§2.1Formosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim, §2.2delicias domini, nec quid speraret habebat; §2.3tantum inter densas, umbrosa cacumina, fagos §2.4adsidue veniebat.
The shepherd Corydon burned for the beautiful Alexis, the darling of his master, nor had he anything to hope for; only among the thick beeches, with their shady tops, did he continually come.
Ibi haec incondita solus §2.5montibus et silvis studio iactabat inani: §2.6O crudelis Alexi, nihil mea carmina curas?
There, alone, these unpolished songs he used to fling to the mountains and the woods with bootless passion: "O cruel Alexis, do you care nothing for my songs?
§2.7Nil nostri miserere? Mori me denique coges.
Have you no pity on me? In the end you will compel me to die.
§2.8nunc etiam pecudes umbras et frigora captant; §2.9nunc viridis etiam occultant spineta lacertos, §2.10Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus aestu §2.11alia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentis.
Now even the cattle court the shade and the cool; now even the green lizards hide in the brambles, and Thestylis for the reapers weary with the fierce heat bruises garlic and wild thyme, strong-smelling herbs.
But with me, while I trace your footsteps, under the burning sun the copses resound with hoarse cicadas.
§2.14Nonne fuit satius tristis Amaryllidis iras §2.15atque superba pati fastidia, nonne Menalcan, §2.16quam vis ille niger, quamvis tu candidus esses?
Was it not better to endure the sad rages of Amaryllis and her proud disdain, was it not better to bear Menalcas, though he was dark, and though you were fair?
§2.17o formose puer, nimium ne crede colori!
O beautiful boy, trust not too much to your color!
§2.18alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.
White privets fall, dark hyacinths are gathered.
§2.19Despectus tibi sum, nec qui sim quaeris, Alexi, §2.20quam dives pecoris, nivei quam lactis abundans.
I am despised by you, nor do you ask who I am, Alexis, how rich in flocks, how abounding in snowy milk.
§2.21mille meae Siculis errant in montibus agnae; §2.22lac mihi non aestate novum, non frigore defit; §2.23canto quae solitus, si quando armenta vocabat, §2.24Amphion Dircaeus in Actaeo Aracimtho.
A thousand lambs of mine wander on the Sicilian mountains; new milk fails me not in summer nor in the cold of winter; I sing what Dircaean Amphion was wont to sing on Actaean Aracynthus when he called his herds.
§2.25Nec sum adeo informis: nuper me in litore vidi, §2.26cum placidum ventis staret mare; non ego Daphnim §2.27iudice te metuam, si numquam fallit imago.
Nor am I so unsightly: lately I saw myself on the shore, when the sea stood calm with no winds; I should not fear Daphnis, with you as judge, if my image never deceives.
§2.28O tantum libeat mecum tibi sordida rura §2.29atque humilis habitare casas, et figere cervos, §2.30haedorumque gregem viridi compellere hibisco!
O that it might only please you to dwell with me in the low country and humble cots, and to shoot the stags, and to drive a flock of kids with a green mallow!
§2.31Mecum una in silvis imitabere Pana canendo.
With me together in the woods you shall imitate Pan in singing.
Pan first taught how to join several reeds with wax; Pan cares for sheep and the masters of sheep.
§2.34Nec te paeniteat calamo trivisse labellum: §2.35haec eadem ut sciret, quid non faciebat Amyntas?
Nor let it repent you to have worn your lip with the reed: what did Amyntas not do to learn these same things?
§2.36est mihi disparibus septem compacta cicutis §2.37fistula, Damoetas dono mihi quam dedit olim, §2.38et dixit moriens: “Te nunc habet ista secundum. ” §2.39dixit Damoetas, invidit stultus Amyntas.
I have a pipe of seven unequal hemlock-stalks compact together, which Damoetas once gave me as a gift, and dying said: 'Now that pipe has you as its second master.' So Damoetas spoke, foolish Amyntas envied.
