Trapetdv,

w')(^pdv
ci'yeiv

7]07]

rbv vv

7rpo<^

avrdv

Ta^ Tcb? Epcora^;,

'

oi

evueco^; nroravoL

iraaav Spa/JLovre^ v\ap

GTvyvov TOP vv dvevpov,
Srjcrav Se^ real irehaaav,

eavpev

al')(/iid\coTOV,

eXavpcop

e^oTTicru

10

l3p6x<p tca0d^a<i

%(?) [xev

erviTTe tolctc to^ol^.

6 07} p 8' /3aiV SetXw9,

<po^LTO

yap

YL.v6r)pr)v,

T(p S' elirev ^ A(f>pooLTa

'

TrdvTcov fcd/aare Brjpcop,

av TOpSe

fjurjpop t^lr(o

TOP aphp erv^ra^

o d7]p S' eXe^ep mSc'
'
6/JLPV/jLi GOL Kvd7]pl]

;^

(jv fiov

arvfivoLV

5e

480

Wil

mss

E,
re

cf.

Bion

i.

74

mss arvyvhv

20

THE DEAD ADONiS

When
dead^

the Cytherean saw Adonis

his

and

dishevelled

hair

cheeks wan and

pale_,

his

bade the

she

Loves go fetch her the boar^ and they

forthwith flew away and scoured the

woods

till

they found the sullen boar.

Then they shackled him both

and

behind,,

before

and one did put a noose

about the prisoner's neck and so drag

him^ and another belaboured him with
his

bow and

craven

beast

did drive, and

so

went along

in

all beasts,

despite

can

it

to this

that didst strike

abject

Then up-

dread of the Cytherean.

spake Aphrodite, saying,

the

^'^

of

Vilest

be thou that didst

fair

my

which the beast "

tliigh,

and thou

husband

"

To

swear to thee.

48 T
I

THE BUCOLIC POETS

avrrjv ae

fcal

top avhpa

KoX ravrd fjuov ra Seor/jta

KoX TcoaSe Tcb? Kvvay(o<^'
TOP avhpa tov kcCKov crev
ovK YjOeXov Trard^ac

aXX' 0)9 dyaXfji eaelhov,

KOi /JUT] (j)pCi)V TO Kavfjba
^vfjivov TOV el'Xje firjpov
ifjuaLVOfxav (piXdorat,

Kai fjL V /caTKo-iva^* ^

TOVTOV^ Xa^ovaa Tejive,
TovTov<; KoXat^e, J^virpr
TL

yap

(j)6pco irepLCTcrS}^

ipcoTCKoiji;
ov')(i

oSovTa^;
aoi Tab apKet,

TavTd fiov Ta ')(ei\r],

yap (piXelv eToXficov;^

fcal

TL

rjXeyae K.V7rpc<;,
elirep Te rot? "^pcoac
Ta heo-fid ol ^TnXvaai.

TOP

S'

eK tS)S^ iTrrjKoXovOei,
vXap ovK e^atpe,
/cal T& irvpl ^ TrpoaeXOcbv
eKaie tov<; 6h6pTa<^,^

fcd^

^ fi

ed:

cf.

(rvyKiK6(po.(xiv

<p6^0L0

mss

Plat.

^iv

^ r^
KaTaiva^
6d6vTas Wil
X^pi

482

Theaet. 169 b

and Symp. 194 a

/>ia\'

eS

KareKcriva^e Scaliger
irvpl
:

mss

(^ue)

ev koI fxdx' hu

Heinsius
epoDTus

mss

mss
rq,


THE DEAD ADONIS
Cytherean^" answered he^ ^^by thyself

and by thy husband, and by these

my

bonds and these thy huntsmen,

would

never

have

thy

smitten

pretty husband but that

saw him

there beautiful as a statue, and could

not withstand the burning

mad

desire

naked thigh a

kiss.

And

to give his

now
of

me

pray take and cut

tusks, pray take

why

for

passionate

should
?

And

then take

not,

why

make good havoc

pray thee

off

these

and punish them

teeth

possess

I
if

they

my

durst they kiss

"

thee

suffice

chaps also
?

so

for

Then had

Cypris compassion and bade the Loves

loose his bonds

and he went not to

the woods, but from that day forth

followed her, and more, went to
fire

and burnt those

his tusks

tlie

away.

483
I

THE PATTERN-POEMS

SIMIAS
I.

THE AXE

This poem was probably written

votive

to he inscribed

upon a

copy of the ancient axe with which tradition said

Epeius made the Wooden Horse and which was preserved

in

a temple of Athena.

ing to the numbering.

The

lines

The metre

are

is

to

be read accord-

choriambic, and each

of equal lines contains one foot less than the preThe unusual arrangement of lines is probably
ceding.

pair

mystic,

Siynias

of Rhodes flourished about

B.C.

300.

487

<?5-

<

<O O
s

Cm

1^

b
r^

r<

C^

=L.S

;^

3
s

b 3>.><^
o

< o
c
o w

^1
Cr

^^

14?b
^

-N

VET

(3-

.<

to ^3

CJJ

^ b ?
ex..

1^ ^3

^-?^
^^
NJ
^

Cr
U;

O
P

5"

G^

^ ^ ^^ h
>e ^

<o

Oi

b-^ xi.

Co

Co

=35
^ <
to

iO
q:^

CO

488

5x

III
CO
c>*

<^

<!'b

CS

00

<

<o

":i

ft

[SIMIAS,
f"^

Pi

w
H
w

<1

'^

bio-o

JH

b:i

^ ^

.a

(/3
-S

^-'
c

2^
/^

cs
Ih

fl

j::^

>

-1

rH

I ^
CO

r-j

"^

i^

.2

=
IS

CO-

> .o

^
S -

CJ

Cu

-3

7^

<1^

,.

^
?n

I
Ct

-t^

489

TL THE WINGS
This poem seems

to

a statue perhaps a
a bearded

Axe

child.

have been inscribed on the wings of

votive statue

The metre

is

representing Love

the

same as

that

of

as
the

with the difference that the lines are to be read in

the usual order.

The poem

also differs from the

making no reference, except by

Love,

Moreover

it

its

Axe

shape, to the wings

contains no hint

of

in

of

dedication.

491

b>

u>

-V

t-

o
5

1
-'a>5

'
i

".
t-

j1

QO

c/-

"^^

,o

. ^S

C
<;

492

'^S

1^

^5-

t-

^ X

u,

^o

60

^-^

S|

2 '8

'^*

'^g

^
^s

o.

'5

-S
|:h

[siMiAs,

^ ^

=i

i -S.^
o ^ s
'? " ^
<i)

<D

<V

Oh -^

^^
^ 1
-^

3*

'^

-3
I^ I ^
I S^ O ^
<^

fl

fl^

'^

Tli

_.

*^

4^^

;3

OJ

'-s

tl

1^

&!

^ -

.jn

(-3

c3

!:5

9h

,^

Sh

Ph

rj
fl

<H

-rH

c/^

^ B

^""Vi^O

t^

pTj

Deo

<

03

i"

I
02

493

9,10

v^

\^

v^

v^

v>

vy

v^v^vy
v-/

V-/W

;>>

v-/

vy

w ^_v^_

w
I

V/

20

\^

v_/

vy

\^

vyv-'

ww

-I

iij-

\^ \^ \^

v^v^ \^
\u y^ v-'v-'

wv^v-/--v-/

v^v^vy

494

wv^w v^ww

15, 16

19,

\^

'^ \y

v^

EGG

III._THE
This piece would appear

have been actually inscribed

to

upon an egg, and was probably composed merely as a

tour-de-force.

If so,

of such

between

pieces

The

Theocritus Pipe.
to

forins a link in the development

it

the

two preceding poeyns and

lines, like those

of dedication,

a different purpose
'puzzle or

Axe and

riddle.

the

the

poem must

gradually increase

catalectic

to

The
weft "

'^

poem

its

from

and

of the nature of a
marked out from the
and from

the

The

metrical scheme.

trochaic

decameter

Pipe

monometer

of spondees,

dactyls.

Dorian nightingale

the

is

complicated

anapaests, paeons,

there is no

be

the one side,

on the other, by the variety of

lines

Axe^ are

the unusual order must have

The piece

Wings on

the

and as

be read as they are numbered,

evidence here

of

''

is

the poet

and

the

"

new

itself

495

in.oioN
1

Kft)TtXa^

TT^ TOO arpiov veov

5 TTpocbpcov Se dvfta) Se^o* S^ 7^/0 dyva<; ^
7 TO /lez^ ^6wz^ epij36a<; '^ipfjua^ eKi^e^ /cdpv^

9 dvoyye B'

6 00)^

etc /lerpov fiovo^d/jLovo^ fie^o) irdpoiO^ de^etv^

virepOev o)/cv\e^piov vev/jia Trohoyv (TTropdScov

S'

13 Ooolai^ T aloXaU ve^pol^ kcoX dWdo-crcov opcniroScoi'

15

Tr]\KpaL'7TP0i<^^ virep d/cpcov le/uLevaL ttoctI \6(])(ov /car

dpd/jLLa^ C')/VO^ TL07]Pa^,

17 Kai Ti?

cD/jLoOvfio^

dp.(pL7Ta\Tov ahfr

daXajudv

/coXiTOJ Se^djjievo^;

19 /car

S)Ka

^od^ dicodv

vi(^oj3oK(jdv

20

T<x?9 Brj SatfjLcov

avSdp

TTVfcayrdrq)

jxeOeiraiv

dv opewv eaavTai

6j

dcjjap

dyKO<;'

0r}p iv

\dorcop

/cXvro^ laa Qooiai irovov Sovecop iroal^^

7ro\v7rXo/ca fiediei jxerpa jbLdXird^,

18 pifK^a TTerpo/coiTov^^ ifckiircov opovcr evvdv jiarpo^;

16

irXay/CTov /xa^o/xez^o? ,8a\Ld<^ eXelv re/co^'

S' olow ttoXvJSotcov dv
opeov vo/jLov

e/Sav

dv dvrpa
^iXa^

al^jra

/3Xa')(^a

Tavv(J(l)vp(ov T

14 Tol

8'

dfji^poTcp iToOcp

^'^

l^vfi^dv,

fiaTpo<; pcoovr

fieO^ Ifiepoevra f.ta^6v,

12

i')(yL

10

dpi6[Jbov 69 d/cpav Se/caS'

