IDYL V.

THE CHOICE.

WHEN on the wave the breeze soft kisses flings,
I rouse my fearful heart and long to be
Floating at leisure on the tranquil sea;
But when the hoary ocean loudly rings,
Arches his foamy back and spooming swings
Wave upon wave, his angry swell I flee:
Then welcome land and sylvan shade to me,
Where, if a gale blows, still the pine-tree sings.

Hard is his life whose nets the ocean sweep,

A bark his house-shy fish his slippery prey;

But sweet to me the unsuspicious sleep

Beneath a leafy plane - the fountain's play, That babbles idly, or whose tones if deep

Delight the rural ear and not affray.

IDYL VI.

LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU.

PAN Echo loved; she loved the frisky Faun;
The Faun to Lyda by strong love was drawn ;
As Echo Pan, the Faun did Echo burn,
And Lyda him: all fell in love in turn.

And with what scorn the loved the lover grieved
Was that one scorned, and like for like received.
Hear, heart-free! let who love you love obtain,
That if you love, you may be loved again.

IDYL VII.

ALPHEUS.

ALPHEUS, gliding by old Pisa's towers,

Deep in the sea his eager way pursues With sacred dust, and olive-leaves, and flowers, With which he hastens to his Arethuse.

Smoothly he runs; the sea not feels the river With soft unmingled stream its water rive;

Eros it was, that subtle counsel-giver,

Who taught a river how for love to dive.

EE

EPIGRAM.

HIS torch and quiver down sly Eros flung,

An ox-goad took in hand, a wallet slung,

Then yoked strong bulls and made the plough to train,

And as he went the furrow sowed with grain.

And looking up he said to Zeus: "make full

The harvest, or I'll yoke Europa's bull."

FRAGMENT.

WOULD that my sire had brought me up to feed The happy bleaters of the fleecy flocks!

'Twould sooth my sorrow then to breathe the reed Beneath the shade of elms or hanging rocks.

Now let us fly; and other city seek

To be our country, dear Pierides:

But I my mind to all will plainly speak

Injurious drones have harmed the honey-bees.