IDYL V.

COMATAS AND LACON.

ARGUMENT.

A goatherd and a shepherd, both hirelings, assail each other with

vile reproaches. They challenge one another to sing for a wager; and a wood-gatherer is called to decide between them. Comatas obtains the prize.

IDYL V.

COMATAS AND LACON.

COMATAS.

LACON my goat-skin filched; by timely flight Avoid, my goats! the thievish Sybarite.

LACON.

Lambs from the fountain, do you not perceive Comatas, who my pipe did lately thieve?

COMATAS.

What sort of pipe? when, slave of Sybaris!
Didst own a pipe? are you not fain to hiss
Still through a pipe of straw with Corydon?

LACON.

'Twas Lycon's gift, good freeman! worthy one!

From you! when and what sort of skin stole I?

Your master has not one whereon to lie.

COMATAS.

The gift of Crocylus, when late he gave
The Nymphs a goat in sacrifice : you, slave!
Did steal my spotted skin from envy sheer.

LACON.

No! no! by the shore-guarding Pan I swear

Or from that rock into the waters deep

Of rapid Crathis may I madly leap!

COMATAS.

Nor, by the Nymphs, the guardians of the lake,

Did ever I the pipe of Lacon take

So may the Nymphs look kindly to my weal.

LACON.

If I believe you, be it mine to feel

The griefs of Daphnis! will you stake a kid (It is none enterprise to men forbid),

And I'll out-sing you, till you cry "enough !"

COMATAS.

Athene challenged by a sow of scruff!

Here is my kid, which, when you beat me, take; A lamb, fat from the pasture, be your stake.

LACON.

How is this fair? in this you are no fool;
Who ever thought of shearing hair for wool,
Or passed a goat to milk a sorry bitch?

COMATAS.

Who has for conquest a prevailing itch,
Like you conceited, is a wasp that rings
His buzzing horn when the cicada sings.
But since my kid seems insufficient stake,
Behold this ram! at once the song awake.

LACON.

Softly! you are not walking over fire:

Here you may sing whate'er your muse inspire
More sweetly in this grove, beneath the shade
Of the wild olive; here a couch is laid
Of softest herbage; locusts babble here;
Cool water flows a little onward there.