GetPassage urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi001.perseus-eng2:7.12-7.31 urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi001.perseus-eng2:7.12-7.31

and, if you have an idle hour to spare,rest here beneath the shade. Hither the steerswill through the meadows, of their own free will,untended come to drink. Here Mincius hathwith tender rushes rimmed his verdant banks,and from yon sacred oak with busy humthe bees are swarming.” What was I to do?No Phyllis or Alcippe left at homehad I, to shelter my new-weaned lambs,and no slight matter was a singing-bout'twixt Corydon and Thyrsis. Howsoe'er,I let my business wait upon their sport.So they began to sing, voice answering voicein strains alternate—for alternate strainsthe Muses then were minded to recall—first Corydon, then Thyrsis in reply.CORYDON“Libethrian Nymphs, who are my heart's delight,grant me, as doth my Codrus, so to sing—next to Apollo he—or if to thiswe may not all attain, my tuneful pipe