LXXXIII. "To those who are unskilled in its sweet tongue, Though they should question most impetuously Its hidden soul, it gossips something wrong Some senseless and impertinent reply. Can compass all that thou desirest. I LXXXIV. “ And let us two henceforth together feed On this green mountain slope and pastoral plain, The herds in litigation, they will breed Quickly enough to recompense our pain, If to the bulls and cows we take good heed; And thou, though somewhat over fond of gain, Grudge me not half the profit."—Having spoke, The shell he proffered, and Apollo took. LXXXV. Installing him as herdsman;- from the look And then Apollo with the plectrum strook The chords, and from beneath his hands a crash Of mighty sounds rushed up, whose music shook The soul with sweetness, as of an adept His sweeter voice a just accordance kept. LXXXVI, Whilst these most beautiful Sons of Jupiter Of white Olympus, with the joyous lyre Gathered thein both into familiar LXXXVII. To whom he gave the lyre that sweetly sounded, Which skilfully he held and played thereon. He piped the while, and far and wide rebounded The echo of his pipings; every one While he conceived another piece of fun, LXXXVIII. " I fear thee and thy sly chameleon spirit, Lest thou should steal my lyre and crooked bow; This glory and power thou dost from Jove inherit, To teach all craft upon the earth below; Thieves love and worship thee—it is thy merit To make all mortal business ebb and flow LXXXIX. “That you will never rob me, you will do A thing extremely pleasing to my heart." Then Mercury sware by the Stygian dew, That he would never steal his bow or dart, Or ever would employ his powerful art XC. And I will give thee as a goodwill token, The beautiful wand of wealth and happiness; A perfect three-leaved rod of gold unbroken, Whose magic will thy footsteps ever bless; Of earthly or divine from its recess, XCI. “ For, dearest child, the divinations high Which thou requirest, 'tis unlawful ever That thou, or any other deity, Should understand-and vain were the endeavour; For they are hidden in Jove's mind, and I In trust of them, have sworn that I would never Betray the counsels of Jove's inmost will To any God-the oath was terrible. XCII. " Then, golden-wanded brother, ask me not To speak the fates by Jupiter designed; But be it mine to tell their various lot To the unnumbered tribes of human kind. As I dispense-but he who comes consigned XCIII. “Him will I not deceive, but will assist; But he who comes relying on such birds The purpose of the Gods with idle words, His road-whilst I among my other hoards XCITv. “There are three Fates, three virgin Sisters, who Rejoicing in their wind-outspeeding wings, Sit in a vale round which Parnassus flings Vaticinations of remotest things. XCV. “They, having eaten the fresh honey, grow Drunk with divine enthusiasm, and utter With earnest willingness the truth they know, But if deprived of that sweet food, they mutter All plausible delusions;—these to you I give;—if you inquire, they will not stutter: Delight your own soul with them:-any man You would instruct, may profit, if he can. XCVI. "Take these and the fierce oxen, Maia's child O'er many a horse and toil-enduring mule, O'er jagged-jawed lions, and the wild White-tusked boars, o'er all, by field or pool, Of cattle which the mighty Mother mild Nourishes in her bosom, thou shalt rule Thou dost alone the veil of death upliftThou givest not-yet this is a great gift." XCVII. In truth, and Jove covered them with love and joy. Hermes with Gods and men even from that day Mingled, and wrought the latter much annoy, , delightful Boy, Of Jove and Maia sprung.-never by me, Nor thou, nor other songs shall unremembered be. THE CYCLOPS: A SATYRIC DRAMA. TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF EURIPIDES. SILENUS. ULYSSES. THE CYCLOPS. put to sea Ha! what is this? are your Sicinnian measures CHORUS OF SATYRS. STROPHE. EPODE. Far from thy delights and thee. Chorus. Go! But what needs this serious haste, O father? Sil. I see a Greek ship's boat upon the coast, The Antistrophe is omitted. |