Theocritus Part 19

THE MAIDEN.

You are his bondslave, but not I by Pan!

DAPHNIS.

I doubt he'll give thee to a worser man.

THE MAIDEN.

 

Many have wooed me, but I fancied none.

DAPHNIS.

Till among many came the destined _one_.

THE MAIDEN.

Wedlock is woe. Dear lad, what can I do?

DAPHNIS.

Woe it is not, but joy and dancing too.

THE MAIDEN.

Wives dread their husbands: so I've heard it said.

DAPHNIS.

Nay, they rule o'er them. What does woman dread?

THE MAIDEN.

Then children--Eileithya's dart is keen.

DAPHNIS.

But the deliverer, Artemis, is your queen.

THE MAIDEN.

And bearing children all our grace destroys.

DAPHNIS.

Bear them and s.h.i.+ne more l.u.s.trous in your boys.

THE MAIDEN.

Should I say yea, what dower awaits me then?

DAPHNIS.

Thine are my cattle, thine this glade and glen.

THE MAIDEN.

Swear not to wed, then leave me in my woe?

DAPHNIS.

Not I by Pan, though thou should'st bid me go.

THE MAIDEN.

And shall a cot be mine, with farm and fold!

DAPHNIS.

Thy cot's half-built, fair wethers range this wold.

THE MAIDEN.

What, what to my old father must I say?

DAPHNIS.

Soon as he hears my name he'll not say nay.

THE MAIDEN.

Speak it: by e'en a name we're oft beguiled.

DAPHNIS.

I'm Daphnis, Lycid's and Nomaea's child.

THE MAIDEN.

Well-born indeed: and not less so am I.

DAPHNIS.

I know--Menalcas' daughter may look high.

THE MAIDEN.

That grove, where stands your sheepfold, shew me please.

DAPHNIS.

Nay look, how green, how tall my cypress-trees.

THE MAIDEN.

Graze, goats: I go to learn the herdsman's trade.

DAPHNIS.

Feed, bulls: I shew my copses to my maid.

THE MAIDEN.

Satyr, what mean you? You presume o'ermuch.

DAPHNIS.

This waist is round, and pleasant to the touch.

THE MAIDEN.

By Pan, I'm like to swoon! Unhand me pray!

DAPHNIS.

Why be so timorous? Pretty coward, stay.

THE MAIDEN.

This bank is wet: you've soiled my pretty gown.

DAPHNIS.