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Imitating this, they dragged down whatever they came across. And somehow no traveler was confident in the road, no sailor in his ship, no hunter in the hunt; there was no pasture, no herds frequented it. The trees also stood as if in mourning, having shorn their foliage. But I and these little sheep, having done no wrong, sat as prisoners in the cave as if in a jail. And they fed on dry leaves stored up from the summer, and their bleating was pitiful, while I lived on fresh cheese that showed no sign of failing. But the cold of the season was heavier than the imprisonment. For it was not easy to move one's feet or to stretch out one's hands when needed, nor to blow on the reeds or to tune the pipes. And I had to sleep even during the day, huddled down with the livestock, and comforting myself with their wool. And nothing of the Muse was heard, but even the chattering swallow slept, I think. Already a spider was nesting in my syrinx, and everything seemed to be silent, except when Zeus, flashing lightning, brought on a terrible crash, as if he were moving furniture or rearranging heaven. Often I beseeched him and reminded him: "How have we grieved you so much, O Zeus? Cease clashing everything together, lest the city be shattered, and you will need to create a new one. Has a host of Giants risen up against you in war once more?" What need is there to say? For there was no advantage, until he was willingly persuaded. But perhaps he has grown weary from moving everything and now sleeps from his long labor. Therefore now everything makes a truce and speaks and seems to become young again, having cast off its old age. Leap now, lambs, and with your jumps rouse yourselves toward the middle of the sky; fill yourselves with grass; except if any has been changed into a plant through love, and preserves its beauty, even if it has changed its nature. Narcissus is beautiful, but he had a suffering unworthy of his beauty. Hyacinthus is beautiful, but you must be kinder than Zephyrus, and spare a beautiful youth. And if there is need to drink, I will lead them to a spring and guide them with my syrinx. But you, follow the melodies; for the one left behind, a wolf will be the penalty. And if midday becomes tiresome, I will lead the flock under a pine tree; and from above a nightingale will utter a vernal sound; for as they say, she seeks her child and laments like a mother. And I will compete with her on the harp, and my sheep will lie down in order, listening to the tunes. Then will Pan all the more call upon the maiden Echo, who neither speaks nor is silent, but always seems near and yet escapes notice, and consoles her lover with a counterfeit voice. Now swans and swallows sing above my head, wandering through the air. And Apollo is delighted, crowned with laurel and