Alack! alack! for herdsman and for herd!It is the self-same love that wastes us both.”MENALCAS“These truly—nor is even love the cause—scarce have the flesh to keep their bones togethersome evil eye my lambkins hath bewitched.”DAMOETAS“Say in what clime—and you shall be withalmy great Apollo—the whole breadth of heavenopens no wider than three ells to view.”MENALCAS“Say in what country grow such flowers as bearthe names of kings upon their petals writ,and you shall have fair Phyllis for your own.”PALAEMONNot mine betwixt such rivals to decide:you well deserve the heifer, so does he,with all who either fear the sweets of love,or taste its bitterness. Now, boys, shut offthe sluices, for the fields have drunk their fill.
POLLIO
muses of Sicily, essay we nowa somewhat loftier task! Not all men lovecoppice or lowly tamarisk: sing we woods,woods worthy of a Consul let them be.