"And I a Whistle have with notes thrice three a row, Joined with white wax, both e'en below and e'en above. I lately framed it: for this finger yet doth ache With pricking, which a splinter of the reed did make. But who shall be our Judge, and give us audience?" MENALCAS. "What if we call this Goatherd here, not far from hence, Whose dog doth bark hard by the kids?" The lusty boys Did call him, and the Goatherd came to hear their toys. The lusty boys did sing, the Goatherd judgment gave. MENALCAS first, by lot, unto his Whistle brave, Did sing a Neatherd's Song; and Neatherd DAPHNIS then Did sing, by course: but first MENALCAS thus began: MENALCAS. "Ye Groves and Brooks divine, if on his reed MENALCAS ever sang a pleasant Lay; Fat me these lambs! If DAPHNIS here will feed His calves, let him have pasture too I pray!" DAPHNIS. "Ye pleasant Springs and Plants, would DAPHNIS had As sweet a voice as have the nightingales! Feed me this herd! and if the Shepherd's lad MENALCAS comes, let him have all the dales!" MENALCAS. "'Tis ever Spring; there meads are ever gay; There strout the bags; there sheep are fatly fed, When DAPHNE comes! Go she away; Then both the Shepherd there, and grass are dead." DAPHNIS. "There both the ewes, and goats, bring forth their twins; There bees do fill their hives; there oaks are high; Where MILO treads! When he away begins To go, both Neatherd and the neat wax dry." MENALCAS. "O husband of the goats! O wood so high! O kids! come to this brook, for he is there! Thou with the broken horns tell MILO shy, That PROTEUS kept sea-calves, though god he were." DAPHNIS. "Nor PELOPS' kingdom may I crave, nor gold; Nor to outrun the winds upon a lea: But in this cave I'll sing, with thee in hold, Both looking on my sheep, and on the sea." MENALCAS. "A tempest marreth trees; and drought, a spring: Snares unto fowls, to beasts nets, are a smart; Love spoils a man. O JOVE, alone his sting I have not felt; for thou a lover art!" Thus sang these boys, by course, with voices strong; MENALCAS then began a latter song: MENALCAS. "Wolf, spare my kids! and spare my fruitful sheep! And hurt me not! though but a lad, these flocks I guide. Lampur my dog, art thou indeed so sound asleep? Thou should'st not sleep while thou art by thy master's side! My sheep, fear not to eat the tender grass at will! Nor when it springeth up again, see that you fail! Go to, and feed apace, and all your bellies fill! That part your lambs may have; and part, my milking pail." Then DAPHNIS in his turn sweetly began to sing: DAPHNIS.