This Idyllium, as Dr. Martyn obferves, being a dialogue between two reapers, is generally exIcluded by the critics from the number of the paftorals: and yet, perhaps, if we confider that a herdsman may very naturally defcribe a converfation between two of his country neighbours, who entertain each other with a rural fong, we may foften a little the feverity of our critical temper, and allow even this to be called a pastoral. Ver. 4. Virgil, fpeaking of a fickening fheep, Lays, you will fee it. Extremaque fequi, aut medio procumbere campo Ver. 12. Ut canis a corio nunquam abfterrebitur uncto. Horace, B. 2. Sat. 5. Ver. 14. The original is, Ex w art.15 dnλo εγω εχω εδ' αλις εξε;, intead of δελον, Hoelzinus (See his notes on Apollonius, B. 3. ver. 902.) reads anλov, and then the interpretation will be, "You drink red wine out of a hogfhead; but ! have fcarcely vinegar enough." Ver. 18. This line occurs Idyllium 6. 54. Ver. 20. Heinfius obferves, that the grafhopper, here called paris, is the fame that was called yraus: oipios ygaus was a proverbial expreffion, and equal to anus quæ in virginitate confenuit: metaplora fumpta eft a fylveftri locuftâ, quam vocant yquvv στριφὴν καὶ Suid. μαντιν. Milo therefore humour Ver. 46. Thus in Solomon's Song, Ch. vii. 1. we read, "How beautiful are thy feet with fhoes!" On which Mr. Percy obferves, " Or more exactly, within thy fandals." The Hebrew women were remarkably nice in adorning their fandals, and in having them fit neatly, fo as to difplay the fine fhape of the foot: Vid. Clerici. Comment. Judith's fandals are mentioned along with the bracelets and other ornaments of jewels, with which the set off her beauty when she went to captivate the heart of Holofernes, chap. x. 4. And it is exprefsly faid, that " her fandals ravish'd his eyes," chap. xvi. 9. Ver. 51. A long beard was looked on as a mark of wifdom: fee Hor Sat. 3. B. 2. ver. 35. "Sapientem pafcere barbam.” Ver. 52. Lytierfes was a bastard fon of Midas, king of Phrygia; the poets tell us, that in a trial of fkill in mufic between Apollo and Pan, Midas gave fentence in favour of the latter, whereupon Apollo clapt a pair of affes ears on his head. On the other hand, Conon, in his first narration (apud Phot. Biblioth.) tells us. that Midas had a great many fpies difperfed up and down the country, by whofe information he knew whatever his fubjects did or faid; thus he reigned in peace and tranquillity to a great age, none daring to confpire against him. His knowing by this means whatever his fubjects spoke of him, occafioned the saying, that Midas had "long ears; and as affes are faid to be endowed with the fenfe of hearing to a degree of perfection above other animals, he was alfo faid to have affes ears; thus what was at first fpoken in a metaphorical fenfe, afterwards ran current in the world for truth. As to Lytierfes, he reigned, after Midas, at Celænæ, the chief city of Phrygia, and is described as a ruftic, unfociable and inhuman tyrant: of an infatiable appetite, devouring, in one day, three large baskets of bread, and drinking ten gallons of wine. He took great pleafure in agriculture; but, as acts of cruelty, were his chief delight, he ufed to oblige fuch as happened to pass by while he was reaping, to join heads, he bound up their bodies in the fheaves. with him in the work; and then, cutting off their For thefe, and fuch like cruelties, he was put to death by Hercules, and his body thrown into the Meander: however, his memory was cherished by the reapers of Phrygia, and an hymn, from him called Lytierfes, fung in harvest time, in honour of their fellow labourer. See Univ. Hift. vol. 4. 8vo. page 459. This anecdote is taken from one of the tragedies of Socibius, an ancient Syracufan poet, who, ac. cording to Voffius, flourished in the 366th Olym | pad. As this passage is fcarce, I fhall take the A large wine cafk, which once a day he drain'd, iberty to lay it before the learned reader, exactly He call'd two gallons, though it ten contain'd. # the illuftrious Cafaubon has corrected and Daily he labour'd in the corn-clad ground, amended it, together with a tranflation: the two Reap'd ten whole acres, and in bundles bound. veries between comma's, are supposed to be spoken | If chance a stranger in his fields he spy'd, by a different person of the drama, and therefore Abundant wine and viands he supply'd, omitted in the tranflationLargely to drink, and fumptuously to feed, Nor envied he the wretch he doom'd to bleed. He points to meadows, arrogant and vain, Of richest pasture, fields of golden grain, Where through irriguous vales Maander winds; Then lops his head, and in the sheaves he binds The trembling carcafe, and with horrid jest Laughs at the rashness of his murder'd guest. Αιθ' ο Κελαινας πατρις, αρχαία