by Theocritus
[98] So soon as e’er my sheep I shear, a rare fine gift I’ll take;
I’ll give yon black ewe’s pretty coat my darling’s cloak to make.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
σίττ᾽ ἀπὸ τᾶς κοτίνω ταὶ μηκάδες: ὧδε νέμεσθε, 100
ὡς τὸ κάταντες τοῦτο γεώλοφον αἵ τε μυρῖκαι.
[100] 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
Λάκων
οὐκ ἀπὸ τᾶς δρυὸς οὗτος ὁ Κώναρος ἅ τε Κιναίθα;
τουτεῖ βοσκησεῖσθε ποτ᾽ ἀντολάς, ὡς ὁ Φάλαρος.
[102] Where are ye browsing, Crumple? and, Browning, where are ye?
Graze up the hill as Piebad will, and let the oak-leaves be.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
ἔστι δέ μοι γαυλὸς κυπαρίσσινος, ἔστι δὲ κρατήρ,
ἔργον Πραξιτέλευς: τᾷ παιδὶ δὲ ταῦτα φυλάσσω. 105
[104] I’ve laid up a piggin of cypress-wood and a bowl for mixing wine,
The work of great Praxiteles, both for that lass of mine.
LACON
Λάκων
χἁμῖν ἐστι κύων φιλοποίμνιος, ὃς λύκος ἄγχει,
ὃν τῷ παιδὶ δίδωμι τὰ θηρία πάντα διώκειν.
[106] And I, I have a flock-dog, a wolver of good fame,
Shall go a gift to my dearest and hunt him all manner of game.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
ἀκρίδες, αἳ τὸν φραγμὸν ὑπερπαδῆτε τὸν ἁμόν,
μή μευ λωβασεῖσθε τὰς ἀμπέλος: ἐντὶ γὰρ ἇβαι.
[108] Avaunt, avaunt, ye locusts o’er master’s fence that spring;
These be none of your common vines; have done your ravaging.
LACON
Λάκων
τοὶ τέττιγες, ὁρῆτε τὸν αἰπόλον ὡς ἐρεθίζω: 110
οὑτῶς χὑμές θην ἐρεθίζετε τὼς καλαμευτάς.
[110] See, crickets, see how vexed he be! see master Goatherd boiling!
’Tis even so you vex, I trow, the reapers at their toiling.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
μισέω τὰς δασυκέρκος ἀλώπεκας, αἳ τὰ Μίκωνος
αἰεὶ φοιτῶσαι τὰ ποθέσπερα ῥαγίζοντι.
[112] I hate the brush-tail foxes, that soon as day declines
Come creeping to their vintaging mid goodman Micon’s vines.
LACON
Λάκων
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ μισέω τὼς κανθάρος, οἳ τὰ Φιλώνδα
σῦκα κατατρώγοντες ὑπανέμιοι φορέονται. 115
[114] So too I hate the beetles come riding on the breeze,
Guttle Philondas’ choicest figs, and off as quick as you please.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
ἦ οὐ μέμνᾳ, ὅκ᾽ ἐγώ τυ κατήλασα, καὶ τὺ σεσαρὼς
εὖ ποτεκιγκλίζευ καὶ τᾶς δρυὸς εἴχεο τήνας;
[116] Don’t you remember when I poked you, and you
Grinning jerked your tail finely at me, and clung to that oak-tree?
LACON
Λάκων
τοῦτο μὲν οὐ μέμναμ᾽: ὅκα μάν ποκα τεῖδέ τυ δήσας
Εὐμάρας ἐκάθηρε καλῶς μάλα, τοῦτό γ᾽ ἴσαμι.
[118] That indeed I don’t remember; however, when Eumaras
fastened you up here and cleaned you out – that anyway I know all about.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
ἦ δή τις Μόρσων πικραίνεται: ἢ οὐχὶ παρῄσθευ; 120
σκίλλας ἰὼν γραίας ἀπὸ σάματος αὐτίκα τίλλειν.
[120] Somebody’s waxing wild, Morson; see you not what is plain?
Go pluck him squills from an oldwife’s grave to cool his heated brain.
LACON
Λάκων
κἠγὼ μὰν κνίζω Μόρσων τινά: καὶ τὺ δὲ λεύσσεις.
ἐνθὼν τὰν κυκλάμινον ὄρυσσέ νυν ἐς τὸν ῎Αλεντα.
[122] Nay, I be nettling somebody; do you not see it, then?