0VCbV TOVOV^^ TTavaioXoV, TLtepiScOV /ULOVoSoVTTOV

avSdv,
I'^vicov, fcoa/jiov vejiovja^^^

pv6jUiC0V'

8 (pvX^ 9 0poTO)v viTo (j)iXa^ iXcov irrepolaL

^^
6 Xiyeid vtv fcajju d/icpl [larpo^ d>hi^*
4 Acopia^; drjSovo^;'
2 fiaT6po<i

For

496

critical

notes see p. 499,

^^ iJLaTpo<^,


IIL THE EGG
Lo here

new weft

of a twittering mother_, a

receive it with a right good

pure was the mother whose shrilly throes
did labour for it.
The loud-voiced herald of the
Gods took it up from beneath its dear mother's
wings^ and cast it among the tribes of men and bade

Dorian

nightingale

willj for

that
increase its number onward more and more
number keeping the while due order of rhythms
it

from a one-footed measure even unto a full ten

measures and quickly he made fat from above the
:

swiftly-slanting slope of its vagrant

feet,,

striking^ as

he went on^ a motley strain indeed but a right concordant cry of the Pierians^ and making exchange of
limbs with the nimble fawns the swift children of

foot-stirring stag.
Now these fawns through
immortal desire of their dear dam do rush apace after
the beloved teat^ all passing with far-hasting feet
over the hilltops in the track of that friendly nurse^
and with a bleat they go by the mountain pastures
of the thousand feeding sheep and the caves of the
slender-ankled Nymphs^ till all at once some cruelhearted beast, receiving their echoing cry in the
dense fold of his den, leaps speedily forth of the
bed of his rocky lair with intent to catch one of the
wandering progeny of that dappled mother, and
then swiftly following the sound of their cry
straightway darteth through the shaggy dell of the
snow-clad hills.
Of feet as swift as theirs urged that
renowned God the labour, as he sped the manifold
measures of the song.

the

497

K K

SIMIAS,

Notes to

III

P. 496.

thus Bergk-Wil

:
mss (with incorporated glosses) rf/ rod'
v4ov ayvas o.r}d6pos- napdioovidas Bccpias' vacriooras &rpioP'
^ S-J/ yap
p6dov (or Ti T(^5* whu veov arjBSvos Acopias aypiov)
^ Ki^e : mss
mss Se? yap ayva, St] a7i/a
ayi^as Sahnasius
^ mss also ouo) 5'
mss ixiyav
ae^etu
also fJKL^e
m^T*^ E
^ wKvXexp^ou
mss mkv Aex- (pepoou
mss also cov^e
^ dootcri
mss also iricpava-Kev
TrtaffKcy, of. Pind. P. 4. 150
^ BaKafxav
mss iraXaLKpanrvots
r7]\Kp.
mss 6oa7(TL
irvKcordrcp
mss irovicorarov, TrovKorriTa
ITaeberlin mss -<av
^ Kar' Wil
Kaatov Salm mss -oov
mss Kal rdd*
eaa-vrai

u)hv

'^

^^ /cAuTbsBgk: mss -a?s

avdyKais
mss "icra deo7s irocrl
Icra BooL<n irovov Zovewv iroal Jacobs-E
^^
irerpoK. Salm
mss irrepSK. or
Boueoou or Oe. it. irov4(av
^^
opeou = op^lov E
TrepiK.
;8\axa E mss /BXaxal, Xaxal
^^ ^ei'wi'
T av' 'dvrpa E mss t' avrpa or avTpa
mss opecop
^^ mss also ^Kpov
mss 6>6Vov rhv, devic rav
Tovov E

ayKos Salm

:'

mss

tffcrvr

thus
^^

Bgk

Trrepolari

mss

KUfKpi

mss

k6(Tixlos pefxouro pvQix^, KOfffxov uefiovra pvQjxhv

Scaliger
u>5is

mss Trerpots, trerpoia-i

mss also (iSls aypds

Koi/x

aficpl

499
K K 2

THEOCRITUS

THE SHEPHERD'S
The

li7ies

of

PIPE

puzzle-poem are arrmiged

this

in pairs,

each jyair being a syllable shorter than the preceding, and

the dactylic metre descending

The sohdion of

catalectic dimeter.

pipe dedicated to
full

of puns as

epithet

Pan

Thessalian.'*

bid

is

to

The^piece

because
there

The

is

also

is

only

play

on

so

The

explained

is

gives

strongest reason^

self-contained ascription
to Theocritus is that

she

Echo,

a shepherd's

preclude accurate translation.

to

sentence-curtailing,

'^

hexaineter to

it

by Theocritus.

Merops, as applied

syllables {?),

from a

the

as
last

Merops

for doubting

the

of this remarkable tour-de-force

the shepherd's pipe

of Theocritus

time would seem to have been rectangidar, the tubes being

of equal

appareiit lengthy

secured by

wax fillings.

and

But

the difference

to the

of

tone

riddle-maker and his

1
Advanced by Mr. A. S. F. Gow in an unpublished paper
which he has kindly allowed me to read.

500

THE PATTERN-POEMS
public a

poem was primarily something

heard, not some-

thing seen, and the variation in the heard length

lines

would correspond naturally enough

of the
musical person must have known
in

note

of

tubes

the

were unequal.

The doubling of

of puzzles or

every

that, effectively, the tubes

the

lines

explained as a mere evolutionary survival.

tion

the

to the variation

Moreover,

pipe.

of

riddles to this form

is

The

to

be

applica-

of composition was

new, but in giving hijnself the patronymic Simichidas the

author

is

probably acknowledging his debt

decessor, Simichus being a pet-name

to

form of

his pre-

Simias, as

Amyntichus for Amyntas in VII.

anterior to the
origin

of the

If so, the Pipe is

Harvest Home, and we have here the

poet's nickname.

SOI

EOKPITOT. STPirH
Ovhevo^; evvdretpa fiaKpoTrroXefioLO Se
fjuaia^

/jbdrTjp

dvTLTrerpoto 6oov T6Kv WvvTrjpa,

ov')(l

Kepdarav, 6v irore dpey^raro ravpoTrdrcopy

dX)C

01) ireiKiire^^

OKOV

OVVOfJU

aWe

8l^0)V, 09

irdpo'^ cf^peva repfjua

aaKOV^,

Ta9 MepOTTO? TToOov

KOvpa<; yrjpvjova^; e%e rd^

dvfji(OK0<;,

09 M-oiaa Xiyv ird^ev locrreipdva)

6\ko<; dyaXfjLa ttoOolo irvpccr/jbapdyov,^

09 (T^eaev dvopeav tcravSea

7ra7T7rQ(j)6vov Tvpia<; r

10

e^rjXaaev*^

ToSe TV(}>\o^6pQ)v iparbv

Trrjfia

Udpt^ dero

Xi'fjit')(^iSa^*

\\rv^dv

a^ ^pOTO^dfjLcov

crTrjTa<;

olarpe ^aerra^

/cXcoTroTrdrcop dirdrcop

XapvaKoyvie

'X,^pel<;

dSif fieXicrBoLf;

eXXoTTc /covpa,
20

}LaXXi6ira
vrfXev(7T(p.

mss also irvpiffcpapdyov

a Hecker mss dei or d>
:

502

so
^

Haeb

xP^^^

mss

atpcix^ro or

Heck mss
:

gap

xatp^*^

THEOCRITUS. THE SHEPHERD'S PIPE

Odysseus

The bedfere

Tele-

of nobody and mother of the warherdsman

machus

brought

abiding

nimble

forth

of (goats)

the goat

of

director

whom a stone was substituted

Cerastas,
of
the
vice-stone^
not
the

that suckled one (Zeus) for

nurse

the

long-horned = Comatas, long-haired

bees,

cf. 7.

SOand Verg.

G.

horned one who was once fed by the son of a

Pitys (Pine) = P+itys

itys = shield -rim

4.

550

bull^
ine(old

but him whose heart was fired of old by the P-less

spelling) = eyes,

i.e.

bosses

lit.

whole pan = all

goat-

by name and double

dish

ine of bucklers^
legged

by nature^ him that loved the wind-swift voice-born

Echo

iiY.

voice-dividing (of

Syrinx also = fistula

Man)

maiden of mortal speech^ him that fashioned a sore

that shrilled with the violet-crowned
for

monument

Muse

into a

Syrinx

of the fiery furnace of his love^

him that

the Persian at Marathon

extinguished the

manhood which was

with a grandsire-slayer and drove

of a

Tyre^ him, in short, to

that

nickname
is

it

out of a maid of

Theo-critus= judge between

Phoenician

Godsl

of equal sound

Europa (Europe) was daughter

Perseus

whom

of Theocritus

is

set up by this Paris

woe = possession, ref. to the

son of Simichus this delectable piece of un-

sore above

i.e.

moleskin wallet,

lit.

wearers of the blind

peaceful goods dear to the wearers of the blindman's

blind = wallet
skin, w^ith

h'f.

man-treading

Prometheus made

which heartily well pleased, thou clay-

Man of clay
beloved
Omphale (cf. Ovid, Fast. 2. 305)
son of
treading gadfly of the Lydian quean, at once thiefHermes, and, in a sense, son

of

Odysseus

lit.

box-legged

begotten and none-begotten, whose pegs be legs,

box = hoof

whose legs be pegs, play sweetly

Echo cannot speak

pray thee unto

of herself

a maiden who is mute indeed and yet

= of beautiful voice
Calliope that is heard but not seen.
^

Strictly the

is

another

compound should mean judged by God.*

'

DOSIADAS

THE
This puzzle

is

FIRST

ALTAR

written in the Iambic metre

and composed

of two pairs of complete lines, five pairs of half-lines,

and two pairs of three-quarter lines, arranged in the form
of an altar. Of the writer nothing is known ; he was
acquainted

obviously

Lycophron

with

Alexandra.

the

Pipe

The poem

and

also

with

mentioned

is

bij

Lucian (Lexiph. 25)^ but metrical considerations point

to

its

being of considerably later date than the Pipe.

Moreover, the idea of making an altar of verses presupposes a change in the conception of 7vhat a
It

was now a thing of ink and paper

seems

to

pipes

of

have interpreted the Pipe in the

his

own

time,

as

representing

poem

is.

and Dosiadas
light

the

of

the

outward

appearance of an actual pipe.

