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Theocritus · Idylls §1.1-1.75

Dialogue of the Goatherd and Thyrsis and the Carved Cup

Passage 1 of 44 · Greek

Summary

A goatherd and Thyrsis praise each other's music, and the goatherd offers an elaborately carved wooden cup as a prize for Thyrsis to sing the myth of Daphnis, which Thyrsis then begins.

§1.1Ἁδύ τι τὸ ψιθύρισμα καὶ ἁ πίτυς αἰπόλε τήνα, §1.2ἃ ποτὶ ταῖς παγαῖσι μελίσδεται, ἁδὺ δὲ καὶ τὺ §1.3συρίσδες· μετὰ Πᾶνα τὸ δεύτερον ἆθλον ἀποισῇ.
Sweet is the whispering of that pine, goatherd, that rustles by the springs, and sweet also is your piping; after Pan, you shall win the second prize.
§1.4αἴκα τῆνος ἕλῃ κεραὸν τράγον, αἶγα τὺ λαψῇ. §1.5αἴκα δʼ αἶγα λάβῃ τῆνος γέρας, ἐς τὲ καταρρεῖ §1.6ἁ χίμαρος· χιμάρῳ δὲ καλὸν κρέας, ἕστέ κʼ ἀμέλξῃς.
If he takes the horned goat, you shall have the she-goat; and if he takes the she-goat as his prize, to you shall fall the kid; and the flesh of a kid is sweet until you milk her.
§1.7Ἅδιον ὦ ποιμὴν τὸ τεὸν μέλος ἢ τὸ καταχὲς §1.8τῆνʼ ἀπὸ τᾶς πέτρας καταλείβεται ὑψόθεν ὕδωρ.
Sweeter, shepherd, is your song than the resounding water that pours down from high up the rock.
§1.9αἴκα ταὶ Μοῖσαι τὰν οἰίδα δῶρον ἄγωνται, §1.10ἄρνα τὺ σακίταν λαψῇ γέρας· αἰ δέ κʼ ἀρέσκῃ §1.11τήναις ἄρνα λαβεῖν, τὺ δὲ τὰν ὄιν ὕστερον ἀξῇ.
If the Muses take the sheep as their gift, you shall receive the stall-fed lamb as your prize; and if it pleases them to take the lamb, you shall carry off the sheep afterward.
§1.12λῇς ποτὶ τᾶν Νυμφᾶν, λῇς αἰπόλε τεῖδε καθίξας, §1.13ὡς τὸ κάταντες τοῦτο γεώλοφον αἵ τε μυρῖκαι, §1.14συρίσδεν;
Will you, by the Nymphs, will you, goatherd, sit down here, where this sloping hillock is and the tamarisks, and pipe?
τὰς δʼ αἶγας ἐγὼν ἐν τῷδε νομευσῶ.
And your goats I will tend meanwhile.
§1.15οὐ θέμις ὦ ποιμὴν τὸ μεσαμβρινόν, οὐ θέμις ἄμμιν §1.16συρίσδεν.
It is not allowed, shepherd, at noon—it is not allowed for us to pipe.
τὸν Πᾶνα δεδοίκαμες· ἦ γὰρ ἀπʼ ἄγρας §1.17τανίκα κεκμακὼς ἀμπαύεται· ἔστι δὲ πικρός, §1.18καί οἱ ἀεὶ δριμεῖα χολὰ ποτὶ ῥινὶ κάθηται.
We fear Pan; for indeed from the chase he rests then, weary; and he is quick-tempered, and bitter anger always sits upon his nostril.
§1.19ἀλλὰ τὺ γὰρ δὴ Θύρσι τὰ Δάφνιδος ἄλγεʼ ἀείδες §1.20καὶ τᾶς βουκολικᾶς ἐπὶ τὸ πλέον ἵκεο μοίσας, §1.21δεῦρʼ ὑπὸ τὰν πτελέαν ἑσδώμεθα, τῶ τε Πριήπω §1.22καὶ τᾶν Κραναιᾶν κατεναντίον, ᾇπερ ὁ θῶκος §1.23τῆνος ὁ ποιμενικὸς καὶ ταὶ δρύες.
But indeed, Thyrsis, since you sing the sufferings of Daphnis and have reached the height of pastoral song, come, let us sit down under the elm, opposite Priapus and the spring nymphs, where that shepherd's seat is and the oaks.
αἰ δέ κʼ ἀείσῃς §1.24ὡς ὅκα τὸν Λιβύαθε ποτὶ Χρόμιν ᾆσας ἐρίσδων, §1.25αἶγα δέ τοι δωσῶ διδυματόκον ἐς τρὶς ἀμέλξαι, §1.26ἃ δύʼ ἔχοισʼ ἐρίφως ποταμέλγεται ἐς δύο πέλλας, §1.27καὶ βαθὺ κισσύβιον κεκλυσμένον ἁδέι κηρῷ, §1.28ἀμφῶες, νεοτευχές, ἔτι γλυφάνοιο ποτόσδον.
And if you sing as you once sang when competing against Chromis of Libya, I will give you a goat that has borne twins to milk three times, which, though having two kids, is milked into two pails besides, and a deep ivy-wood cup, washed with sweet wax, two-eared, newly fashioned, still smelling of the carving tool.
§1.29τῶ περὶ μὲν χείλη μαρύεται ὑψόθι κισσός, §1.30κισσὸς ἑλιχρύσῳ κεκονιμένος· ἁ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὸν §1.31καρπῷ ἕλιξ εἱλεῖται ἀγαλλομένα κροκόεντι.
Around its lip winds the ivy above, ivy dusted with helichryse; and along it the tendril twists, rejoicing in its yellow fruit.
§1.32ἔντοσθεν δὲ γυνά, τί θεῶν δαίδαλμα τέτυκται, §1.33ἀσκητὰ πέπλῳ τε καὶ ἄμπυκι.
And inside is fashioned a woman, what a marvel of the gods' workmanship, adorned with a robe and a headband.
πὰρ δέ οἱ ἄνδρες §1.34καλὸν ἐθειράζοντες ἀμοιβαδὶς ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος §1.35νεικείουσʼ ἐπέεσσι.
And beside her, men with beautiful hair, contending in turn, from one side and another, dispute with words.
τὰ δʼ οὐ φρενὸς ἅπτεται αὐτᾶς· §1.36ἀλλʼ ὁκὰ μὲν τῆνον ποτιδέρκεται ἄνδρα γελᾶσα, §1.37ἄλλοκα δʼ αὖ ποτὶ τὸν ῥιπτεῖ νόον.
