2–3
and Corydon Alexis, each led on
80
by their own longing. See, the ox comes home
with plough up-tilted, and the shadows grow
to twice their length with the departing sun,
yet me love burns, for who can limit love?
Ah! Corydon, Corydon, what hath crazed your wit?
85
Your vine half-pruned hangs on the leafy elm;
why haste you not to weave what need requires
of pliant rush or osier? Scorned by this,
elsewhere some new Alexis you will find.”
MENALCAS
Who owns the flock, Damoetas? Meliboeus?
DAMOETAS
Nay, they are Aegon's sheep, of late by him
unhappy sheep, unhappy flock! while he
5
still courts Neaera, fearing lest her choice
should fall on me, this hireling shepherd here
wrings hourly twice their udders, from the flock
filching the life-juice, from the lambs their milk.
DAMOETAS
Hold! not so ready with your jeers at men!
10