505

AIISIAAA AftPIEIl^

BOMOS
Et/jidpo'v6<; fxe arrjra^;
TTOcTi^, /J.epoyfr Siaa/3o<;,

Tev^\ ov (Tirohevva^
Tevfcpoco

^ovra

'^pvcrd^

S' ^

/cal

'E/x7roucra9 fi6po<^

lvt<;

kvvo^

atra^,

reKVcofjuaTOf;,

afio<; e-^^rdvhpa

TOP ^vioyoKKOv ovpov eppataev,

ov dirdrcop hiaevvo<^

^oyvae
ifjLov

fxaTpopLTTTO^'

Be Tvyfi ddprjaa^;

@OfcpLTOLO KTavra^

TpteaTrepoLo

Kavara^

d(ov^v atv lv^a(;

')(a\e'y\re

yap

viv

lo)

avpyaarpof; eKhvyrjpa^
Tov

S'

aiKtvevvT

iv d/ii(f>cKXvcrTa>

Ilav6<; T fiarpo^ vvera<;

hi^wo^
Tjp

tvL^

(f>a)p

T dvSpo/3pcoTO(; ^Wopaiorrav^

dyayov TpiiropOov.

dpSioyv 69 TevKpiS'

^'
^ Xpvffas
added by
E mss xP^^^^i -^^^> "^^^
^ aW Iv^as Salm
^ iK^vynpas
mss aviv^as
Valckenaer
^ aihivevur
Hecker mss del
Salm mss iK^vs yripas
'

Xiuevvr' or iWivevuT^
paicrras

506

mss

Ivopaiffrav,

iXopaiffras,

iKiO'

DOSIADAS
THE FIRST ALTAR
Jason
to fly into

Media

mantled
i. e.

Medea put on man's

clothes

AM the work of the husband of a mannish-

Thetis,

rejuvenated in Medea's caldron

quean^
who

could

change her form like E,

of

this also = Thessalian

twice-young

mortal^

Thetis put Achilles in

the fire to immortalise him

scion^ who was

and killer of Hector son

Empusa's cinder-bedded

not

active
and passive

the kilHng

Hecuba, who
of a Teucrian neatherd and of the childing of a
i.e. Jason, who built this altar to
Chryse ( = Golden) on the way to Colchis
l^ecame a dog
and he
bitchy but the leman of a golden woman
he was killed by Paris

of

Medea

made me when the husband-boiler smote down

Talos the brazen
protected Crete

man
and other things

Hephaestus

the brazen-legged breeze wrought

of the twice-

also = guardian

wedded Aphrodite and Aglaia, and was a virgin

birth of Hera who cast him from Olympus

wed mother-hurtled
Philoctetes

virgin-born

Paris, see the Pipe

and when the

lighter of the pyre

Heracles

slaughterman of Theocritus and burner of the threewas begotten on three nights

nighted

gazed

dolorous

shriek

upon

the Altar

this

wrought

piece^

full
a

he shright^

serpent

shedder of age did him

belly-creeping
poison = arrow
despite with enshafted venom
for

isle of

but

when he was alackadaying

Penelope

in the

Lemnos

wave-ywashen^

Odysseus carried off the

Palladium and came alive from Hades

Pan's mother's thievish twy-lived bedfellow came

Diomsd, son of Tydeus who ate Melanippus' head
with the scion of a cannibal^ and carried him into
by Heracles, the Amazons, the Greeks
also = land of Troy
the thrice-sacked daughter of Teucer for the
the arrows of Heracles brought by Philoctetes
caused (Troy's fall and) the destruction of the
tomb (and corpse) of Ilus

sake of llus-shivering arrow-heads.

507

VESTINUS

THE SECOND ALTAR

The Besantinus of

the manuscripts is very probably a

of Bestinus^

corruption

that is L. Julius Vestinus,

described in an inscription as

and

all

''

High-priest

who

is

of Alexandria

Egypt, Curator of the Museum, Keeper of the

Roman

Rome, Supervisor of
the Education of Hadrian, and Secretary to the same
Emperor,'^
The dedication to Hadrian is contained in
Libraries both Greek and

the

acrostic,

sacrifice

in^

rvhich

"

runs,

many years.''

at

Olympian,

The Altar

is

mayst thou
coinposed

of

three Anacreontean lines, three trochaic tetrameters, three

phalaecians,

eleven

iambic

dijneters,

three

The poern

dimeters, aiid three choriambic tetrameters.

not a puzzle, except in so

this element ;

for, unlike

its

far as

anapaestic
is

the acrostic furnishes

predecessors,

it

refers to itself

in definite terms.

The author has

of T>osiadas

shape of the poe^n and the use of oid-

to the

confined his imitation

ofthe-way words and expressions,

^

Or perhaps "for,"

i.e.

'*in

honour

of."

509

BH2TINOT1

X09 OV /jL XL/3pO^ Ip&V

c^dSeaatv ola A:aX^7;9^

A
Y

7ro<poLVL7]ai TyyL,

avXie^

a/jLciTcov

fo9

Ooovfievai
(pelBovTO JIav6<;, ov arpo^iXo) ^ Xiyvvl

vo)S7j<; /jLeXaivec

Nvaioyv
yXovpov ^

Tpe'xvecov jie

\iv6ot<;

uS' ov }^vvdoy6vr}<; erev^e <f)VT\rf

J^p

S
E

fjLTjT

^A\v/3r)^ irajevra

^ft)Xo69,

i^

aoppoiTOS ireXoLTo /jlov

vp ovpavov yap eicy6voL<^
lvd(; fji TV^ yrjyevrj^,
dcov dei^(pov

vevcre TrdX/jLV^; d(l)OiT(ov,

V 8\

0) iTLOdV

Te')(yr]v

icprjvrfOev fjv

Topyovos,
voi<; T iiTia'TTevBoc^ t e/btol
fjU7]TrcdScov TToXv Xaporeprjv
TTOvSrjv dSrjp' Wi Srj Oapaecop
9 ip.r}V TV^LP, Ka9apo<^ yap iyco
VL^ fcoXayJre

ov levTcov repdcoVf ola

fJL^l lSeaL<^

OL,

a/Sovre /jL7]Kd8a)v Kepa,

iaaalcnv d/ji(j)l heupdaiv
aaai vepbovrai J^vvdiai^y

E
I

Y
Z

/Bco/jLov oprj fie p.rjre

X
]E

A
Z

A
A

v7Tp06 irerprj ISia^ty

S'

20

fce/cevO^ eKelvo<^,

&pr]LKLat<; ov cr^eSo^ez/ M.vpivr}(;

TpiTrdrcop, iropcpvpiov ^cop dvedrj/ce /cptov,

^ Brjaripov Haeb
mss BTjaaurluou
Ko.Kx'ns Brunck-E
^ arpo^iXtf Salm
^ '^ss iriTpTjs va^ias
mss
mss Kdx^V^
^ mss bpys
yXovpov Bgk
mss /n. rayxovpov,
-(^v
fx,
^ \a^6vr Wil
mss -ra
fir]Taxovpov
:

VESTINUS

THE SECOND ALTAR

The murky
ruddy

trickles

flux ot sacrifice

like the

whittles whetted

flux

bedews me not with

of a purple-fish, the

upon Naxian stone spare over

my

head the possessions of Pan^ and the fragrant ooze of

Nysian boughs blackens me not with his twirling
me behold an altar knit neither of bricks
aureate nor of nuggets Alybaean^ nor yet that altar
which the generation of two that was born upon
Cynthus did build with the horns of such as bleat and
browse over the smooth Cynthian ridges^ be not that
made my equal in the weighing: for I was builded
with aid of certain offspring of Heaven by the Nine
that were born of Earthy and the liege-lord of the
And
deathless decreed their work should be eterne.
now^ good drinker of the spring that was strucken
of the scion of the Gorgon, I pray that thou mayst do
sacrifice upon me and pour plentiful libation of far
goodlier gust than the daughters of Hyrnettus up
and come boldly unto this wrought piece, for 'tis
pure from venom-venting prodigies such as were hid
in that other, which the thief who stole a purple ram
set up unto the daughter of three sires in Thracian
Neae over against Myrine.
reek; for in

**
"possessions of Pan": sheep and oxen.
fragrant
**
nuggets Alyooze of Nysian boughs": frankincense.
"off'spring of Heaven":
baean" explained hj Iliad, 2. 857.
"daughter of
''the Nine": the Muses.
the Graces.
The
three sires " an etymological variation of Tritogeneia.
last few lines refer to the Altar of Dosiadas, Myrine being
another name for Lesbos.
:

5"

INDEX

LL

;;

INDEX

Note.
The references to Theocritus are by numbers only. Etc. meang
that there are other but unimportant occurrences of the word in the same

poem.

Achaean

xv. 61, xviii. 20, xxii.

XXIV. 76, XXV. 165,
180; Bion, ii. 12; Axe, 5; from
the N. part of the Peloponnese
sometimes used generally for
Greek.
Acharnae
vil. 71 ;
a town of
:

Aegon

iv. 2, 26.

XVI. 31, XVII. 47;

Aesarus
iv. 17;
a river near
Croton in S. Italy.
Aeschinas
xiv. 2, etc.
Aeson xiii. 17 father of Jason.
Agamemnon
xv. 137
king of
Mycenae and leader of the Greeks
before Troy.
Agave
xxvi. 1
daughter of
Cadmus, mythical king of Thebes.

Mosch.,

Ageanax

219,

157,

Attica.

Acheron

xv. 86, 102, 13G,

Bion, i. 51;
the river of Death.

xii. 19,

I.

14

Achilles
xvi. 74, xvii. 55, xxii.
220, XXIX. 34; Bion, ll. 9, 15,
son of Peleus and the
VIII. 6;
sea-nymph Thetis, the hero of
:

the Iliad.
a small river at the
I. 69
Acis
foot of Mt. Etna.
;

Acmon

Wings, 1; Heaven.
xxv. 31
the upland

Acroreia

district of Elis.

Acrotlme xxvii. 44.

Adonis
I. 109, ill. 47, XV. 23, 96,
etc., XX. 35 Bion, I. etc. Mosch.,
Adon., 1; a youth beIII. 69;
loved by Aphrodite he was killed
hunting by a boar, and afterwards spent half of every year
with Aphrodite on earth, and
half with Persephone in the lower
:

world.

xxiv. 131
mythical
king of Argos, one of the " Seven
against Thebes."
xvii. 56
Aeacid (son of Aeacus)
Bion, VIII. 6
epithet of Achilles
or of Peleus his father.
Aegilus
I. 147; a town of Attica.