But these things do not touch her heart; but now she looks at this man, smiling, and now again she casts her thought to the other.
οἱ δʼ ὑπʼ ἔρωτος §1.38δηθὰ κυλοιδιόωντες ἐτώσια μοχθίζοντι.
And they, by love long hollow-eyed, toil in vain.
§1.39τοῖς δὲ μετὰ γριπεύς τε γέρων πέτρα τε τέτυκται §1.40λεπράς, ἐφʼ ᾇ σπεύδων μέγα δίκτυον ἐς βόλον ἕλκει §1.41ὁ πρέσβυς, κάμνοντι τὸ καρτερὸν ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς.
Next to them is fashioned an old fisherman and a rugged rock, on which the old man eagerly drags a great net for a cast, like a man toiling with all his strength.
§1.42φαίης κεν γυίων νιν ὅσον σθένος ἐλλοπιεύειν· §1.43ὧδέ οἱ ᾠδήκαντι κατʼ αὐχένα πάντοθεν ἶνες §1.44καὶ πολιῷ περ ἐόντι, τὸ δὲ σθένος ἄξιον ἅβας.
You would say he was fishing with all the strength of his limbs; so have the sinews swollen all over his neck for him, though he is grey-haired, yet his strength is worthy of youth.
§1.45τυτθὸν δʼ ὅσσον ἄπωθεν ἁλιτρύτοιο γέροντος §1.46πυρναίαις σταφυλαῖσι καλὸν βέβριθεν ἀλωά, §1.47τὰν ὀλίγος τις κῶρος ἐφʼ αἱμασιαῖσι φυλάσσει §1.48ἥμενος· ἀμφὶ δέ νιν δύʼ ἀλώπεκες ἁ μὲν ἀνʼ ὄρχως §1.49φοιτῇ σινομένα τὰν τρώξιμον, ἁ δʼ ἐπὶ πήρᾳ §1.50πάντα δόλον κεύθοισα τὸ παιδίον οὐ πρὶν ἀνησεῖν §1.51φατὶ πρὶν ἢ ἀκράτιστον ἐπὶ ξηροῖσι καθίξῃ.
And a little distance from the sea-worn old man is a vineyard beautifully laden with ruddy grapes, which a little boy guards, sitting on the dry-stone walls; and around him two foxes—one goes along the rows spoiling the vintage, while the other at his wallet plotting all kinds of guile, declares she will not let the child go until she has set him down with a dry breakfast.
§1.52αὐτὰρ ὅγʼ ἀνθερίκοισι καλὰν πλέκει ἀκριδοθήραν §1.53σχοίνῳ ἐφαρμόσδων· μέλεται δέ οἱ οὔτέ τι πήρας §1.54οὔτε φυτῶν τοσσῆνον, ὅσον περὶ πλέγματι γαθεῖ.
But he weaves a pretty locust-cage with stalks of asphodel, fitting them to rushes; and he cares nothing for his wallet nor for his vines so much as he delights in his weaving.
§1.55παντᾷ δʼ ἀμφὶ δέπας περιπέπταται ὑγρὸς ἄκανθος· §1.56αἰολικόν τι θέαμα, τέρας κέ τυ θυμὸν ἀτύξαι.
And all around the cup is spread the pliant acanthus, a wondrous sight, a marvel that would amaze your heart.
§1.57τῶ μὲν ἐγὼ πορθμεῖ Καλυδωνίῳ αἶγά τʼ ἔδωκα §1.58ὦνον καὶ τυρόεντα μέγαν λευκοῖο γάλακτος· §1.59οὐδέ τί πω ποτὶ χεῖλος ἐμὸν θίγεν, ἀλλʼ ἔτι κεῖται §1.60ἄχραντον.
For this I gave to a Calydonian ferryman a goat and a great cheese of white milk as the price; nor has it ever yet touched my lip, but it still lies untouched.
τῷ καί τυ μάλα πρόφρων ἀρεσαίμαν, §1.61αἴκά μοι τὺ φίλος τὸν ἐφίμερον ὕμνον ἀείσῃς.
With this I would very gladly please you, if you, my friend, will sing for me that lovely hymn.
§1.62κοὔτί τυ κερτομέω.
And I do not mock you.
πόταγʼ ὦγαθέ· τὰν γὰρ ἀοιδὰν §1.63οὔτί πᾳ εἰς Ἀίδαν γε τὸν ἐκλελάθοντα φυλαξεῖς.
Come, good friend; for your song you will by no means keep for Hades, which brings forgetfulness to all.
§1.64Ἄρχετε βουκολικᾶς Μοῖσαι φίλαι ἄρχετʼ ἀοιδᾶς.
Begin, sweet Muses, begin the pastoral song.
§1.65Θύρσις ὅδʼ ὡξ Αἴτνας, καὶ Θύρσιδος ἁδέα φωνά.
This is Thyrsis of Etna, and sweet is the voice of Thyrsis.
§1.66πᾷ ποκʼ ἄρʼ ἦσθʼ, ὅκα Δάφνις ἐτάκετο, πᾷ ποκα Νύμφαι;
Where were you, Nymphs, where were you when Daphnis was wasting away?
§1.67ἢ κατὰ Πηνειῶ καλὰ τέμπεα;
Was it in the beautiful glens of Peneus?
ἢ κατὰ Πίνδω;
Or on Pindus?
§1.68οὐ γὰρ δὴ ποταμοῖο μέγαν ῥόον εἴχετʼ Ἀνάπω, §1.69οὐδʼ Αἴτνας σκοπιάν, οὐδʼ Ἄκιδος ἱερὸν ὕδωρ.
For surely you did not hold the great stream of the river Anapus, nor the peak of Etna, nor the sacred water of Acis.
§1.70ἄρχετε βουκολικᾶς Μοῖσαι φίλαι ἄρχετʼ ἀοιδᾶς.
Begin, sweet Muses, begin the pastoral song.
§1.71τῆνον μὰν θῶες, τῆνον λύκοι ὠρύσαντο, §1.72τῆνον χὡκ δρυμοῖο λέων ἔκλαυσε θανόντα.
For him the jackals, for him the wolves howled, for him even the lion from the forest wept when he died.
§1.73ἄρχετε βουκολικᾶς Μοῖσαι φίλαι ἄρχετʼ ἀοιδᾶς.
Begin, sweet Muses, begin the pastoral song.
§1.74πολλαί οἱ πὰρ ποσσὶ βόες, πολλοὶ δέ τε ταῦροι, §1.75πολλαὶ δʼ αὖ δαμάλαι καὶ πόρτιες ὠδύραντο.
Many cows at his feet, and many bulls, and many heifers and calves lamented.

