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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
Pafcentem.
Georg. B. 3. 466.

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

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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

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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.

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Αιθ' ο Κελαινας πατρις, αρχαία πόλις
Mids
γέροντος, στις ωτ' έχων ον,
Harry" και των φανος ευείδης αγαν.
Ούτος δ' εκείνες παις παραπλάςος νόθος.
Μητρος δ' οποίας η τέκες επιςαται.
Εσθεί μεν άρτων τρεις ενός κανθελιάς,
Τρις της βράχειας ημερας TIVELO aua,
Καλων μέτρησαν τον δεκαμφορον πιθον
Εργάζεται δ' ελαφρά προς τα σιτιά.
Όγκος θερίζει τη μια Ey necega
Λεκανον εμπνήν συντίν εις τέλος
Χ' οταν τις ελθη ξείνος, η παρεξη,
Ozyun t'idwxev eu, XXI EU TEXogτari..
Και τα πετε προτείνει ως αν εν θέρει
Πλέον, φθάνειν γαρ ώκνει τοις θαναμένοις
Επει δ' αγων έδειξε Μαιανδρι εοαις
Χαρτευμάτων αρδευτα δαψίλει ποτῳ
Τον ανδρόμηση πυρον ηκονημένη
Αρπη θερίζει, τον ξένον δε δραγματι
Αυτή κυλίσας, κρατος ορφανον φέρει.
Γέλων φέρισαν ως αναν ήρισισεν.
Lytierfes

Celana, city fam'd in former years,
Where Midas reign'd, renown'd for affes ears:
Whole baftard fon, that like a monfter fed,
Daily devour'd three affes loads of bread;

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.

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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 ;
No medicine, deareft Nicias, but the mufe;
This plain prescription gratifies the mind

With fweet complacence-but how hard to
find!

This well you know, who firft in phyfic shine,
And are the lov'd familiar of the nine.

Thus the fam'd Cyclops, Polypheme, when
young,

Calm'd his fond paffion with the power of fong;

10

When blooming years imbib'd the soft defire,
And Galatea kindled amorous fire:
He gave no wreaths of roses to the fair,
Nor apples, nor fweet parfley for her hair:
Love did the tenor of his mind controul,
And took the whole poffeffion of his foul.
His flocks untended oft refus'd to feed,
And, for the fold, forfook the graffy mead;
While on the fedgy fhore he lay reclin'd,
And footh'd with fong the anguish of his mind.
From morn to night he pin'd; for love's keen dart
Had pierc'd the deep receffes of his heart :
Yet, yet a cure he found-for on a steep,
Rough-pointed rock, that overlock'd the deep,
And with brown horror high impending hung,
The giant monster fat, and thus he fung:

“Fair nymph, why will you thus my paffion flight!

Softer than lambs you feem, than curds more white,
Wanton as calves before the udder'd'kine,
Harsh as the unripe fruitage of the vine.
You come when pleafing fleep has clos'd mine eye,
And like a vifion with my flumbers fly, 30
Swift as before the wolf the lambkin bounds,
Panting and trembling, o'er the furrow'd grounds.
Then first I lov'd, and thence I date my flame,
When here to gather hyacinths you came :
My mother brought you-'twas a fatal day;
And I, alas! unwary led the way:

40

70

There round my trees the fable ivy twines,
And grapes as fweet as honey loads my vines; 60
From grove-crown'd Ætna, rob'd in purest fnow,
Cool fprings roll nectar to the swains below.
Say, who would quit fuch peaceful scenes as thefe
For bluftering billows and tempeftuous feas?
Though my rough form's no object of defire,
My oaks fupply me with abundant fire;
My hearth uncealing blazes-though I fwear
By this one eye, to me for ever dear,
Well might that fire to warm my breaft fuffice,
That kindled at the lightning of your eyes.
Had I, like fish, with fins and gills been made,
Then might I in your element have play'd,
With ease have div'd beneath your azure tide,
And kifs'd your hand though you your lips deny'd?
Brought lilies fair, or poppies red that grow
In funimer's folftice or in winter's fnow;
Thefe flowers I could not both together bear
That bloom'd in different feafons of the year.
Well, I'm refolv'd, fair nymph, I'll learn to dive,
If e'er a failor at this post arrive,
8
Then fhall I furely by experience know
What pleasures charm you in the depths below.
Emerge, O Galatea! from the fea,

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And here forget your native home like me.
O would you feed my flock and milk my ewes,
And e'er you prefs my cheese the runnet fharp in
fufe!-

9

My mother is my only foe I fear;
She never whispers foft things in your ear,
Although fhe knows my grief, and every day
Sees how I languifh, pine, and waste away.
I, to alarm her, will aloud complain,
And more diforders than I fuffer feign,
Say my head aches, fharp pains my limbs opprel
That the may feel and pity my diftrefs.
Ah Cyclops, Cyclops, where's your reafon fled!-
If with the leafy fpray your lambs you fed,
Or ev'n wove baskets, you would feem more wif
Milk the first cow, purfue not her that flies:
You'll foon, fince Galatea proves unkind,
50 A fweeter, fairer Galatea find.

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E'er fince my tortur'd mind has known no reft;
Peace is become a ftranger to my breast:
Yet you nor pity, nor relieve my pain-
Yes, yes, I know the caufe of your difdain;
For, ftretch'd from ear to ear with fhagged grace,
My fingle brow adds horror to my face:
My fingle eye enormous lids enclofe,
And o'er my blubber'd lips projects my nofe.
Yet homely as I am, large flocks I keep,
And drain the udders of a thousand sheep;
My pails with milk, my fhelves with cheese they
In fummer fcorching, and in winter chill.
The vocal pipe I tune with pleafing glee,
No other Cyclops can compare with me:
Your charnis I fing, fweet apple of delight!
Myfelf and you 1 fing the live long night.
For you ten fawns, with collars deck'd I feed,
And four young bears for your diverfion breed:
Come, live with me; all these you may command,
And change your azure ocean for the land:
More pleafing flumbers will my cave bestow,
There fpiry cyprefs and green laurels grow ;

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.

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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,
Sung to the fea nymph to compose his mind,

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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,

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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.

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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.

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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,
As plums by fweeter apples are furpast ;
As in the woolly fleece the tender lambs
Produce not half the tribute of their dams;
As blooming maidens raise more pleafing flames
Than dull, indifferent, thrice married dames;
As fawns outleap young calves, as Philomel
Does all her rivals in the grove excel;
So me your prefence cheers; eager I run,
As fwains feek umbrage from the burning fun.

O may we still to nobler love afpire,
And every day improve the concord higher!
So fhall we reap renown from loving well,
And future poets thus our ftory tell!

10

Two youths late liv'd in friendship's chain com

bin'd,

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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:
For at his tomb each fpring the boys conteft
In amorous battles who fucceeds the beft;
And he who mafter of the field is found,
Returns with honorary garlands crown'd.
Bleft who decides the merits of the day!
Bleft, next to him, who bears the prize away!
Sure he must make to Ganymede his vow,
That he fweet lips of magic would bestow,
With fuch refiftlefs charms and virtues fraught,
As that fam'd ftone from Lydia's confines brought,
By whose bare touch an artist can explore
The bafer metal from the purer ore.

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