Adrastus

L L 2

Agis

vii. 52, 61, 69,

XIV. 13.

Agroeo
Iii. 31,
Ajax (Aias) xvi.
:

74, xv. 138.

Alcaeus
Mosch., iii. 89; the great
lyric poet of Lesbos he flourished
about 590 B.C.
Alcldes
Mosch, ill. 117; Heracles.
Alcippa v. 132.
Alcmena
xiil. 20, xxiv. 2, etc.
Meg. 60; mother by Zeus of
Heracles and by Amphitryon of
:

Iphicles.

Aleuas

xvi. 34
a mythical king
of Thessaly, founder of the noble
house of Aleuadae.
Alexander
xvil. 18
king of
Macedon, 336-323 B.C.
Alphesiboea
ill. 45
daughter of
;

of the seer Melampus, and of Pero daughter

of Neleus king of Pylus.
Alpheiis
iv. 6, xxv. 10; Mosch.,
VI. 1 ; a river of Elis.
Alj^be
Vest. 8
a mythical town
of Asia Minor, famous for its

Bias

brother

silver- mines.

Amaryllis

iii. 1, etc.,

iv. 36, 38.

515

INDEX
Amphicles
Amphitrit^

Aratus

Inscr., xiii. 3.

xxi.

wife

55;

of

Poseidon.

Amphitryon

xiii. 5,

by Alcmena father

of Iphicies;

Alcmena.
Amphitryoniad (son of the above)
see
XIII.
71, etc.;
55, XXV.
Alcmena.
Amyclae xii. 13, xxil. 122 a
see

town

of Laconia.
xxii. 75,
Amycus

son of
etc.
Poseidon and king of the Be;

brycians.

Amyntas Vll. 2, 132; see Introduction, p. xii.

Anacreon : Inscr., xvil. 3; Mosch.,
:

90; the great lyric poet of

Teos; he flourished at the com"t
of Polycrates of Samos about
530 B.C.
Anapus I. 68, Vll. 151 the river
of Syracuse.
III.

ll.

66.

a princely cowI. 106;

Anchlses
herd of Mt. Ida in the Troad he
was the father by Aphrodite of
Aeneas.
Vll. 4.
Antigenes
Antigone xvil. 61 niece of Antipater regent of Macedon, wile
of Lagus the father of Ptolemy
:

I.

Antiochus

a king of

see

Archilochus /wscr.,xxi. 1 Mosch.,

III.
91; the great Lyric and
Iambic poet of
Paros;
he
flourished about 670 B.C.
Ares: xxil. 175; Bion, il. 14;
Wings, 9.
Arethusa I. 117, xvi. 102; Mosch.,
III. 10, 77, VI. 2; the fountain of
Syracuse.

i. 138, il. 7, 30, vil.

55, x.>33, XV. 101, XVII, 45, xix.

XXVII. 64 Bion, I. 19 ; Mosch.

84; Adon., 17.
Apian land, the: xxv. 183; the
from
so called
Peloponnese,
Apis, a mythical king of the
Peloponnese.
Apollo
V. 82, XVII. 67, 70, xxiv.
106, xxv. 21; Inscr., XXI. 4,
XXIV. 1; Bion, v. 8; Mosch., III.
26; Meg., 13.
;

III.

xvii. 86.

Argo
Argos

XIII. 21, etc., xxii. 28.

xiil. 49, xiv. 12, xv.

97,
142, XVII. 53, XXII. 158, XXIV.
78, etc., XXV. 164, etc. ; a city of
:

the Peloponnese.
Mosch., ii. 57 ; the hundredeyed, set by Hera to guard lo;
when at Zeus' command he was
slain by Hermes, Hera, accordhig
to Ovid, transferred his eyes to
the tail of her bird the peacock
some writers make Hera turn
him into the peacock.

Argus

Ariadne ll. 46 daughter of Minos

mythical king of Crete
she was
beloved by Theseus, but aban:

doned by him at Naxos on the

voyage to Athens.

Artemis

516

Aphrodite:

etc.

B.C.

xvi. 34 ;
Thessaly.
Aonia Meg., 37 ; part of Boeotia.
a
xxii.
Aphareus
139, etc.;
mythical prince of Messenia,
father of Idas and Lynceus.

Arabia

98,

Arcadia
ii.
48, vii. 107, xxii.
157; the central district of the
Peloponnese.
Archias
xxvill. 17; of Corinth,
founder of Syracuse about 740

Aristis
p. xi.

4,

vil.

2,

xxiv. 5, etc.
mythical prince of Tiryns; he
lived at Thebes, where he became

Anaxo

vi.

Introduction, p. xi.

vil.

Arsinoe

99

see

Introduction,

xv.

Ill; daughter of
Ptolemy I, and wife successively
of Lysimachus, Ptolemy Ceraunus, and her brother Ptolemy II.
:

ll.

33,

67,

xvill.

36,

xxvil. 16, etc.; Meg., 31.

Ascra
Mosch., iii. 87; a town of
Boeotia, the birthplace of Hesiod.
Asphalion
xxi. 26.
li. 162; Bion, i. 24.
Assyria
:

Atalanta

lii. 41, wfiere see note.

v. 23, xv. 80, xvi. 82,
XVIII. 36, XX. 25, xxvill. 1 ; Bion,
V. 7; Axe, 1.
Athens
XII. 28, xiv. 6.

Athena

VII.
Athos
a mountain
77
promontory of the N.W. Aegean.
:

INDEX
Atreus xvill. 6, xvii. 118; Mosch.,
son of Felons and father
III. 79
of Agamemnon and Menelans.
xxv.
son of the
Augeas
7, etc.
Sun, and king of the Epeians of
:

Elis.

Mosch.,

Aiisonia:

III.

94; S. Italy

(Magna Graecia).
:

Bacchus xxvi. 13, Inscr., xviil. 3.

iv. 41, 56.
Battus
xxii. 29, etc. ;
Bebrycians
a
:

people of Bithynia.
XV. 92; son of a
Bellerophon
riding the
king of Corinth;
winged horse Pegasus, he killed
the Chimaera.
Bemblna xxv. 202 a town of the
Peloponnese near Nemea.
xv. 107, 110, xvii. 34,
Berenice
:

wife of Ptolemy I,
etc.
see Melampus.
ill. 44
Bias
a town of Phoexiv. 15
Biblus
;

Muses.
Castor xxii. 2, etc., xxiv. 129, 132
son of Zeus and Leda, the wife of
Tyndareiis king of Sparta; the
twin-brother of Polydeuces and
brother of Helen.

Caucasus

vii. 77.

Ceos XVI. 44 an island of the W.

Aegean, birthplace of the great
Lyric and Elegiac poet Simonides
(556-467 B.C.)
Cerberus xxix. 38 the watch-dog
of the lower world.
C eyx
Mosch., ill. 40, see Halcyon.
Chalcon vil. 6, tvhere see note.
Chaos
Wings, 7
according to
Orphic notions, the Void which,
with the Aether or Air, existed
before the universe and was the
;

Chronus or Time and

or Necessity.
xvi. 6, etc.,
Charites (the Graces)
109, where see note, xxvill. 7;
Bion, I. 91; Mosch., ii. 71.
Chios vii. 47 xxii. 218; an island
of the E. Aegean, one of the cities
which boasted to be the birthplace
of Homer.
Chiron vii. 150; the Centai^r; he
lived in a a cave on Mt. Pelion in
child of

Ananke

nicia.

Mosch., lii. 2, etc.

ill.
Mosch.,
18;
Bistonian
Thracian.
vil. 114
a people of
Blemyans
Ethiopia, who lived at the source
of the Nile.
Mosch., ill. 88 a district
Boeotia
of central Greece.

Bion

xxvi. 1, etc.; daughter

of Cadmus mythical king of
Thebes.

Aiitonoe

Caria xvil. 89 a district of S.W.

Asia Minor.
Carnea v. 83 the Dorian festival
of Apollo.
Castalia
vil. 148; a fountain of
Mt. Parnassus, sacred to the

Bombyca
Brasilas

x. 26, 36.
vii. 11.
xi. etc.
:

Bucaeus
Buprasium xxv. 11 a city of Elis.
Burina Vll. 6 the fountain of Cos.
vil. 115; a fountain of
Byblis
:

Miletus.

Cadmus

mythical king

of Thebes.
Calcus : Inscr., xiv. 3.

Calliope: Mosch., ill. 72; Pipe, 19;

one of the Muses.
Calydon xvil. 54 a town of Aetolia
in Central Greece.
Calymna i. 57 an island of the
Aegean near Cos.
Camirus Inscr., xxii. 4; a Dorian
:

city of

Thessaly, where he taught Peleus

and other heroes.
Chromis i. 24.
:

Chrysa Dos., 5, where see note.

Chrysogone Inscr., xill. 2.
xiii.
Cianians
30; a mythical
:

xxvi. 36

Rhodes.

people of the Propontis.

xvii. 88; a district of S.E.
Asia Minor.
Cinaetha v. 102; the name of a
sheep.
Cinyras Bion, l. 91 king of Cyprus
and father of Adonis.
Circe: ll. 15, ix. 36; a mythical
sorceress who turned Odysseus'
companions into pigs.
Cissaetha
i. 151
the name of a
Cilicia

goat.

517

INDEX
Clearista ii. 74.
V. 88.
Cleita Inscr., XX. 2.
:

Cleodamus

Bion, ii. 11.

xiv. 13.
u^ere see note.
75 the district at
the E. end of the Black Sea,
whence Jason brought the Golden
Eleece.

Cleunlcus

Clj^tia
VII. 5,
Colcliis
XIII.
:

Comatas

v. 9, etc.
VII. 83, 89 ; Pipey 3 ; a mythical goatherd.
Conarus v. 102 ; the name of a
:

sheep.

Corinth

XV. 91.

Cory don

iv. 1, etc,

V. 6.

XVII. 58, 64 ; an island of the

S.E. Aegean.
Cotyttaris, vi. 40.
Crannon
xvi. 38 ; a town of
Thessaly.
Crathis v. 16, 124; a river of the

Cos

district of Sybaris in S. Italy.

Cratidas V. 90, 99.

xvi. 39 ; a noble house

of Thessaly.
Crete Mosch., ll. 158, 163.
:

Crocyius v. 11.
Croesus viii. 53, x. 32 a wealthy
king of Lydia, who flourished
about 560 B.C.
Cronides and Cronion (son of
Cronus) xil. 17, xv. 124, xvii.
24, 73, XVIII. 18, 52, XX. 4i
Bion, VII. 6; Mosch., II. 60, 74,
166; Zeus.
Croton iv. 32, a Greek city of S.
:

Italy.

