§3.1Dic mihi, Damoeta, cuium pecus, an Meliboei?
"Tell me, Damoetas, whose flock is this?
Meliboeus's?" "No, but Aegon's; Aegon recently entrusted it to me." "O ever unhappy sheep, a luckless flock!
§3.4dum fovet, ac ne me sibi praeferat illa veretur, §3.5hic alienus ovis custos bis mulget in hora, §3.6et sucus pecori et lac subducitur agnis. §3.7Parcius ista viris tamen obicienda memento: §3.8novimus et qui te, transversa tuentibus hircis, §3.9et quo—sed faciles Nymphae risere—sacello. §3.10Tum, credo, cum me arbustum videre Miconis §3.11atque mala vitis incidere falce novellas. §3.12Aut hic ad veteres fagos cum Daphnidis arcum §3.13fregisti et calamos quae tu, perverse Menalca, §3.14et cum vidisti puero donata, dolebas, §3.15et si non aliqua nocuisses, mortuus esses. §3.16Quid domini faciant, audent cum talia fures!
While he himself fondles Neaera, and fears lest she prefer me to himself, this hireling shepherd milks the sheep twice an hour, and vigor is stolen from the flock, and milk from the lambs." "Yet remember that such reproaches should be cast at men more sparingly; we know both who did it to you, while the he-goats looked askance, and in what shrine—though the gentle Nymphs smiled." "It was then, I suppose, when they saw me hack Micon's grove and his young vines with a mischievous sickle." "Or here by the old beeches, when you broke Daphnis's bow and shafts, which you, perverse Menalcas, grieved to see given to the boy, and if you had not harmed him in some way, you would have died." "What can masters do, when thieves dare such things!
Did I not see you, worst of men, catching Damon's goat by stealth, while Lycisca barked loudly?
§3.19et cum clamarem: “Quo nunc se proripit ille?
And when I cried out: 'Where is that fellow rushing off to now?
§3.20Tityre, coge pecus,” tu post carecta latebas. §3.21An mihi cantando victus non redderet ille §3.22quem mea carminibus meruisset fistula caprum?
Tityrus, gather the flock,' you hid behind the sedge." "Should he not, when beaten in singing, return to me the goat which my pipe had won by its songs?
If you do not know, that goat was mine; and Damon himself confessed it to me, but said he was unable to deliver it." "You beat him in singing?
§3.25Cantando tu illum, aut umquam tibi fistula cera
Or did you ever have a pipe joined with wax?
§3.26iuncta fuit? Non tu in triviis, indocte, solebas §3.27stridenti miserum stipula disperdere carmen?
Did you not, you unlearned wretch, use to murder a wretched tune on a screeching straw in the crossroads?" "Do you wish, then, that we try between us in turn what each can do?
§3.28Vis ergo inter nos quid possit uterque vicissim §3.29experiamur? Ego hanc vitulam—ne forte recuses, §3.30bis venit ad mulctram, binos alit ubere fetus— §3.31depono: tu dic, mecum quo pignore certes.
I stake this young heifer—lest you perchance refuse, she comes twice to the milking pail, and feeds two calves from her udder— speak up, with what pledge you will contend with me." "From the flock I would not dare to stake anything with you, for I have a father at home, and a harsh stepmother; and twice a day both count the flock, and one of them the kids too.
§3.32De grege non ausim quicquam deponere tecum. §3.33Est mihi namque domi pater, est iniusta noverca; §3.34bisque die numerant ambo pecus, alter et haedos. §3.35Verum, id quod multo tute ipse fatebere maius, §3.36insanire libet quoniam tibi, pocula ponam §3.37fagina, caelatum divini opus Alcimedontis; §3.38lenta quibus torno facili superaddita vitis §3.39diffusos hedera vestit pallente corymbos: §3.40in medio duo signa, Conon, et—quis fuit alter, §3.41descripsit radio totum qui gentibus orbem, §3.42tempora quae messor, quae curvus arator haberet?
But—what you yourself will confess to be of far greater value, since you choose to be mad—I will stake beechen cups, the carved work of divine Alcimedon; upon which a flexible vine, superimposed by the easy lathe, clothes the clusters scattered with pale ivy: in the middle are two figures, Conon, and—who was the other, who with his rod mapped out the whole heavens for the nations, what seasons the reaper, and what the curved plowman should observe?
§3.43Necdum illis labra admovi, sed condita servo. §3.44Et nobis idem Alcimedon duo pocula fecit, §3.45et molli circum est ansas amplexus acantho, §3.46Orpheaque in medio posuit silvasque sequentis.
I have not yet applied my lips to them, but keep them laid up." "And for me the same Alcimedon made two cups, and clasped the handles round with soft acanthus, and in the middle placed Orpheus and the woods following him.
§3.47Necdum illis labra admovi, sed condita servo: §3.48si ad vitulam spectas, nihil est quod pocula laudes. §3.49Nunquam hodie effugies;
I too have not yet applied my lips to them, but keep them laid up; if you look to the heifer, there is no reason why you should praise the cups." "You shall never escape today; I will come wherever I am called.
veniam, quocumque vocari §3.50audiat haec tantum—vel qui venit ecce Palaemon §3.51efficiam posthac ne quemquam voce lacessas. §3.52Quin age, si quid habes, in me mora non erit ulla, §3.53nec quemquam fugio: tantum, vicine Palaemon, §3.54sensibus haec imis, res est non parva, reponas. §3.55Dicite, quandoquidem in molli consedimus herba: §3.56et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbos,
Only let whoever hears this—look, even Palaemon who is coming— I will make sure that hereafter you do not challenge anyone with your voice." "Come on then, if you have anything, there shall be no delay on my part, nor do I flee from anyone; only, neighbor Palaemon, lay this up in your deepest thoughts, for it is no small matter." "Speak, since we have sat down on the soft grass; and now every field, now every tree is bringing forth,"