X

Happy are they that love they are rewarded. when Pirithous was by

love, when with equal

Happy was Theseus, his side, yea, though

he went down to the house of implacable Hades. Happy among hard men and inhospitable was Orestes, for that Pylades chose to share his wanderings. And he was happy, Achilles acides, while his darling lived, happy was he in his death, because he avenged the dread fate of Patroclus.

ΧΙ

Hesperus, golden lamp of the lovely daughter of the foam, dear Hesperus, sacred jewel of the deep blue night, dimmer as much than the moon, as thou art among the stars pre-eminent, hail, friend, and as I lead the revel to the shepherd's hut, in place of the moonlight lend me thine, for to-day the moon began her course, and too early she sank. I go not freebooting, nor to lie in wait for the benighted traveller, but a lover am I, and 'tis well to favour lovers.

XII

Mild goddess, in Cyprus born,-thou child, not of the sea, but of Zeus,-why art thou thus vexed with mortals and immortals? Nay, my

word is too weak, why wert thou thus bitterly wroth, yea, even with thyself, as to bring forth Love, so mighty a bane to all,-cruel and heartless Love, whose spirit is all unlike his beauty? And wherefore didst thou furnish him with wings, and give him skill to shoot so far, that, child as he is, we never may escape the bitterness of Love.

XIII

Mute was Phoebus in this grievous anguish. All herbs he sought, and strove to win some wise healing art, and he anointed all the wound with nectar and ambrosia, but remedeless are all the wounds of Fate.

XIV

But I will go my way to yon sloping hill; by the sand and the sea-banks murmuring my song, and praying to the cruel Galatea. But of my sweet hope never will I leave hold, till I reach the uttermost limit of old age.

XV

It is not well, my friend, to run to the craftsman, whatever may befall, nor in every matter to need another's aid, nay, fashion a pipe thyself, and to thee the task is easy.

XVI

May Love call to him the Muses bring with them Love.

Muses, may the

Ever may the

Muses give song to me that yearn for it,sweet song,-than song there is no sweeter charm.

XVII

The constant dropping of water, says the proverb, it wears a hole in a stone.

Beauty is the glory of womankind, and strength of men.

XX

All things, god-willing, all things may be achieved by mortals. From the hands of the blessed come tasks most easy, and that find their accomplishment.

MOSCHUS

OUR only certain information about Moschus is contained in his own Dirge for Bion. He speaks of his verse as 'Ausonian song,' and of himself as Mion's pupil and successor. It is plain that he was acquainted with the poems of Theocritus.