Cybele

XX. 43

an Oriental deity

identified with Ehea.

xvii. 90
a group
Cyclades
islands in the S. Aegean.
:

II.

of

one-eyed giants dwelling in the

district of Syracuse in Sicily the
;

most famous was Polyphemus,

devoured some of the
companions of Odysseus and
was afterwards made drunk by
him and then blinded by means

who

of a

518

heated stake.

the

name

of a

calf.

Cynisca

Xiv.

8, 31.
Vest., 9, 12; a mountain
in the island of Delos, scene of
the birth of Apollo and Artemis.
Cypris (the Cyprian)
i. 95, etc.,
II. 130, 131, XI. 16, XV. 106 etc.,
xviii. 51, XX. 34 etc., XXVIII. 4,
XXX. 31, Inscr., iv. 4; Bion, i. 3,
etc., VII. 1 ; X. 1 ; Mosch., i. 1, 4,
II. 1, 76, III. 68; Adon.yM, 40;
:

Cynthus

Wings, 8 Aphrodite Cyprus was

one of the original seats of her
;

worship.

Cyprus

xvil. 36 ; the easternmost

of the
Mediterranean,

island

many Greek

III.

cities.

46, xXiii. 16

Bion

Adon., i, etc. a name

of Aphrodite anciently connected
with the island of Cythera.
Cythera Bion, i. 35; an island off
S.E.
extremity
of
the
the
Peloponnese.
I.

17, etc.

Damoetas
Daphnis

VI. 1, etc.
where see
19, etc.,
Introduction, v. 20, 81, vi. 1, etc.,
vii. 73, VIII, 1, etc., IX. 1, etc.,
XXVII. 42, Inscr., ll. 1, ill. 1, iv.
14, V. 4.
:

i.

Dardanids (sons of Dardanus)

Axe, 4 the Trojans.

xi. 7, etc., xvi. 53; Bion,

2; Mosch., III. 60; a race of

Cyclopes

v. 15.
iv. 46

Cymaetha

Cytherea

C,viae this

containing

Creondae

Cycnus (swan) xvi. 49 a son of

Poseidon, and king of Colonae
in the Troad, famous for the
whiteness of his skin; he was
slain by Achilles.
Cydonia vil. 12 a city of Crete.
:

Death-Spirit Meg., 14.

Deidameia Bion, 11. 9, 22 daughter
of Lycomedes mythical king of
Scyros.
Delos xvii. 67, Inscr., xxi. 4; an
island of the S. Aegean, the chief
centre of the worship of Apollo.
DeJphis 11. 21, etc., Inscr., l. 4.
Demeter vil. 32, 155, x. 42, Meg.,
:

75.

Demomgles Inscr., xii. 1.

Deo VII. 3 Mosch ., vii. 4 Demeter.
:

INDEX
Deucalion xv. 141 ; son of Prometheus; he and his wife Pyrrha
were the only survivors of a flood
which destroyed mankind.
Dia il. 46 Naxos, an island of the
S. Aegean.
Dinon xv. 11.
Diocleidas xv. 18, 147.
Diodes xii. 29, where see note.
Diomed l. 112; mythical king of
Argos, one of the greatest Greek
v/arriors before Troy he wounded
Aphrodite.
Didne vii. 116, xv. 106, xvii. 36;
Aphrodite or her mother
Dionysus (Bacchus) il. 120, xvil.
112, XX, 33, XXVI. 6 etc., Inscr.,
:

which the

Greeks took Troy.

said afterwards to have
founded Metapontum in S. Italy,
where in the temple of Athena
the tools he used were preserved.
Ephyra xvi. 83, xxviii. 17; an

He was

name

old

Epicharmus

l.

Eubaius

Egg,

Eueres

4.

Dracanus XX vi.
mountain.

an unknown

33,

Echo: Mosch.,

Mosch.,

nymph who was

1,

perhaps the
;
famous artist who painted the
and
Alexander
of
wedding
:

Roxana (327 B.C.).

Egypt XIV. 68, xv.

48, XVII. 79,

xvii.

xxvii.

60,

29;

Goddess of birth.
Elis

ll. 13; the

Peloponnese.

XXII. 156; Bion,

N.W.

district of the

Em])Lisa

Endymion

Dos.,

3.

him into a perpetual

sleep

on Mt. Latmus in Caria, so that

he might remain always young
and beautiful.
Epeians xxv. 43, 166 the mythical
inhabitants of the N. district
;

of Elis.

Epeius

Axe, 2

Wooden

the builder of the

Horse

15, XI. 47;

66.

VII. 1, 131.

Eudamippus

II.

77.

xxiv.

71

father

of

Teiresias.

xvi. 55

the swineherd

of Odysseus.
Eumaras v. 10, 73, 119.
Eumedes v. 134.
:

Eumolpus
xxiv. 110
a preHomeric poet and musician of
;

Thrace.

Eunlca:
XX.

Eunoa

xiii. 45.
1, 42.

xv. 2, etc.
Mosch., ll. 1, etc., vil. 6;
in the form of the myth followed
by Moschus she seems to be the
daughter of Phoenix king of
Tyre, and to be carried otf from
Tyre by Zeus to Crete.
Eurotas
xvill. 23
the river of
Sparta.
Eurydice
Mosch., ill. 124; a
nymph, the wife of Orpheus;
after her death he went down to
the lower world, and by the
power of his music won her back
on condition that he should not
look upon her till they reached
the upper world; but he failed
:

Europa

ill.
50, XX. 37; a
youth beloved by the Moon, who

sent

121.

3; a
changed into

30, v.

III.

the echo.
Eetion Inscr., vill. 5

101.
Eileithyia

69,

III.

39, 120, 149.

II.

ix.

65,
II.

Eucritus

Eumaeus

Earth Wings, 1.4.

Earth-shaker (Poseidon)

poet; he
Syracuse about

93, xvil. 69,

xviii. 48, XXIV. 138, Inscr., xviil.
1 ; Mosch., III. 1, 12, 18, 96, 122
:

comic

470 B.C.
Eros see Love.
xv. 101 a mountain near
the W. extremity of Sicily, a
seat of the worship of Aphrodite.
Eteocles
xvi. 104, where see note.
Ethiopia vii. 113, xvii. 87.

Eryx

Mosch.,

Diophantus xxi. 1.
Dorian li. 156, xv.

great Dorian
flourished at

Etna:

XII. 1.

of Corinth.
Inscr., xviii. 2; the

by

means

of

to keep this condition,

her again.

Eurymedon
Eurystheus

and

lost

Inscr., vii. 2, xv. 3.

xxv. 205; Meg., 123;

519

;;;

INDEX
king

of

Tiryns,

taskmaster

of

Heracles.

Eurytus

xxiv.

archer,
king
Thessaly.

108
of

a famous
Oechalia in

EusthSnes lyiscr., xi. 1.

Eutychis xv. 67.
Evening Star (Hesperus)
:

Bion,

IX. 1.

Fate : i. 93, 140, II. 160, XXIV. 70;

Bion, I. 94, VII. 3, 6, 15, XI. 4.
Foam, Child of the : Bion, ix. 1
Mosch., II. 71 Aphrodite according to one story she was born
of the sea-foam.
Fury (Erinys) Meg.,'l'^\ the Furies
were avenging deities who pursued wrong-doers.
;

shore ; she threw herself into the

sea and was changed into a
kingfisher or halcyon.
Haleis
v. 123
a river of the
district of Sybaris in S. Italy.
VII. 1
a river or river- valley
of Cos.
Harpalycus xxiv. 116; a teacher
Heracles,
of
called elsewhere
Autolycus.
Hebe xvii. 32; Goddess of Youth,
wife of Heracles in heaven.

Hebrus

vii.

112

river

Hecate
Hector

ll.

12, 14.

xv. 139 son of Priam and

chief hero of the Trojan side.
Hecuba: xv. 139; wife of Priam
king of Troy.
:

xxv. 9; a
Arcadia and Elis.
Helen xv. 110, xviii. 6,
Heilisson;

vi. 6, xi. 8, etc. ; Bion,

3, XII. 3 ; Mosch., ill. 58, 61

Galatea
II.

a sea-nymph, daughter of Nereus.

xii. 35
a beautiful
youth carried off by eagles to
be the cupbearer of Zeus.
Glance iv. 31 a poetess contemporary with Theocritus.

Ganymed

Inscr., xxili. 2.

Golgi XV. 100 a town of Cyprus,

a seat of the worship of Aphro;

dite.

Gorgo xv. 1, etc.

Gorgon: Vest., 19; a woman-like
monster with serpents for hair;
every one that looked upon her
became stone; when she was
hy Perseus the winged
slain
horse Pegasus sprang from her
:

blood.
Bion,

Greek

Hades

il.

12.

63, 103, 130, ll. 33, 160,

IV. 27, XVI. 30, 52, Inscr., vi. 3
Bion, I. 94, vill. 3; Mosch., i. 14;
Meg., 86.
Haemus vil. 76 ; a mountain of
:

l.

Thrace.

Halcyon

(Alcyone) : Mosch., in.

40, cf. also Theocr. vii. 59 and
note; daugliter of Aeolus and
wife of Ceyx king of Trachis;
he perished at sea, and his body
was found by his wife upon the

520

of

Thrace.

river

of

etc., xxii.

216, xxvil. 1, 2; Bion, ii. 10;

daughter by Zeus of Leda the
wife
Tyndareiis,
of
king of
Sparta. After she became the
wife
of
Menelaiis,
she
was
carried

off
rise to

by

Paris,

and

this

the Trojan War.

125; Callisto, daughter
of Lycaon king of Arcadia; she
was beloved by Zeus, and having
been changed by the jealous
Hera into a bear, was placed by
him among the stars as the
constellation of the Great Bear

gave

Helice

l.

(Helice).
xxv. 165, 180; the chief city
of Achaea.
Helicon: xxv. 209, Inscr., l. 2; a
mountain of Boeotia sacred to

the Muses.
Hellespont xiil. 29.
II.
Mosch., ll.
Hephaestus
134
38; Meg., 106.
Hera iv. 22, xv. 64, xvii. 133,
XXIV. 13; Mosch., il. 77; Meg.,
:

38.

