5
MENALCAS
sing thee a song, and to the stars uplift
thy Daphnis—Daphnis to the stars extol,
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for me too Daphnis loved.
what dearer could I deem? the boy himself
was worthy to be sung, and many a time
hath Stimichon to me your singing praised.
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MENALCAS
“In dazzling sheen with unaccustomed eyes
daphnis stands rapt before Olympus' gate,
and sees beneath his feet the clouds and stars.
Wherefore the woods and fields, Pan, shepherd-folk,
and Dryad-maidens, thrill with eager joy;
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nor wolf with treacherous wile assails the flock,
nor nets the stag: kind Daphnis loveth peace.
The unshorn mountains to the stars up-toss
voices of gladness; ay, the very rocks,
the very thickets, shout and sing, ‘A god,
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a god is he, Menalcas’ Be thou kind,
propitious to thine own. Lo! altars four,
twain to thee, Daphnis, and to Phoebus twain
