Then Daphnis answered him again in this wise, ‘Thou shepherd of the fleecy sheep, Menalcas, the pipe-player, never wilt thou vanquish me in song, not thou, if thou shouldst sing till some evil thing befall thee!’ _Menalcas_. Dost thou care then, to try this and see, dost thou care to risk a stake? _Daphnis_. I do care to try this and see, a stake I am ready to risk. _Menalcas_. But what shall we stake, what pledge shall we find equal and sufficient? _Daphnis_. I will pledge a calf, and do thou put down a lamb, one that has grown to his mother’s height. _Menalcas_. Nay, never will I stake a lamb, for stern is my father, and stern my mother, and they number all the sheep at evening. _Daphnis_. But what, then, wilt thou lay, and where is to be the victor’s gain? _Menalcas_. The pipe, the fair pipe with nine stops, that I made myself, fitted with white wax, and smoothed evenly, above as below. This would I readily wager, but never will I stake aught that is my father’s. _Daphnis_. See then, I too, in truth, have a pipe with nine stops, fitted with white wax, and smoothed evenly, above as below. But lately I put it together, and this finger still aches, where the reed split, and cut it deeply. _Menalcas_. But who is to judge between us, who will listen to our singing? _Daphnis_. That goatherd yonder, he will do, if we call him hither, the man for whom that dog, a black hound with a white patch, is barking among the kids. Then the boys called aloud, and the goatherd gave ear, and came, and the boys began to sing, and the goatherd was willing to be their umpire. And first Menalcas sang (for he drew the lot) the sweet-voiced Menalcas, and Daphnis took up the answering strain of pastoral song—and ’twas thus Menalcas began: _Menalcas_. Ye glades, ye rivers, issue of the Gods, if ever Menalcas the flute-player sang a song ye loved, to please him, feed his lambs; and if ever Daphnis come hither with his calves, nay he have no less a boon. _Daphnis_. Ye wells and pastures, sweet growth o’ the world, if Daphnis sings like the nightingales, do ye fatten this herd of his, and if Menalcas hither lead a flock, may he too have pasture ungrudging to his full desire! _Menalcas_. There doth the ewe bear twins, and there the goats; there the bees fill the hives, and there oaks grow loftier than common, wheresoever beautiful Milon’s feet walk wandering; ah, if he depart, then withered and lean is the shepherd, and lean the pastures _Daphnis_. Everywhere is spring, and pastures everywhere, and everywhere the cows’ udders are swollen with milk, and the younglings are fostered, wheresoever fair Nais roams; ah, if she depart, then parched are the kine, and he that feeds them!