The THIRD ECLOGUE:

Or, PA LÆM 0 N.

English'd by Mr. Creech.

Menalcas and Dametas upbraid each other with their faults; by and by they challenge one another, and pipe for a Wager. Palemon coming that way by chance, is chofen Fuage; he hears them pipe, but cannot determine the Controverfie.

TE

MENAL CAS.

ELL me Dametas, tell whose Sheep these are?
DAMETAS.

Agon's, for Egon gave 'em to my care.

MENALE AS.

Whilft he Neara Courts, but courts in vain,
And fears that I fhall prove the happier Swain,
Poor Sheep! whilst he his hopeless Love pursues,
Here twice an hour, his Servant milks his Ewes:
The Flock is drain'd, the Lambkins swigg the Teat
But find no meisture, and then idly bleat.

DAMETAS.

No more of that, Menalcas. I could tell,
And you know what, for I remember well;
I know when, where, and what the Fool defign'd,
And what had happen'd, but the Nymphs were kind.

MEN ALCAS.

'Twas then perhaps, when fome obferv'd the Clown Spoil Mico's Vines, and cut his Olives down.

DAMETAS.

Or rather when, where those old Beeches grow,
You broke young Daphnis's Arrows and his Bows
You saw them given to the lovely Boy,
Ill-natur❜d you, and envy'd at his Joy ;

But hopes of sweet revenge thy Life supply'd,
And hadst thou not done mischief, thou hadst dy’d.
MENAL CAS.

What will not Mafter Shepherds dare to do,
When their bafe Slaves pretend as much as you?
Did not I fee, not I, you pilfering Sot,

When you lay close, and fnapt rich Damon's Goat?
His Spoch-Dog barkt, I cry'd, The Robber, fee,
⚫ Guard well your Flock; you skulkt behind a Tree.
DAMET AS.

I tell thee Shepherd, 'twas before my own,
We two pip'd for him, and I fairly won:
This he would own, and gave me cause to boaft,
Tho' he refus'd to pay the Goat he loft.
MENAL CAS.

You pipe with him! thou never hadst a Pipe,
Well join'd with wax, and fitted to the Lip,
But under Hedges to the long-ear'd Rout,
We'rt wont, dull Fool, to toot a screeching Note
DAMETA S.

And fhall we have a trial of our Skill!

I'll lay this Heifer, 'twill be worth your while,
Two Calves the fuckles, and yet twice a day
She fills two Pails; Now speak, what dare you lay
MENAL CAS..

I cannot ftake down any of my Flock,

My Fold is little, and but small my Stock:
Besides, my Father's covetously cross,

My Stepdame curft, and they will find the lofs:
For both ftrict Eyes o'er all my Actions keep,
One counts my Kids, and both twice count my Sheep.
But yet I'll lay what you must grant as good,
(Since you will lofe) two Cups of Beechen wood,
Alcimedon made them, 'tis a work Divine,
And round the brim ripe Grapes and Ivy twine;
So curiously he hits the various Shapes,
And with pale Ivy cloaths the blushing Grapes
It doth my Eyes, and all my Friends delight,
I'm fure your Mouth must water at the fight

}

Within two Figures neatly carv'd appear,
Conon, and He, who was't? that made the Sphear,
And fhow'd the various Seasons of the Year,
What time to sheer our Sheep, what time to plow,
'Twas never us'd, I kept it clean 'till now.
DAMETAS.

Alcimedon too made me two Beechen Pots,
And round the Handles wrought smooth Ivy knots;
Orpheus within, and following woods around,
With bended Tops, feem liftning to the found.
I never us❜d them, never brought them forth;
But to my Heifer, these are little worth.

MENAL CAS.

I'll pay thee off, I'm ready, come, let's try,
And he shall be our Judge, that next comes by;
See, 'tis Palamon; come, I'll ne'er give o'er,
'Till thou shalt never dare to challenge more..
DAMETAS.