Heracles (Hercules)

ii. 121, iv. 8,

:
VII. 150, XIII. 37, 70, 73, xvn. 20,
26, 27, XXIV. 1, etc., xxv. 71,

etc.; Meg., 95.

:
i. 77, xxiv. 115,
Bioa, v. 8 ; Mosch.. ll. 56

Hermes

xxv. 4;
;

Egg,

7.

INDEX
Hesiod, Mosch. III., 87; the early
Epic poet; he was regarded as
second to Homer.
Hesperus Bion, ix. 1.
Hiero xvi. 80, etc. ; king of Syra:

270-216 B.C.
a river of the
v. 124

cuse,

Himera

district of Sybaris in S. Italy.

Himeras vii. 75; a river near the
town of Himera in N. Sicily.
Hippocoon vi. 41, x. 16
Hippomenes iii. 40, where see note.
Hipponax : Inscr., xix. 1; the
Iambic poet of Ephesus; he v/as
famous for his lampoons, and
flourished about 540 B.C. at
:

Clazomenae in Asia Minor.

Homer:
A.xe

xvi. 20; Mosch.,

ill.

71;

7.

a mountain of
Thessaly, a seat of the worship
of Pan.
vii. 115; a spring near
Hy6tis
Miletus in Asia Minor.
Hylaa xiii. 7, etc.; a youth beloved by Heracles.

HOmoie

vii.

103

Hymen

xvill. 58; Bion, I. 87, 90,

Vest., 21; a mountain
:
of Attica famous for its marble
:

Hymettus
and

its

lasion
Icaria

:
:

honey.

see Jasion.
ix. 26 ; an

island of the

E. Aegean.

Ida: I. 105, xvii. 9; Bion, ii. 10;

a mountain of the Troad.
a town of
xv. 100
Idalium
Cyprus, a seat of the worship of
;

Aphrodite.
XXII. 140, etc. ; son of
Idas
Aphareus mythical king of Mes:

senia.
;

see note.

XXVI. 1, 22; daughter of

Cadmus mythical king of Thebes.
lo Mosch., II. 44; an Argive princess beloved by Zeus; owing to
:

of Egypt.
lolcus XIII. 19 ; the city of Thessaly whence Jason set out in
quest of the Golden Fleece.
Ionia
xvi. 57, xxviii. 21
the
:

Greek

the mid- Aegean

coast of Asia Minor.
Iphicles
xxiv. 2 etc.; Meg., 53,
111, 118; brother of Heracles;
cities of

see Alcmena.
Iris: xvii. 134;

messenger of the

Gods.

Isthmus: Meg., 49; the neck of

land joining the Peloponnese to
central Greece.

Jasion (lasion)
in. 50
a son of
Zeus and Electra he was beloved
;

by Demeter.
Jason

xiii. 16, 67, xxii. 31 ; son

:
of Aeson the rightful king of
lolcus, was sent by the usurper
Pelias, who hoped thus to be rid
of him, to fetch the Golden
Fleece from Colchis.
Justice : Mosch., iii. 114.

Lab as xiv.
Lacedaemon
:

Lacinium

24.
see Sparta.

iv. 33
a promontory
near Croton in S. Italy, a seat of
the worship of Hera.

Lacon

v. 2, etc.

Laertes
xvi.
Odysseus.
:

Ilium XXII. 217 Troy.

Ilus XVI. 75 Dos., 17 grandfather
of Priam and king of Troy.
Inachus Mosch., ll. 44, 51 ; son of
Oceanus and first king of Argos
he was the father of lo.
Tnhospitables : Bion, vill. 4, where

Ino

Hera's jealousy he turned her

a cow, in which shape,
pursued by a gadfly sent by
Hera, she wandered over land
and sea till she reached Egypt,
where Zeus restored her to
human form and she became by
him mother of Epaphus king

into

56 ;

father

of

xvii. 14;
Lagid (son of Lagus)
Ptolemy I, Soter, king of Egypt,
323-287 B.C.
:

Lampriadas

iv. 21.

Lampiirus (White-tail)
the

name

Laocoosa
xxil.
Aphareus.

206;

Lapiths
tribe

viii.

65

of a dog.

xv. 141

wife

of

a Thessalian

who waged a famous war

against the Centaurs.

521

;;

INDEX
Larissa
xiv.
Thessaly.

Latmus

30;

city

of

a mountain of
XX. 39
Caria in Asia Minor.
a mountain
iv. 19;
Latymnus
near Croton in S. Italy.
;

Leda

xxii.

1,

and

Castor
Helen.

mother

214
Polydeuces;
;

of
see

(White-coat)
IV. 45
of a calf.
Lesbos Mosch., ill. 89; an island
of the E. Aegean, birthplace of
Alcaeus and Sappho.
Lethe Mosch., ill. 22; a river of
the lower world, from which the
souls of the departed drank
oblivion of life.
mother of Apollo
XVIII. 50
Leto
and Artemis.
Leucippus xxil. 138, 147 brother
of Aphareus mythical king of
Messenia.
Libya
24, ill. 5, xvil. 87
I.
Mosch., II. 39.
xvi. 77 ; the W. promonLilybe
tory of Sicily.
a mythical
xxiv. 105
Linus
singer, son of Apollo.
Lipara il. 133 a group of islands
:

name
:

N.E. of
LTtyerses
to x.

Love

Sicily.
:

x. 41

see

Introduction

Arcadia.

Lycaon

I.

126;

a mythical king

Bion,

^22

76, v. 8.

ii.

Lycopas v. 62.
Lycope vii. 72.
Lvcopeus vil. 4.
XIV.
L^cus (Wolf)

24, 47.

Mosch., v. 2; a nymph.
Lydia xil. 36 the middle district
of W. Asia Minor.
Lynceus
xxil. 144, etc. ; son of
king
Aphareus,
mythical
of
Messenia.
Lysimeleia xvi. 84 a marsh near
Syracuse.

Lyde

I. 124 ; a mountain of
Arcadia.
xiii. 56.
Maeotian (Scythian)
xxii. 79
the easternMagnesia
most district of Thessaly.
Maid, The : see Persephone.
Malis
xill. 45.
li.
a celebrated
Medea:
16;
sorceress, daughter of Aeetes king
of Colchis; falling in love with
Jason she enabled him by her
arts to win the Golden Fleece.
Inscr., xx. 2.
Medeius
MSgara xii. 27, xiv. 49 ; a famous
city of the E. end of the Corinthian Gulf.
Meg. daughter of Creon king
of Thebes, and wife of Heracles.
Melampus ili. 43 where see note.
Melanthius
v. 150; the faithless
goatherd of Odysseus; he was
slain by him for siding with the
suitors of Penelope.
Meles
Mosch., iii. 71 where see

Maenalus

7iote.

Melitodes
XV. 94 ; an epithet of
Persephone.
Melixo
ll. 146.
Memnon Mosch., ill. 43 son of
Tithoims and the Dawn, and
king of Ethiopia he came to the
help of Priam in the Trojan War
:

of Arcadia.
Lycia xvi. 48, xvii. 89
southerly district of

Minor.
Lycidas:

Lycon

15;

37, 93, 97, 98, 103, 130,

II. 29, 55, 64, 69, etc., 118, 133,
151, III. 15, 42, VI. 18, VII. 56, 96,
102, 117, X. 10, 20, 57, XI. 1, 80,
XII. 10, XIII. 1, 48, XIV. 26, 52,
XV. 120, xvii. 51, XIX. 1, XXIII.
4, 9, 20, 43, XXVII, 20, XXIX. 22,
XXX. 26; Bion, l. 2, etc., 39, 49,
II. 5, V. 2, etc., VI. 1, 5, 10, X. 4,
XIV. 1; Mosch., I. 1, 2, ill. 67,
83, V. 4, VI. 8, VII. 2; Adon., 6,
41.
Lycaeus
I. 123 ;
a mountain of
I.

Bion, ii. 8,
mythical king of Scyros.

Lepargus
the

Lycomedes

vil. 13, etc.,

II. 1, 5, VI. 10.

The
slain by Achilles.
of the Birds of Memnon
forms;
different
appears
in
and was

the most
W. Asia

xxvil. 42;

myth

according to the form apparently

followed here, Zeus, in order to
comfort the sorrowing mother,

INDEX
turned the ashes of the dead
warrior into birds which every
year visited the tomb to lament
him,
vill. 2, etc., IX. 2, etc.,
Menalcas
a mythical shepherd.
XXVII. 44
xviii. 1, 15, xxii. 217;
Meneiaiis
Mosch., III. 79; mythical king of
Sparta, and husband of Helen.
Menius xxv. 15; a river of Elis.
:

Mermnon
Messenia

ill.

35.

158,
208;
Peloponnese.

xxil.

district of the

Micon
Midea

Orchomenus

in Boeotia.
vii. 52, 61 ; Mosch., II.
Mitylene
92; the chief city ol the island
of Lesbos in the Aegean.
Moon : n. 10, 69. etc., 165, xx. 37,
43, XXI. 19; Bion, ix. 5.
Morson : V. 65, etc.
Muse : l. 9, 20, 64, etc., 141, 144,
V. 80, VII. 12, 37, 47, 82, 95, 129,
IX. 28, 32. 35. X. 24, XI. 6,
:

XVI. 3, 29, 58, 69, 107, XVII. 1,

115, XXII. 221, Insci\,X. 4, XXI. 4;
Bion, VI. 1, XIV. 1, 2; Mosch., iii.
8, etc., 65, 96.

xxv. 171; Bion,

ll.

13;

a city of the Peloponnese.

Mygdonian

Mosch.,

ii.

98; where

see note.

a town of
ll. 29, 96;
Caria opposite Cos.
Myrine Vest., 25; the chief city
of Lemnos, an island of the N.

Myndus

Bion,

II. 1,

vil. 97.

viil. 43. 93.

;
a valley of
Argolis, in the Peloponnese.
Nereids vii. 59 daughters of the
:

sea-God Kerens.
Nicias

xi. 2, xiii. 2, xxvili. 7, 9,

Inscr., VIII. 3 ; see Introduction,
p. X.
:

Nightingale (Aedon)
Mosch., iii.
wife of Zethus king of
38;
Thebes she killed her son Itylus
by mistake, and Zeus turned her
into the ever-mourning night;

ingale.

Nile
II.

vil. 114, xvil. 80,

98

Mosch.,

51, 53.

Niobe

Meg., 82; wife of Amphion,

king of Thebes; she boasted to
Leto of the number of her
children, whereupon they were
slain by Apollo and Artemis her
lamentations for them were
:

proverbial.

