"'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. "And me, not long ago, fair DAPHNE whistly eyed As I drove by; and said, I was a paragon: Nor then indeed to her I churlishly replied; But, looking on the ground, my way still held I on. Sweet is a cow-calf's voice, and sweet her breath doth smell; A bull calf, and a cow, do low full pleasantly. 'Tis sweet in summer by a spring abroad to dwell! Acorns become the oak; apples, the apple-tree; And calves, the kine; and kine, the Neatherd much set out." Thus sung these youths. The Goatherd thus did end the doubt: Goatherd. "O DAPHNIS, what a dulcet mouth and voice thou hast! 'Tis sweeter thee to hear than honey-combs to taste! Take thee these Pipes, for thou in singing dost excel! If me, a Goatherd, thou wilt teach to sing so well; This broken-hornèd goat, on thee bestow I will! Which to the very brim, the pail doth ever fill." So then was DAPHNIS glad, and lept and clapt his hands; And danced as doth a fawn, when by the dam he stands. MENALCAS grieved, the thing his mind did much dismay: And sad as Bride he was, upon the marriage day. Since then among the Shepherds, DAPHNIS chief was had! And took a Nymph to wife when he was but a lad. DAPHNIS his Emblem. _Me tamen urit Amor._