Notes

  1. §1.3μετὰ Πᾶνα — The preposition μετὰ with the accusative (Πᾶνα) means 'after,' indicating rank or order here ('next after Pan').
  2. §1.12λῇς — The Doric form of the verb λῶ ('wish, desire'), equivalent to Attic θέλεις (second-person singular present indicative). It is used here to express a polite request or invitation ('would you please').
  3. §1.19ἀλλὰ τὺ γὰρ δὴ — The particle combination ἀλλὰ... γάρ. The γάρ introduces a preliminary reason ('for you sing...') that justifies the main exhortation to follow in §1.21 ('let us sit down...').
  4. §1.32τί θεῶν δαίδαλμα τέτυκται — A parenthetical exclamatory clause with the pronoun τί, meaning 'what a marvel of the gods it is wrought!', expressing admiration for the beauty of the woman carved on the cup.
  5. §1.50οὐ πρὶν ἀνησεῖν — An infinitive phrase depending on φατί (§1.51) in an accusative-and-infinitive construction. The negative οὐ and the first πρὶν correlate with the subsequent πρὶν ἤ in §1.51, which takes the subjunctive (καθίξῃ), creating a double 'not before...' structure that emphasizes the fox's determination.
  6. §1.63τὰν γὰρ ἀοιδὰν οὔτί πᾳ εἰς Ἀίδαν γε τὸν ἐκλελάθοντα φυλαξεῖς — Meaning 'for you will by no means keep your song for Hades, which brings forgetfulness.' Based on the ancient view that the dead cannot sing or remember, this serves as an exhortation to sing now while alive.

Cite this passage

Theocritus, Idylls §1.1-1.75. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0005.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.1-1.75

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