Nisaean

27

Xll.

descendants of

Nisus, mythical king of Megara.

Nomaee xxvii. 42.
:

Nycheia

Xlil. 45.
l. 12, 22, 66,
V. 12, 17, 54, 70, 140,
137, 148, 154, XIII.
Inscr., V. 1; Bion, i.
III. 18, 29, 106.
:

Nymphs

Nysa

Vest., 6;

141, iv. 29,

149, VII. 92,
43, 44, 53,

19; Mosch.,

the birthplace of

Dionysus.
Bion, II. 31.

Odysseus

Oenone

Neaethus
Croton

Olfls

iv. 24;
in S. Italy.

III.

xvi.

51

116; one of the chief

Naxos
Vest.; 4; an island of the
mid -Aegean.
Vest., 25; an island near
Neae
Lemnos in the N. Aegean.
:

(Ulysses)

Mosch.,

Greek Heroes before Troy; his

wanderings on his return to
Greece are the subject of the
Odyssey.
Oeagrian
Mosch., lii. 17; where

Aegean.

Naia

founded Miletus.
Ngm6a xxv. 169, etc.

Myrson
Myrto

: xxiii. 12;
Wings, 3; see
Chaos.
Neleus
xxviii. 3
son of Codrus
mythical king of Athens; he

v. 112.
xiii. 20, xxiv. 1 ; a town
:
of Argolis in the Peloponnese.
Miletus XV. 126, xxviii. 21, Inscr.,
viil. 1; a city of Ionia..
Milon
iv. 6, etc., viil. 47, 51, X.
7, 12.
Minyas : xvi. 104 ; a Hero of
:

Mycenae

Necessity

a river near

see note.
Oecus
vil.
:

116;

a high-perched

city of Ionia.

Bion, ll. 11; wife oi

Paris before he carried off Helen.
:

m.

26.

523

;;

INDEX
Olympus

XVII. 132

the abode of

the Gods.
xvi. 105 ; a town of
:
Boeotia.
son of
Orestes: Bion, vili. 4;

Orchomenus

Agamemnon;

having slain his

and her

mother

paramour

in

revenge for their murder of his

father, he was henceforth pursued
by the Furies, till upon Apollo's
advice he fetched the image of
Artemis from the Tauric Chersonese.

xxiv. 12.
46 where see note.
m. 18. 116, 123;
Mosch.,
Orpheus
the mythical pre-Homeric poet,
son of Oeagrus, king of Thrace,
see
and Calliope the Muse
Eurydice.
Orion

vil. 54,
vii.

Oromedon

Orthon
Othrys

Inscr., ix. 1.

ill.

43

a mountain

of

Thessaly.

Paean
Pallas

I.

3,

Apollo the Healer.

Aa-e, 8.

Pamphylia

and shepherds.
xxvii.
Paphos

Bion,
15, etc.
1.64; a city of Cyprus a famous
seat of the worship of Aphrodite.
Parnassus: vii. 148; a mountain
of Boeotia, sacred to the Muses.
xxvii. 1; Pipe, 12; son of
Paris
Priam, mythical king of Troy;
he carried off Helen from the
house of Menelaiis at Sparta and
thus gave rise to the Trojan War.
Paros vi. 38 Mosch., lii. 91 ; an
island of the S. Aegean, famous
the birthplace of
for its marble
Archilochus.
friend of
xv. 140;
Patroclus
Achilles, slain before Troy.
the
Mosch., iii. 77;
Pegasus:
winged horse upon which Bellero;

524

B.C.

Pelasgians
xv. 142; an ancient
people of Greece, connected by
:

some

traditions particularly with

Argos.
xvii. 56; Bion, 11. 6; kinf;
Peleus
of the Myrmidons of Phthia in
Thessaly, and father of Achilles.
Peloponnesian
xv. 92.
Pelops VIII. 53, xv. 142; mythical
king 01 Pisa in Elis, and father of
Atreus he gave his name to the
Pelopounese.
Peneius
where see note.
i. 67
Pentheus
xxvi. 10, etc.
son of
:

xvil. 88 ; a district of
the south coast of Asia Minor.
Pan l. 3, 16, 123, IV. 47, 63, v. 14,
58, 141, VI. 21, VII. 103, 106,
XXVII. 36, 51, Inscr., II. 2, III. 3,
V. 6; Bion, v. 7; Mosch., III. 28,
55, 80, V. 1; Pipe, 5; Dos., 15;
Vest., 5; God of pastures, flocks,

Hades.
Peisander
Tnscr., xxil. 4;
an
Epic poet of Camirus in P^hodes
he flourished in the sixth century

v. 79, vi. 27, Inscr.,

VIII. 1

phon slew the Chimaera; by a

stroke of his hoof he made upon
Mt. Helicon the spring Hippocrene, which became sacred to
the Muses.
Peirithotis: Bion, viii. 2; mythical
king of the Lapiths and friend of
Theseus, with whom he attempted to carry off Persephone frotn

Agave and grandson

of

Cadmus,

mythical king of Thebes he was

killed by his mother in a Bacchic
;

frenzy for resisting the introduction of the worship of Dionysus.

Peristere
Inscr., xvi. 5.
Persephone (The Maid)
xvi. 83
Bion, I. 54, 96; Mosch., ill. 119,
where see note: Meg., 75.
:

xxiv. 73, xxv. 173

son
Zeus and Danae, and grandfather of Alcmena.

Perseus

of

Persians

xvii. 19.

Phaethon

xxv. 139 ; the planet

Jupiter.

Phalarus (Piebald): v. 103; the

name of a sheep.
Phanote
xxiv. 116; a town of
Phocis in central Greece.
Philammon
xxiv. 110; a preHomeric poet and musician.
:

Phillnus

11.

115,

where see

note;

vii. 105, etc.

Philista
ll. 145.
Philltas (Philetas):
vil.
Introduction, p. xi.
:

40;

see

INDEX
Philoetius

xvi. 55

Odysseus.
iv.
Philondas
Phocis
Axe, 1
:

the oxlierd of

114.
a district of cen-

1, v.
;

tral Greece.
vii. 101, xvii.

67; Biou, xi. 1, xvi.

Phoenician
xvi. 70,
XXIV, 51.

xvii.

8(3,

VII.

ll.

see

entertained Heracles.

Phoroneu?

king of Argos.
:

a district of

vil. 3, 131.

xxv. 55, etc.

Phyleus
iv. 23
a people d wellPhyscians
ins near Croton in S. Italy.
Egg, 12 a
Pierian
x. 24, xi. 3
name of the Muses, from Pieria
in Thrace, an old seat of their
:

worsliip.

Mosch. ill. 88; the great

poet of Boeotia; he lived
from 518 to about 440.
Pindus l. 67; where see note.
IV. 29; Mosch., vi. 1
a city
Pisa
of Elis, near Olympia, where the
Pindar

lyric

famous Games were held.

Pleiads

xill. 25.

30

the Sea of

Proteus: viil. 52; son of Poseidon

and keeper of his flocks of
Ptel^a

65 ; where see note.

xxiv. 4;
a son of

vii.

in
killed
war by
Amphitryon.
xiv.
Ptolemy (II, Philadelphus)

Poseidon

59, XV. 22, 46, XVII. 3, etc.

of Egypt, 285-247 B.C.

king

Pylades
Bion, viil. 5 ; son of
Strophius king of Phocis; he
:

xx. 35;
central Asia Minor.

42, xvi. 75,

xill.

Marmora.

xxv. 200; a mythical

Phrasidamus
Phrygia
xv.

Propontis

Pterelaiis

Europa.
7
149; a Centaur who

Moscli.,

27; the rustic

ill.

of fertility.

seals.

1.

13; Mosch.,

God

Phoebus (Apollo)

Phoenix
Ph61us

IV.

was the friend of Orestes and

accompanied him on his journey
to the Tauric Chersonese.
III. 44
a city of the
coast of the Peloponnese.

Pylus

Pyrrha
Meg., 52
daughter of
Creon king of Thebes, wife of
Ipiiicles, and sister of Megara.
Pyrrhus iv. 31; a lyric poet, xv.
140; son of Achilles and 13eidameia, called also Neoptolemus;
;

he fought at Troy.
xiv. 5 a philosopher of the ascetic school of

Pythagorean

Pythagoras.
Pythian Inscr.,
:

Mosch., III. 22,

Phiteus (Pluto)
118, 126 God of the lower world.
Pintus
x. 19.
Polybotas
x. 15.
Poly deuces (Pollux)
iv. 9, xxil, 2,
:

W.

3; a

I.

name

of

Apollo.

Pyxa

vil.

Rhea

xvil. 132, xx. 40

130

a town of Cos.

see Castor.
Polyphemus
vi. 6, 19, Vll. 152,
XI.
Bion, ii. 3;
see
8,
80;

etc.

Cycio])es.

Pontus {oj the Pontic)

the Black Sea.

xxil. 28

xxi. 54, xxn. 97, 133.

xv. 1, etc.
Praxiteles
probably the
v. 105
sculptor mentioned in the will
of the philosopher Theophrastus
(who died in 287); he is thought
to have been grandson of the
great Praxiteles.
Priam
xvi. 49, xvii. 119, xxii.
219; mytliical king of Troy.
Priapus
Insc?., "in. 8,
l. 21, 81;

Poseidon
Praxinoa

wife of

Cronus.

Rheneia xvil. 70; an island of

the Aegean, near Delos.
:

Khodope
of

vil.

77

a mountain

Thrace.

Samos

xv. 126; an island

Aegean.
Sappho Mosch., ill. 91 the great
poetess of Lesbos she flourished
about 590 B.C.
vil. 40,

of the E.
:

Sardinia
xvi. 86.
Satyrs iv. 62, xxvil. 3, 49; Mosch.,
III. 27, V. 2, 4; the half-bestial
attendants of Dionysus.
ScOpads xvi. 36; a noble house
of Thessaly.
:

525

INDEX
Scyros Biori, ii. 5; an island of
the mid- Aegean.
Scythia xvi. 99.
Seasons : 1. 150, xv. 103, 104;
Mosch., II. 164.
daughter
S6m61e
xxvi. 6, 35
of Cadmus king of Thebes, and
mother by Zeus of Dionysus.
Semiramis
xvi. 100; mythical
queen of Nineveh.
Sibyrtas v. 5, etc.
Sicelidas
vil. 40; see Introduction
Sicily: i. 125, Vlil. 56, xvi. 102;
Bion, II. 1; Mosch., iii. 8, etc.,
:

10, 120, 121.

