nalcas, when thou sawest them given to the boy, thou grievest, and wouldst have died, if thou couldst not have done him some mischief.

M. What will masters come to, when thieves dare to do such things? did I not see thee, thou worst of vagrants, slyly steal a goat belonging to Damon, whilst the mungrel was barking loudly; and when I cried out, where now, is the thief sneaking away? Tityrus, pen up your flock: thou didst hide thyself behind the bed of sedges.

D. When he was conquered in singing, should he not have given to me the goat, which my pipe had won; however, that thou mayest know the truth, that goat was mine, and Damon himself confessed it; but said that he was unable to restore it

to me.

M. Thou,-him in playing? was it ever thy lot to have a pipe joined together with wax? is it not well known that thou art a blockhead; that thou wert used to spoil a wretched tune with a screaking reed in the high ways?

D. Art thou willing then, that by turns we try between ourselves, what each can do? I lay this heifer, but, lest thou mayst refuse this offer, from ignorance of its value; she comes twice a day to the milk-pail, and with her udder suckles twin calves: say with what stake wilt thou contend with

me.

M. I dare not lay any thing of the flock with thee; for I have a father at home, and a rigorous mother-in-law, and both of them count the sheep twice a day, and one of them the goats; but since thou art desirous to be so foolish, I will lay that which thou thyself shalt confess to be a greater stake, two beechen bowls, the sculptured workmanship of the divine Al

cimedon, on which the pliant vine, overrunning the surface, by the skilful lathe, adorns the scattered umbels of the pale ivy. In the midst, are two figures, Conon; and who was the other, who described the whole world to the nations with a wand? what seasons the reaper; what, the bending ploughman should observe. Nor yet have I put them to my lips, but keep them preserved.

D. And even Alcimedon has made two bowls for me, with the soft acanthus closely winding round the handles; and Orpheus in the midst, and the woods following. Not as yet have I put my lips to them, but keep them preserved. If thou considerest the heifer, there is no room to praise th bowls.

M. Thou shalt not escape the contest to day: I will engage in whatever manner thou canst desire. Only let him who comes, hear the contest: behold Palaemon, I will take care that thy tongue disturbs no one hereafter.

D. Therefore come on, if thou hast any thing to sing; there shall be no delay with me, nor do I flee from any one, only, neighbour Palaemon, let the contest be impressed in your deepest thoughts; it is no trifling affair.

P. Sing: since we are seated on the soft grass, and now every field and all the trees bud forth; now the woods shew their leaves; now it is the most beautiful time of the year. Begin, Damoetas, then follow thou, Menalcas; you shall sing by turns; the Muses love alternate singing.

D. O Muses, begin to Jupiter, all things are full of Jupiter: he tills the earth; he regards my songs.

M. And Apollo loves me: he always finds his own offerings with me, bays, and the sweetly blushing hyacinth.

D. Galatea, wanton girl, pelts me with an apple, and flees to the willows: yet desires that herself may be seen.

M. But Amyntas' passion comes unsaught, that even Delia is not better known to our dogs.

D. I have provided gifts for my Venus, for I have marked the place where the aerial wood pigeons build their nests.

M. I have sent ten golden apples to the boy, gathered from the wild tree, which is all I have been able to gather: to-morrow I will send as many more.

D. O how often, and what words Galatea has said to me! O ye winds, carry some part of them to the ears of the Gods.

M. O Amyntas! what advantage is it to me, that thou dost not disdain me in thy heart, if I keep the nets, whilst thou chasest the boars ?

D. Iola, send Phyllis to me; it is my birth-day; when I will offer up a heifer for the fruits of the earth, come thyself.

M. O Iolas, I love Phyllis before all others, for she wept for me at my departure, and said, lovely Menalcas, farewell; a long farewell.

D. The wolf is dreadful to the folds: showers, to ripe fruits; winds, to the trees; the displeasure of Amaryllis, to

me.

M. Moisture is sweet enough to seeds; the arbutus to the weaned kids; the pliant willows to the pregnant ewes ; Amyntas alone, to me.

D. Pollio loves my Muse, although she is rustic. O, ye Muses, feed a heifer for your reader.

M. And Pollio himself makes new verses; feed a bull for him, who already butts with his horns, and makes the sand flee with his feet.

D. He who loves thee, Pollio, may he also reach the same point which rejoices him to see thyself arrived at; may honey flow for him, and the prickly bramble bear ammoniacal perfumes.

M. He who does not hate Bavius, let him love thy verses, O Maevius, and yoke foxes, and milk he-goats.

D. O inexperienced youths, who gather flowers and strawberries growing on the ground, flee hence; the cold snake lies hid in the grass.

M. O sheep, forbear to proceed too far. It is not good trusting to the bank, even the ram himself now dries his fleece.

D. Tityrus, keep back your feeding goats from the river; I will wash them all in the fountain, at a proper time.

M. Boys, drive your sheep into the folds; if the heat should dry up the milk, as sometime ago, we should with our hands press their dugs in vain.

D. Alas, alas, what a lean bull have I in a rich pasture! love, is alike the destruction of the sheep, and the master of the sheep.

M. Surely love is not the cause, with these, scarcely their bones stick together. I know not what eye bewitches my tender lambs.

D. Tell me in what land the expanse of heaven extends three ells and not more, and thou shalt be my oracle.

M. Tell me in what land flowers are produced, inscribed with the name of kings, and thou alone take Phyllis.

P. I am not able to adjust so great a contest between you. Thou art worthy of the heifer, and he also; and any one who either fears successful love, or experiences the reverse, is wor◄

thy of the same. Already, boys, shut the sluices, the fields have drank enough.

ECLOGUE IV.

POLLIO.

SICILIAN Muses, let us sing a loftier strain. The vineyards, the humble tamarisks delight not all. If we sing concerning the woods, let the woods be worthy of the Consul.

Now the last age of the Cumaan song is come, now the great order of ages is produced anew; justice returns; the reign of Saturn returns: and now a new progeny is sent down from high heaven. Thou, chaste Lucina, favour even now, the birth of the infant who first dispels the iron age, and through whom the golden age will rise throughout the whole world: already thy own Apollo reigns. O Pollio, thou being Consul, the glory of the age shall commence, in thy Consulship; the great months shall begin their progress. Under thy conduct, if any traces of our crimes remain, they shall be of no effect, and the word shall be freed from perpetual fear. He shall receive the life of the Gods, he shall see heroes mixed with Gods, himself shall be seen by them; and shall rule the appeased world with his father's virtues. O child,