I saw her, by Pan, I saw her when she was pelting my flock. Nay, she
escaped not me, escaped not my one dear eye,--wherewith I shall see
to my life's end,--let Telemus the soothsayer, that prophesies
hateful things, hateful things take home, to keep them for his
children! But it is all to torment her, that I, in my turn, give not
back her glances, pretending that I have another love. To hear this
makes her jealous of me, by Paean, and she wastes with pain, and
springs madly from the sea, gazing at my caves and at my herds. And
I hiss on my dog to bark at her, for when I loved Galatea he would
whine with joy, and lay his muzzle on her lap. Perchance when she
marks how I use her she will send me many a messenger, but on her
envoys I will shut my door till she promises that herself will make a
glorious bridal-bed on this island for me. For in truth, I am not so
hideous as they say! But lately I was looking into the sea, when all
was calm; beautiful seemed my beard, beautiful my one eye--as I count
beauty--and the sea reflected the gleam of my teeth whiter than the
Parian stone. Then, all to shun the evil eye, did I spit thrice in
my breast; for this spell was taught me by the crone, Cottytaris,
that piped of yore to the reapers in Hippocoon's field.

Then Damoetas kissed Daphnis, as he ended his song, and he gave
Daphnis a pipe, and Daphnis gave him a beautiful flute. Damoetas
fluted, and Daphnis piped, the herdsman,--and anon the calves were
dancing in the soft green grass. Neither won the victory, but both
were invincible.



IDYL VII