Pouting and muttering proudly looked askaunt, She left me then but angry feelings glow Am I not handsome, shepherds? tell me truly; Or has some god transformed my person newly? For as lush ivy clips the stem o' the tree, The bloom of beauty lately covered me. My curls, like parsley, round my temples clung; But ah! my city-madam never kist me; Didst thou not, Rhea, for a cowherd weep? And didst thou not, high Zeus! the heaven sweep, In form of winged bird, and watch indeed To carry off the cowherd Ganymede ? Only Eunica (daintier she must be Than were Selena, Cypris, Cybele,) Won't kiss a cowherd. May'st thou ne'er uncover In town or country; but, vain poppet! ever T IDYL XXI. THE FISHERMEN. ARGUMENT. This Idyl represents the conversation of two fishermen. The poet makes, by way of preface, some observations on poverty. He describes the fishermen's hut. One of them requests the other to interpret a dream for him. He dreamed that he had caught a golden fish, and that he had vowed he would no longer pursue the business of a fisherman. His golden vision has vanished, but he has a superstitious fear of breaking his oath. His companion exhorts him not to think himself bound by an oath, which was no more real than the golden vision that occasioned it. This is the only piscatory eclogue remaining from antiquity. |