holding the plant which he wished to hold as a maiden. Now the bees buzz over the meadows; I will take many of the honeycombs, and milking the honey from them, I will mix it with the milk. And what to me compared with this is that nectar, the drink celebrated in vain? Now the Loves dance among the herds, and the bull has bellowed a lovesick sound, and the rams, snorting, mount the sheep. Nor will I now stand idle. For to be idle is alone unbearable. I will lead my beloved and imitate the herd. And instead of a mattress, some soft grass will lie beneath. And I will sprinkle upon it many violets and lilies, or rather, roses, so that we may also honor Aphrodite. For not even she was able to escape Eros; for the little child is imperious and bold, and arms himself against whomever he meets. He grieves even Aphrodite, not even respecting his own mother, so that she may not be proud that she alone both gave him birth and escaped Eros. What then did he do? He raises his bow and laughs at his mother, and has fitted a small arrow to it. And suddenly Adonis seemed beautiful; and one would more easily have seen a he-goat himself standing apart from a she-goat in heat than Aphrodite from Adonis. I am silent about her passion, doing the goddess a favor, lest I grieve her by speaking and she make my herd unamorous. Except that for us the rose was reddened by the blood of Aphrodite. Enjoying such things of the season, I will pray with my flock both to see the summer and that the winter be silent and that spring shine for us again. 5 MERCATOR I saw what I prayed for, and my intention has come to pass. The war threatened from the clouds is gone and the light is renewed, and again the sun

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ταύτην μιμούμενοι τὰ προστυχόντα κατέσυρον. ἐθάρρει δέ πως οὐχ ὁδοιπόρος ὁδόν, οὐ ναύτης τὸ σκάφος, οὐ κυνηγέτης τὴν θήραν· οὐ νομή τις ἦν, οὐκ ἀγέλαι πρὸς ταύτην ἐφοίτων. εἱστήκει καὶ τὰ δένδρα καθάπερ ἐν πένθει τὴν κόμην ἀποκειράμενα. ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ταυτὶ τὰ προβάτια μηδὲν πλημμελοῦντα ὥσπερ ἐν εἱρκτῇ τῷ σπηλαίῳ δεσμῶται γεγονότες καθήμεθα. καὶ τὰ μὲν φυλλίδα ξηρὰν ἐκ θέρους ἀπόθετον ἐσιτίζετο, καὶ ἦν αὐτῶν ἐλεεινὰ τὰ βληχήματα, ἐγὼ δὲ τυρῷ διέζων νεαρῷ οὐδὲν ὑποφαίνοντι. τὸ δὲ ψυχρὸν τῆς ὥρας τῆς εἱρκτῆς ὑπῆρχε βαρύτερον. οὐ γὰρ ἦν ἑτοίμως οὐ πόδας κινεῖν οὐ χεῖρας εἰς δέον ἐκτείνειν, οὐ καλάμοις ἐμπνεῖν οὐκ αὐλοὺς ἐναρμόζεσθαι. καὶ καθεύδειν ἔδει καὶ δι' ἡμέρας, συγκαταδύντα τοῖς θρέμμασι, καὶ τοῖς ἐκείνων ἐρίοις παραμυθούμενον. οὐδὲν δὲ Μούσης ἠκούετο, ἀλλὰ καὶ χελιδὼν ἡ λάλος ἐκάθευδεν, οἶμαι. ἤδη τι καὶ τῆς ἀράχνης ἐμφωλεύει τῇ σύριγγι, πάντα δὲ σιγᾶν ἐδόκει, πλὴν ὅτε Ζεὺς ἀστράπτων κτύπον ἐπῆγε δεινόν, ὥσπερ ἢ σκεύη κινῶν ἢ μετασκευάζων τὸν οὐρανόν. πολλάκις τοῦτον ἱκετεύων ὑπέμνησα· "τί τοσοῦτον, ὦ Ζεῦ, λελυπήκαμεν; παῦσαι πάντα συγκρούων, μὴ συντριβῇ πόλις, καὶ δεήσει νέαν δημιουργεῖν. μὴ τί σοι Γιγάντων πάλιν πλῆθος αὖθις ἐπανέστη πολέμιον;" τί δεῖ λέγειν; ἦν γὰρ πλέον οὐδὲν, ἕως ἑκὼν ἐπείσθη. τάχα δὲ κέκμηκε πάντα κινῶν καὶ καθεύδει νῦν ἐκ πόνου μακροῦ. ὅθεν νῦν πάντα σπένδεται καὶ λαλεῖ καὶ νεάζειν ἔοικε, τὸ γῆρας ἀποδυσάμενον. σκιρτᾶτε νῦν ἄρνες καὶ τοῖς πηδήμασι πρὸς οὐρανὸν διεγείρεσθε μέσον· ἐμπίπλασθε τῆς πόας· πλὴν εἴ τις δι' ἔρωτα πρὸς φυτὸν μεταβέβληται, καὶ σώζει τὸ κάλλος, εἰ καὶ τὴν φύσιν μετέβαλε. καλὸς ὁ Νάρκισσος, ἀλλὰ τὸ πάθος εἶχε τοῦ κάλλους ἀνάξιον. καλὸς ὁ Ὑάκινθος, ἀλλὰ γίνεσθε Ζεφύρου φιλανθρωπότεροι, καὶ φείδεσθε μειρακίου καλοῦ. εἰ δὲ καὶ πίνειν δεήσει, πρὸς πηγὴν ἄξω καὶ καθηγοῦμαι τῇ σύριγγι. ὑμεῖς δὲ τοῖς μέλεσιν ἕπεσθε· τῷ γὰρ ἀπολειφθέντι λύκος ἔσται ζημία. εἰ δὲ καὶ μεσημβρία λυπήσει ὑπὸ πίτυν ἄξω τὸ ποίμνιον· καὶ ἄνωθεν μὲν ἀηδὼν ἐαρινὸν ἀναφθέγξεται· ὡς δέ φασι τὸν παῖδα ζητεῖ καὶ οἷα μήτηρ ὀδύρεται. ἐγὼ δὲ πρὸς ταύτην ἁμιλλήσομαι τῇ πηκτίδι, τὰ δέ μοι πρόβατα τάξει κατακείσεται, τῶν μελῶν ἀκροώμενα. τότε μᾶλλον ὁ Πᾶν τὴν Ἠχὼ βοήσει κόρην οὔτε φθεγγομένην οὔτε σιγῶσαν, πλησίον δὲ δοκοῦσαν ἀεὶ καὶ λανθάνουσαν, καὶ νόθῳ φωνῇ παραμυθουμένην τὸν ἐραστήν. νῦν κύκνοι καὶ χελιδόνες ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς ᾄδουσι, τὸν αἰθέρα περιπλανώμενοι. ὁ δὲ Ἀπόλλων ἥδεται, δάφνῃ στεψάμενος καὶ φυτὸν ἔχων ἣν κόρην ἔχειν ἠβούλετο. νῦν τοῖς λειμῶσιν ἐπιβομβοῦσιν αἱ μέλιτται· ἄξω τὰ πολλὰ τῶν κηρίων, καὶ τούτων ἀμέλγων τὸ μέλι ἐγκαταμίξω τῷ γάλακτι. καὶ τί μοι πρὸς τοῦτο νέκταρ ἐκεῖνο, τὸ μάτην θρυλούμενον πόμα; νῦν ἀγέλαις Ἔρωτες ἐγχορεύουσι, καὶ ταῦρος μὲν ἐρωτικὸν ἐμυκήσατο, κριοὶ δὲ φριμαξάμενοι τῶν ἀρνῶν ἐπιβαίνουσιν. οὐδ' ἐγὼ νῦν μάτην ἑστήξομαι. ἀργεῖν γὰρ μόνον ἐστὶν ἀφόρητον. ἄξω τὴν ἐρωμένην καὶ τὴν ἀγέλην μιμήσομαι. ἀντὶ δὲ στρωμνῆς πόα μαλακή τις ὑποκείσεται. ἐπιπάσω δὲ ταύτῃ τῶν ἴων καὶ κρίνων πολλά, μᾶλλον δὲ ῥόδων, ἵνα καὶ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην τιμήσωμεν. οὐ γὰρ αὕτη διαφυγεῖν ἠδυνήθη τὸν Ἔρωτα· σοβαρὸν γὰρ τὸ παιδάριον καὶ θρασύ, καὶ κατὰ τοῦ τυχόντος ὁπλίζεται. λυπεῖ καὶ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην, οὐδὲ τὴν τεκοῦσαν αἰδούμενος, ἵνα μὴ μέγα φρονῇ μόνη καὶ τεκοῦσα καὶ διαφυγοῦσα τὸν Ἔρωτα. τί οὖν ἐκεῖνος; αἴρει τὸ τόξον καὶ προσγελᾷ τὴν τεκοῦσαν, καὶ βέλος τι σμικρὸν ἐγκατέθηκε. καὶ Ἄδωνις ἐξαίφνης ἐδόκει καλός· καὶ ῥᾷον ἄν τις εἶδεν αἰγὸς συζύγου τράγον αὐτὸν ἀφιστάμενον ἢ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην Ἀδώνιδος. σιωπῶ τὸ πάθος τῇ θεῷ χαριζόμενος, μὴ καὶ λυπήσω λέγων καί μοι δείξῃ τὴν ἀγέλην ἀνέραστον. πλὴν αἵματι τῆς Ἀφροδίτης τὸ ῥόδον ἡμῖν ἠρυθαίνετο. Τοιαῦτα τῆς ὥρας ἀπολαύων εὔξομαι μετὰ τῆς ἀγέλης καὶ θέρος ἰδεῖν καὶ σιωπᾶν τὸν χειμῶνα καὶ ἔαρ αὖθις ἡμῖν ἀναλάμψαι. 5 μερξατορ Εἶδον ὅπερ εὐχόμην, καὶ προῆλθεν εἰς ἔργον ἡ γνώμη. οἴχεται πόλεμος ἐκ τῶν νεφῶν ἀπειλούμενος καὶ νεάζει τὸ φῶς, καὶ πάλιν ἥλιος