§2.40Praeterea duo, nec tuta mihi valle reperti, §2.41capreoli, sparsis etiam nunc pellibus albo, §2.42bina die siccant ovis ubera; quos tibi servo: §2.43iam pridem a me illos abducere Thestylis orat; §2.44et faciet, quoniam sordent tibi munera nostra.
Besides, I have two young roes, found by me in no safe valley, with their skins even now dappled with white, which drain a sheep's udders twice a day; these I keep for you: long ago Thestylis has been begging to take them away from me; and she shall do so, since our gifts are mean in your eyes.
§2.45Huc ades, O formose puer: tibi lilia plenis §2.46ecce ferunt Nymphae calathis; tibi candida Nais, §2.47pallentis violas et summa papavera carpens, §2.48narcissum et florem iungit bene olentis anethi; §2.49tum casia atque aliis intexens suavibus herbis, §2.50mollia luteola pingit vaccinia calta.
Come hither, O beautiful boy: behold, the Nymphs bring lilies to you in full baskets; for you the fair Naiad, plucking pale violets and the tops of poppies, joins the narcissus and the flower of sweet-smelling dill; then weaving them with cassia and other sweet herbs, she paints the soft hyacinths with yellow marigold.
§2.51Ipse ego cana legam tenera lanugine mala, §2.52castaneasque nuces, mea quas Amaryllis amabat; §2.53addam cerea pruna: honos erit huic quoque pomo; §2.54et vos, O lauri, carpam, et te, proxima myrte, §2.55sic positae quoniam suavis miscetis odores.
I myself will gather pale quinces with tender down, and chestnuts, which my Amaryllis loved; I will add waxen plums: honor shall be to this fruit also; and you, O laurels, I will pluck, and you, neighboring myrtle, since thus placed you mingle sweet odors.
You are a rustic, Corydon: Alexis cares not for gifts, nor, if you should contend with gifts, would Iollas yield.
§2.58Heu, heu, quid volui misero mihi! Floribus austrum
Alas, alas, what have I wished for myself in my misery!
§2.59perditus et liquidis inmisi fontibus apros.
On my flowers I have let loose the south wind, and wild boars on my clear springs.
§2.60Quem fugis, ah, demens? Habitarunt di quoque silvas,
Whom do you flee, ah, madman?
§2.61Dardaniusque Paris.
Even gods have dwelt in the woods, and Dardanian Paris.
Pallas, quas condidit arces, §2.62ipsa colat; nobis placeant ante omnia silvae.
Let Pallas dwell in the citadels she herself has built; but let the woods please us above all things.
§2.63Torva leaena lupum sequitur; lupus ipse capellam; §2.64florentem cytisum sequitur lasciva capella; §2.65te Corydon, o Alexi: trahit sua quemque voluptas.
The grim lioness pursues the wolf; the wolf himself the she-goat; the wanton she-goat pursues the flowering clover; Corydon pursues you, O Alexis: his own pleasure draws each.
§2.66Aspice, aratra iugo referunt suspensa iuvenci, §2.67et sol crescentis decedens duplicat umbras: §2.68me tamen urit amor; quis enim modus adsit amori?
See, the young bulls bring back the plows suspended from the yoke, and the departing sun doubles the growing shadows: yet love burns me; for what limit can there be to love?
§2.69Ah, Corydon, Corydon, quae te dementia cepit!
Ah, Corydon, Corydon, what madness has seized you!
§2.70Semiputata tibi frondosa vitis in ulmo est; §2.71quin tu aliquid saltem potius, quorum indiget usus, §2.72viminibus mollique paras detexere iunco?
Your leafy vine is half-pruned on the elm; why do you not rather prepare to weave at least something of what utility requires, with twigs and soft rushes?
§2.73Invenies alium, si te hic fastidit, Alexim.
You will find another Alexis, if this one disdains you."