Begin, I'll not refufe the skilful' Swain,
1 fcorn to turn my back for any Man;
I know my felf; but pray judicious Friend,
('Tis no small matter) carefully attend.

PALA MO N..

Since we have chosen a convenient place,

[Grafs,

Since Woods are cloath'd with Leaves, the Fields with The Trees with Fruit, the Year seems fine and gay, Dametas first, then next Menalcas play,

By turns, for Verfe the Mufes love by turns.

DAMETAS.

My Mufe begin with Jove, all's full of Jove,.
The God loves me, and doth my verses love.
MENAL CAS.

And Phoebus mine: on Phoebus I'll beftow
The blushing Hyacinth, and Lawrel bough.

DAMETAS.

Sly Galatea drives me o'er the Green,
And Apples throws, then hides, yet wou'd be feen,

MEN ALCAS.

But my Amyntas doth his Paffion tell,

Our Dogs fcarce know my Delia half fo well.
DAMET AS.

I'll have a Gift for Phyllis e'er 'tis long,
I know where Stock-doves build, I'll take their young,

MENAL CAS.

I pluckt my Boy fine Pears, I fent him ten, 'Twas all I had, but foon I'll send again. DAMETAS.

What things my Nymph did speak; what tales of Love! Winds bear their Musick to the Gods above.

MENAL CAS.:

What boot's it, Boy, you not contemn my Flame
Since whilst I hold the Net, you hunt the Game.
DAMET AS.

My Birth-day comes, fend Phyllis quickly home,
But at my Shearing-time, Iolas come.

MENAL CAS

And I love Phyllis, for her Charms excel,
She figh'd, farewel, dear Youth, a long farewel..
DAMET A S

Wolves ruin Flocks, Wind Trees, when newly blown
Storms Corn, and me my Amaryllis's Frown.

MEN ALCAS.

Dew fwells the Corn, Kids browz the tender Tree, The Goats love fallow; fair Amyntas me.

DAMET AS.

Mine Pollio loves, though 'tis a ruftick Song,
Mufe feed a Steer, for him that reads thee long.
MENAL CAS.

Nay Pollio writes, and at the King's Command.
Mufe feed the Bulls that push, and spurn the Sanda
DAMETAS.

Let Pollio have what e'er thy with provokes,
Myrrh from his Thorns, and Honey from his Oaks
MENAL CAS...

He that loves Bavius Songs, may fancy thine,
The fame may couple Wolves, and fhear his Swine,

DAMET AS.

Ye Boys that pluck the Beauties of the Spring,
Fly, fly, a Snake lies hid, and shoots a Sting.
MENAL CAS.

Beware the Stream, drive nor the Sheep too nigh, The Bank may fail, the Rain is hardly dry.

DAMETAS.

Kids from the River drive, and fling your Hook; Anon I'll wash them in the fhallow Brook.

MENAL CAS.

Drive to the Shades, when Milk is drain'd by heat,
In vain the Milk-maid ftroaks an empty Teat.
DAMETAS.

How lean my Bull is in my fruitful Field!
Love has the Herd, and Love the Herdfinan kill'd.
MEN ALCAS.

Sure these feel ́none of Love's devouring flames,
Meer skin and bone, and yet they drain the Dams:
Ah me! what Sorceress has bewitch'd my Lambs!
DAMETAS.

Tell me where Heaven is juft three Inches broad, And I'll believe thee Prophet, or a God.

MENAL CAS.

Tell me where Names of Kings in rifing Flowers
Are writ, and grow, and Phyllis fhall be yours.
PALA MO N.

I cannot judge which Youth does moft excel,
For you deserve the Steer, and he as well.
Reft equal happy both; and all that prove
A bitter, or elfe fear a pleasing Love :

But my work calls, let's break the meeting off, Boys fhut your ftreams, the Fields have drunk nough.

KONKON