Be off to Haleis bank, Morson, and dig him some cyclamen.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
῾Ιμέρα ἀνθ᾽ ὕδατος ῥείτω γάλα, καὶ τὺ δὲ Κράθι
οἴνῳ πορφύροις, τὰ δέ τ᾽ οἴσυα καρπὸν ἐνείκαι. 125
[124] Let Himera’s stream run white with cream, and Crathis, as for thine,
Mid apple-bearing beds or reed may it run red with wine.
LACON
Λάκων
ῥείτω χἁ Συβαρῖτις ἐμὶν μέλι, καὶ τὸ πότορθρον
ἁ παῖς ἀνθ᾽ ὕδατος τᾷ κάλπιδι κηρία βάψαι.
[126] Let Sybaris’ well spring honey for me, and ere the sun is up
May the wench that goes for water draw honeycombs for my cup.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
ταὶ μὲν ἐμαὶ κύτισόν τε καὶ αἴγιλον αἶγες ἔδοντι,
καὶ σχῖνον πατέοντι καὶ ἐν κομάροισι κέχυνται.
[128] My goats eat goat-grass, mine, and browze upon the clover,
Tread mastich green and lie between the arbutes waving over.
LACON
Λάκων
ταῖσι δ᾽ ἐμαῖς ὀίεσσι πάρεστι μὲν ἁ μελίτεια 130
φέρβεσθαι, πολλὸς δὲ καὶ ὡς ῥόδα κίσθος ἐπανθεῖ.
[130] It may be so, but I’ld have ye know these pretty sheep of mine
Browze rock-roses in plenty and sweet as eglantine.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
οὐκ ἔραμ᾽ ᾿Αλκίππας, ὅτι με πρᾶν οὐκ ἐφίλασε
τῶν ὤτων καθελοῖσ᾽, ὅκά οἱ τὰν φάσσαν ἔδωκα.
[132] 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.
LACON
Λάκων
ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ Εὐμήδευς ἔραμαι μέγα: καὶ γὰρ ὅκ᾽ αὐτῷ
τὰν σύριγγ᾽ ὤρεξα, καλόν τί με κάρτ᾽ ἐφίλασεν. 135
[134] When fair Eumédes took the pipe that was his lover’s token
He kissed him sweet as sweet could be; his lover’s love unbroken.
COMATAS
Κομάτας
οὐ θεμιτὸν Λάκων ποτ᾽ ἀηδόνα κίσσας ἐρίσδειν,
οὐδ᾽ ἔποπας κύκνοισι: τὺ δ᾽ ὦ τάλαν ἐσσὶ φιλεχθής.
[136] ’Tis nature’s law that no jackdaw with nightingale shall bicker,
Nor owl with swan, but poor Lacòn was born a quarrel-picker.
MORSON
Μόρσων
παύσασθαι κέλομαι τὸν ποιμένα. τὶν δὲ Κομάτα
δωρεῖται Μόρσων τὰν ἀμνίδα: καὶ τὺ δὲ θύσας
[138] I bid the shepherd cease. You, Comatas, may take the l
amb; and when you offer her to the Nymphs be sure you presently send poor Morson a well-laden platter.
COMATAS
ταῖς Νύμφαις Μόρσωνι καλὸν κρέας αὐτίκα πέμψον.
[140] That will I, ‘fore Pan. Come, snort ye, my merry buck-goats all. Look you how great a laugh I have of shepherd Lacon for that I have at last achieved the lamb. Troth, I’ll caper you to the welkin. Horned she-goats mine, frisk it and be merry; tomorrow I’ll wash you one and all in Sybaris’ lake.
Κομάτας
πεμψῶ ναὶ τὸν Πᾶνα. φριμάσσεο πᾶσα τραγίσκων
νῦν ἀγέλα: κἠγὼ γὰρ ἴδ᾽ ὡς μέγα τοῦτο καχαξῶ
κὰτ τῶ Λάκωνος τῶ ποιμένος, ὅττι πόκ᾽ ἤδη
ἀνυσάμαν τὰν ἀμνόν: ἐς ὠρανὸν ὔμμιν ἁλεῦμαι.
αἶγες ἐμαὶ θαρσεῖτε κερούτιδες: αὔριον ὔμμε 145
πάσας ἐγὼ λουσῶ Συβαρίτιδος ἔνδοθι λίμνας.
οὗτος ὁ Λευκίτας ὁ κορυπτίλος, εἴ τιν᾽ ὀχευσεῖς
τᾶν αἰγῶν, φλασσῶ τυ πρὶν ἤ γ᾽ ἐμὲ καλλιερῆσαι
ταῖς Νύμφαις τὰν ἀμνόν. ὁ δ᾽ αὖ πάλιν. ἀλλὰ γενοίμαν,
αἰ μή τυ φλάσσαιμι, Μελάνθιος ἀντὶ Κομάτα. 150
What, Whitecoat, thou butt-head! if thou leave not poke 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.