πόλις Celana, city fam'd in former years, A chefe tranflation would be," three affes of bread," that is, the burden which three affes carry; agreeable to that paffage in Samuel, ch. xvi. ver. 10. " Jeffe took an aft laden with bread;" the Hebrenu is, "be Bock an af of bread.” See Poole's Synopfis. IDYLLIUM XI. CYCLOPS. THE ARGUMENT. Tuis is the laft of thofe Idylliums that are generally allowed to be true paftorals, and is very beautiful. The poet addreffes himself to Nicas, a physician of Miletus, and obferves, there is no cure for love but the Mufes he then gives an account of Polyphemus's paffion for Galatea, a fea-nymph, the daughter of Nereus and Doris: he defcribes him fitting upon a rock that overlooked the ocean, and foothing his paffion with the charms of poetry. No remedy the power of love fubdues ; With fweet complacence-but how hard to This well you know, who firft in phyfic shine, Thus the fam'd Cyclops, Polypheme, when Calm'd his fond paffion with the power of fong; 10 When blooming years imbib'd the soft defire, “Fair nymph, why will you thus my paffion flight! Softer than lambs you feem, than curds more white, 40 70 There round my trees the fable ivy twines, And here forget your native home like me. 9 My mother is my only foe I fear; [fill, E'er fince my tortur'd mind has known no reft; Me gamefome girls to fport and toy invite, And meet my kind compliance with delight: Sure I may draw this fair conclufion hence, Here I'm a man of no fmail confequence. I Thus Cyclops learn'd love's torment to endu And calm'd that paffion which he could not cur More fweetly far with fong he footh'd his hear Than if his gold had brib'd the doctor's art. red, and not extravagantly profufe in their prefects to their maitreffes, were faid, spev μthos, xad gebke, to love with apples and rofes; or, as others alhem, pikus zales, with apples and garlands, with were generally compofed of roles and parfley. See Idyllium 3. ver. 35. Vere rofe-buds mingled with the ivy wreath, And fragrant parley iweeteft odours breath. Ver. 21. Blon imitates this paffage, fee his 7th Idyl. ver. 3. Such as the Cyclops, on a rock reclin'd, Ver. 53. The Greek is na vows Пaas auroOogos, eleven young hinds, and all of them pregnant; which, certainly, as Cafaubon obferves, cannot be probable, viz. that young hinds fhould be pregnant there is an old Roman edition of Theo A id fent it in the whifpers of the wind. F. F.Scritus, which elucidates this paffage, for it reads, Tuous panes. all bearing collars: and nothing is more manifeft, than that the ancients, as well as moderns, were foud of ornamenting thofe animals which they brought up tame with fuch fort of appendages. Ver. 54. Ovid imitates Theocritus, Inveni geminos, qui tecum ludere poffunt, Villofe catulos in fummis montibus urfa. Met. 13.831. TRANS. II. H When maids are coy, have manlier arts in view; Leave those that fly, but those that like pursue. Garth. Ver. 100. Invenies alium, fi te hic faftidit, Alexim. Ecl. 2. 73. Theocritus here greatly excels his imitator; for to wave the fuperiority he holds in his application to one of the fair fex, there feems to be great confolation Implied in the affurance that he fall find ίσως και καλλιον καλλαν, " perhaps a fairer mistress;" in Virgil is implied desperation, fi et bic faftidit. IDYLLIUM XII. AITES. THE ARGUMENT. This piece is in the Ionic dialect, and fuppofed not to have been written by Theocritus. The word Aites is variously interpreted, being taken for a perfon beloved, a companion, a man of probity, a cobabitant, and fellow-citizen: fee the argument. The amorofo addreffes his friend, and withes an union of their fouls, a perpetual friendship, and that, after death, posterity may celebrate the affection and harmony that fubfifted between them. He then praifes the Megarenfians for the divine honours they paid to Diucles, who loft his life in the defence of his friend. SAY, are you come? but first three days are told: Dear friend, true lovers in one day grow old. As vernal gales exceed the wint'ry blast, O may we still to nobler love afpire, 10 Two youths late liv'd in friendship's chain com bin'd, [part, Your friendship and your love by every tongue Are prais'd and honour'd--- chiefly by the young.' But this I leave to Jove's all-ruling care; If right he'll grant, if wrong reject my prayer. 30 Meantime my fong fhall celebrate your praife, Nor fhall the honest truth a blifter raife: And though keen farcafms your sharp words imI find them not the language of your heart; You give me pleasure double to my pain, And thus my lofs is recompens'd with gain. Ye Megarenfians, fam'd for well tim'd oars, May blifs attend you ftill on Attic shores! To ftrangers kind, your deeds themfelves com mend, 40 To Diocles the lover and the friend: |