SImaetha

Simichidas

vii. 21, etc.;

xvi. 75; a river of Troy.

XI v. 53.
Siren: Mosch., III. 37; the Siren
who in Homer is a birdlike Deatli-

Simus

spirit luring sailors to their doom,

appears in like form upon sepul-

chral
monuments singing a
dirge for the dead.
Sisyphus xxil. 158 ; the mythical
founder of Ephyra or Corinth.
Song : ix. 32; Mosch., ill. 112.
:

(Lacedaemon)

Sparta

Strymon

xviii.

1,

Macedonia.

of

Sun

Bion, ll. 11, 13.

Mosch., ill. 14; a river

etc., XXII. 5

Euro pa.

of

Teos

Inscr., xvii. 3; Mosch., iii.

90; a city of Ionia, the birthplace of Anacreon.
Teucrian
Dos., 4, 18; Trojan,
from Teucer first king of Troy.
Thalysia vii. 3, 31.
Thebes xvi. 105, xxvi. 25 ; Meg., 36.
Theocritus Mosch., ill. 93 Dos., 10.
Theseus ii. 45: Bion, vili. 2; the
great Hero of Attica.
Thessaly
xii, 14, xiv. 12, xviii.
30 the chief district of N. Greece.
Thestiiis
xxii. 5 father of Leda.
Thestylis ii. 1, etc.
Thetis: XVII. 55; Mosch., ill. 79;
a sea-nymph, daughter of I^ereus,
and mother by Peleus of Achilles.
:

Theugenis

xxviii. 13, 22.

Theumaridas ll. 70.

Thrace ll. 70, xiv. 46,
:

23.

Mosch., ill.
Swallow : (Chelidon)
39; daughter of Pandareus of
Ephesus and sister of Aedon;
ravished by lier brother-in-law
Polytechnus, she was changed
by Artemis into a swallow.
Sybaris v. 1, etc., a Greek city
:

of S. Italy.

xv. 90, xvi. 78, Inscr.,

xvill. 5; Mosch., III. 93,
the chief city of Sicily.
Syria: x. 26, XV. 114, xvil. 87;
Bion, I. 77.
:

1,

Tartarus: Mosch., iii. 116; the

lower world.
xxiv. 65, 102; n mythiTeiresias
cal blind seer of Thebes.

526

xx.

Thyrsis

Inscr.,

1; Vest., 25; the barbarous N.

part of the Greek peninsula.
Thurii v. 72, a Greek city of S.
Italy.
Thymbris I. 118; a district of

Mosch.,

IX.

Thyonichus

Syracuse

XII. 9, XVI. 76, xxil. 84, xxv.

54, 85, 118, 130; Bion, III. 12, 16;
:

I.

Pipe, 12;

see Introduction.

Simoeis

Pipe, 1 ; the son of

Odysseus.
Tfilamon xili. 37 son of Aeacus
and brother of Peleus.
Telemus
vi.
a soothsayer
23
among the Cyclopes.
Telephassa Mosch., ll. 40 mother

101, 114.

ll.

Telemachus

Sicily.
:

I.

xiv. 1, etc.
:
19, etc., Inscr., vi. 1.
ii. 8, 97.

Timagetus
Tiryns
xxv. 171; Meg., 38; a
famous city near Argos.
:

Tityrus ill. 2, etc., vil. 72.

an enormous
Tityus
xxii. 94
giant who for offering violence
to Artemis was cast into Tartarus.
Trachis
xxiv. 83
a town of
Thessaly.
xxviil.
Trinacria (three-cornered)
18; Sicily.
Triopum xvii. 68; where see note.
Tritons: Mosch., ll. 123; fish-like
deities, sons of Poseidon.
Troy xv. 140.
T^deus xvii. 54, xxiv. 130; son
of Oeneus mythical king of Calydon, and father of Diomed; he
:

INDEX
was the

friend of Adrastus

one of
Thebes."

Tyndareus

tlie

" Seven

xvni. 5
78; see Helen.
:

Tyndarid

(son
XXII. 89, etc.

Tyre

Wolf

of

Mosch.,

and

against
iii.

Tyndareus)

Pipe, 10.
XIV. 24, 47.
:

Xfinocles

IV.

island off the

.32

W.

a city and
coast of the

Peloponnese.
Zeus IV. 17, 43,

50, v. 74, vn. 39,

93, VIII. 59, XI. 29, Xlll. 11,
XV. 64, 70, 124, XVI. 1, 70, 101,
XVII. 1, 17, 33, 73, 78, 133, 137,
XVIII. 18, 19, 52, XXII. 1, 95, 115,
137, 210, XXIV. 21, 82, 99, XXV.
42, 159, 169, XXVI. 31, 34, XXVIII.
5, Inscr., xxii. 1; Bion, x. 1;
Mosch., II. 15, etc.; Meg., 46.
:

44,

vil.
73, the nymph for
love of whom Daphnis died by
reason of his vow of celibacy.

Xenea

Zacyntlius

Inscr., x. 2.

Zopyrion
XV. 13; a diminutive
of the name Zopyrus.
:

527

printed in great britain by

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited,
brunswick street, stamford street, s.e.j

and bungay, suffolk.

THE LOEB CLASSICAL

LIBRARY.
VOLUMES ALREADY PUBLISHED.
Latin

APULEIUS. The
W.

A uthors.

Golden Ass.

(Metamorphoses.) Trans, by
Revised by S. Gaselee.
I Vol.

Adlington (1566).

CAESAR CIVIL WARS.

:

Trans, by A. G. Peskett.

Vol.

Trans, by F. W. Cornish ; TIBULLUS.

Trans, by J. P. Postgate ; PERVIGILIUM VENERIS.
i Vol.
Trans, by J. W. Mackail.

CATULLUS.

CICERO DE FINIBUS. Trans, by H. Rackham.

CICERO DE OFFICIIS. Trans, by Walter Miller,
CICERO: LETTERS TO ATTICUS. Trans, by
:

Vol.

Vol.

O.
and II.
OF ST. AUGUSTINFC. Trans, by W. Watts

Vols

Winstedt.

CONFESSIONS

2 Vols.

(1631).

HORACE ODES AND EPODES.

Trans, by C. E. Bennett.

E.

Vol.

OVID: HEROIDES
Showerman.

OVID

AND AMORES.

by Grant

Trans,

Vol.

METAMORPHOSES.

by F.

Trans,

J.

Millen

2 Vols.

PETRONIUS. Trans, by M. Heseltine SENECA APOCOLOCYNTOSIS. Trans, by W. H. D. Rouse. I Vol.

PLAUTUS. Trans, by Paul Nixon. Vol. I.
PLINY: LETTERS. Melmoth's Translation revised by
:

W. M.

L. Hutchiinson.

2 Vols.

PROPERTIUS. Trans, by H. E. Butler,

SENECA: EPISTULAE MORALES.
Gummere.

Vol.

Trans, by F.
C. Kolfe.

Trans,

Hutton.

R. M.

J-

Miller.

Wm.

Trans,

Vol.

Trans, by John Sargeaunt.

2 Vols.

2 Vols.

by Sir

AGklCOLA AND GERMAN I A.

TERENCE.

Vol.

I.

SENECA TRAGEDIES.
SUETONIUS. Trans by J.
TACITUS: DIALOGUS.
:

Trans, by

2 Vols.

by

Peterson;
Maurice

Greek Authors,

ACPIILLES TATIUS.

Trans, by S. Gaselee.
I Vol.
C. Seaton.

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS. Trans, by R.

THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS. Trans,

Vol.

by Kirsopp Lake.

2 Vols.

ROMAN HISTORY. Trans, by Horace White.

DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. Thornley's Translation revised

APPIAN'S
4 Vols.

by
I

J.

M. Edmonds

PARTPIENIUS.

Trans, by S. Gaselee.

Vol.

OIO CASSIUS
Vols.

ROMAN HISTORY.

IV, and V.
Trans, by A. S.

Trans, by E. Gary.

I, II, III.

EURIPIDES.

Way.

4 Vols.

GALEN ON THE NATURAL FACULTIES.

Trans, by

A.

J.

Brock.

Vol.

THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY.

Vols.

I,

Trans, by

W.

R. Paton.

and IV.

II, III,

THE GREEK BUCOLIC POETS (THEOCRITUS,

MOSCHUS).

Trans, by

J.

M. Edmonds,

BION,

Vol.

HESIOD AND THE HOMERIC HYMNS.

Trans, by
i Vol.
H. G. Evelyn White,
JULIAN. Trans, by Wilmer Cave Wright. Vols. I and II.
LUCIAN. Trans, by A. M. Harmon. Vols. I and II.
MARCUS AURELIUS. Trans, by C. R. Haines, i Vol.

PHILOSTRATUS THE LIFE OF APOLLONIUS OF

TYANA. Trans, by F. C. Conybeare. 2 Vols.
:

PINDAR.

Trans, by Sir

E. Sandys,

J.

Vol.

PLATO: EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO,

Vol.
PHAEDRUS. Trans, by H. N. P^wler.
i

PLUTARCH: THE PARALLEL

LIVES.

Trans, by B.
HI, and IV.
PROCOPIUS. Trans, by PI. B. Dewing. Vols. I and II.
QUINTUS SMYRNAEUS. Trans, by A. S. Way. i Vol.
Perrin.

Vols.

SOPHOCLES.
ST.

I.

II,

Trans, by F. Storr.

2 Vols.

JOHN DAMASCENE BARLAAM AND lOASAPH.

:

Trans, by the Rev. G. R.

1 Vol.

Woodward and Harold

STRABO: GEOGRAPHY.
Vol.

Trans,

Mattingly.

by Horace L. Jones.

I.

THEOPHRASTUS: ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS.

Trans.

by Sir Arthur Hort, Bart.

XENOPHON

2 Vols.
CYROPAEDIA. Trans,

by Walter Miller.

2 Vols.

DESCRIPTIVE PROSPECTUS ON APPLICATION.

London

New York -

WILLIAM HEINEMANN,
G. F. PUTNAM'S SONS,

CN2

CO

ft?

'i::

^ ^ .-^

^Xi^KJir<y\JtiCo

THE INSTITUTE OF MEDIAEVAL

59 QUEEN'S PARK CRi-.
TORONTO - 5, CAN^-M

m32