IDYLL VI. Βουκολιασταὶ Δάφνις καὶ Δαμοίτας
IDYLL VI. A COUNTRY SINGING MATCH
Theocritus dedicates the poem to the Aratus of whom he speaks in the Harvest-Home. The scene is a spring in the pastures, and the time of summer noon. The theme is a friendly contest between a certain Damoetas and ‘the neatherd Daphnis.’ This is probably the Daphnis of the Thyrsis. If so , the two singers are meant to be contemporary with the persons of whom they sing, as are the singers of IV, V, and X. Each sings one song. Daphnis, apostrophising Polyphemus, asks why he is blind to the love of the sea-nymph Galatea. Damoetas, personating him, declares that his apathy is all put on, to make her love secure.
Δαμοίτας χὡ Δάφνις ὁ βουκόλος εἰς ἕνα χῶρον
τὰν ἀγέλαν πόκ᾽ ῎Αρατε συνάγαγον: ἦς δ᾽ ὁ μὲν αὐτῶν
πυρρός, ὁ δ᾽ ἡμιγένειος: ἐπὶ κράναν δέ τιν᾽ ἄμφω
ἑζόμενοι θέρεος μέσῳ ἄματι τοιάδ᾽ ἄειδον.
πρᾶτος δ᾽ ἄρξατο Δάφνις, ἐπεὶ καὶ πρᾶτος ἔρισδε. 5
[1] Damoetas and neatherd Daphnis, Aratus, half-bearded one, the other’s chin ruddy with the down, 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 sing. Daphnis sang first, for from hi came the challenge:
βάλλει τοι Πολύφαμε τὸ ποίμνιον ἁ Γαλάτεια
μάλοισιν, δυσέρωτα τὸν αἰπόλον ἄνδρα καλεῦσα:
καὶ τύ νιν οὐ ποθόρησθα τάλαν τάλαν, ἀλλὰ κάθησαι
ἁδέα συρίσδων. πάλιν ἅδ᾽ ἴδε τὰν κύνα βάλλει,
ἅ τοι τᾶν ὀίων ἕπεται σκοπός: ἁ δὲ βαΰσδει 10
εἰς ἅλα δερκομένα, τὰ δέ νιν καλὰ κύματα φαίνει
ἅσυχα καχλάζοντα ἐπ᾽ αἰγιαλοῖο θέοισαν.
φράζεο μὴ τᾶς παιδὸς ἐπὶ κνάμαισιν ὀρούσῃ
ἐξ ἁλὸς ἐρχομένας, κατὰ δὲ χρόα καλὸν ἀμύξῃ.
ἁ δὲ καὶ αὐτόθε τοι διαθρύπτεται, ὡς ἀπ᾽ ἀκάνθας 15
ταὶ καπυραὶ χαῖται, τὸ καλὸν θέρος ἁνίκα φρύγει:
καὶ φεύγει φιλέοντα καὶ οὐ φιλέοντα διώκει,
καὶ τὸν ἀπὸ γραμμᾶς κινεῖ λίθον: ἦ γὰρ ἔρωτι
πολλάκις ὦ Πολύφαμε τὰ μὴ καλὰ καλὰ πέφανται.
[6] See Cyclops! Galatéa’s at thy flock with apples, see!
The apples fly, and she doth cry ‘A fool’s-in-love 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 of 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’the pretty summer O! –
She’ll fly ye and deny ye if ye’ll a-wooing go,
But cease to woo and she’ll pursue, aye, then the king’s the move;
For oft the foul, good Polypheme, is fair i’ the eyes of love.
τῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ Δαμοίτας ἀνεβάλλετο καὶ τάδ᾽ ἄειδεν. 20
[20] Then Damoetas in answer lifted up his voice, singing:
εἶδον ναὶ τὸν Πᾶνα, τὸ ποίμνιον ἁνίκ᾽ ἔβαλλε,
κοὔ μ᾽ ἔλαθ᾽, οὔ, τὸν ἐμὸν ἕνα τὸν γλυκύν, ᾧπερ ὅρημι
ἐς τέλος: αὐτὰρ ὁ μάντις ὁ Τήλεμος ἔχθρ᾽ ἀγορεύων
ἐχθρὰ φέροι ποτὶ οἶκον, ὅπως τεκέεσσι φυλάσσοι.
ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ κνίζων πάλιν οὐ ποθόρημι, 25
ἀλλ᾽ ἄλλαν τινὰ φαμὶ γυναῖκ᾽ ἔχεν: ἁ δ᾽ ἀίοισα
ζαλοῖ μ᾽ ὦ Παιὰν καὶ τάκεται, ἐκ δὲ θαλάσσας
οἰστρεῖ παπταίνοισα ποτ᾽ ἄντρά τε καὶ ποτὶ ποίμνας.
σίξα δ᾽ ὑλακτεῖν νιν καὶ τᾷ κυνί: καὶ γὰρ ὅκ᾽ ἤρων
αὐτᾶς, ἐκνυζεῖτο ποτ᾽ ἰσχία ῥύγχος ἔχοισα. 30
ταῦτα δ᾽ ἴσως ἐσορεῦσα ποεῦντά με πολλάκι πεμψεῖ
ἄγγελον. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κλᾳξῶ θύρας, ἕστέ κ᾽ ὀμόσσῃ
αὐτά μοι στορεσεῖν καλὰ δέμνια τᾶσδ᾽ ἐπὶ νάσω.
καὶ γάρ θην οὐδ᾽ εἶδος ἔχω κακόν, ὥς με λέγοντι.
ἦ γὰρ πρᾶν ἐς πόντον ἐσέβλεπον, ἦς δὲ γαλάνα, 35
καὶ καλὰ μὲν τὰ γένεια, καλὰ δέ μευ ἁ μία κώρα,
ὡς παρ᾽ ἐμὶν κέκριται, κατεφαίνετο, τῶν δέ τ᾽ ὀδόντων
λευκοτέραν αὐγὰν Παρίας ὑπέφαινε λίθοιο.
ὡς μὴ βασκανθῶ δέ, τρὶς εἰς ἐμὸν ἔπτυσα κόλπον:
ταῦτα γὰρ ἁ γραία με Κοτυταρὶς ἐξεδίδαξε. 40
ἃ πρᾶν ἀμάντεσσι παρ᾽ ῾Ιπποκίωνι ποταύλει.
[21] I saw, I saw her fling them, Lord Pan my witness be;
I was not blind, I vow, by this my one sweet – this
Wherewith Heav’n send I see to the end, and Télemus when he
Foret
ells me woe, then be it so, but woe for him and his! – ;
’Tis tit for tat, to tease her on I look not on the jade
And say there’s other wives to wed, and lo! she’s jealous made,
Jealous for me, Lord save us! and ‘gins to pine for me
And glowers from the deep on the cave and the sheep like a want-wit lass o’ the sea
And the dog that bayed, I hissed him on; for when ’twas I to woo
He’ld lay his snout to her lap, her lap, and whine her friendly to.
Maybe she’ll send me messages if long I go this gate;
But I’ll bar the door till she swear o’ this shore to be my wedded mate.
Ill-favoured? nay, for all they say; I have looked i’ 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.
τόσσ᾽ εἰπὼν τὸν Δάφνιν ὁ Δαμοίτας ἐφίλησε,
χὡ μὲν τῷ σύριγγ᾽, ὁ δὲ τῷ καλὸν αὐλὸν ἔδωκεν.
αὔλει Δαμοίτας, σύρισδε δὲ Δάφνις ὁ βούτας,
ὠρχεῦντ᾽ ἐν μαλακᾷ ταὶ πόρτιες αὐτίκα ποίᾳ. 45
νίκη μὰν οὐδάλλος, ἀνήσσατοι δ᾽ ἐγένοντο.
[42] So far Damoetas, and kissed Daphnis, and that to this gave a pipe and this to that a pretty flue. 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.
IDYLL VII. θαλύσια
IDYLL VII. THE HARVEST-HOME
The poet tells in the first person how three friends went out from Cos to join in a harvest-home at a farm in the country. On the way they overtake a Cretan goatherd named Lycidas, and the conversation leads to a friendly singing-match between him and the narrator Simichidas. Lycidas’ song, which was apparently composed the previous November, is primarily a song of good wishes for the safe passage of his beloved Ageanax to Mitylenè, but the greater part of it is concerned with the merrymaking which will celebrate his safe arrival, and includes an address to the mythical goatherd-poet Comatas, whose story is to be sung by Tityrus on the festive occasion. Simichidas replies with a prayer to Pan and the Loves to bring the fair Philinus to his lover Aratus, a prayer which passes, however, into an appeal to Aratus to cease such youthful follies. Lycidas now bestows the crook which he had laughingly offered as a stake, and leaves the three friends at the entrance to the farm. The rest of the poem is a description of the feast. The scholia preserve a tradition that Simichidas is Theocritus himself, and indeed there is great probability that we are dealing throughout the poem with real persons.