# The Works of Virgil (Dryden)/Pastorals (Dryden)/Book 3

The Third Pastoral.
OR,
PALÆMON.
Menalcas, Damætas, Palæmon.
The ARGUMENT.
Damætas and Menalcas, after some smart strokes of Country Railery, resolve to try who has the most Skill at a Song; and accordingly make their Neighbour Palæmon Judge of their Performances: Who, after a full hearing of both Parties, declares himself unfit for the Decision of so weighty a Controversie, and leaves the Victory undetermin'd.
MENALCAS.
DAMÆTAS.
MENALCAS.
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While he Neæra courts, but courts in vain, And fears that I the Damsel shall obtain;5
Thou, Varlet, dost thy Master's gains devour: Thou milk'st his Ewes, and often twice an hour; Of Grass and Fodder thou defraud'st the Dams: And of their Mothers Dugs the starving Lambs.
DAMÆTAS.
We know who did your Business, how, and when. And in what Chappel too you plaid your Prize;$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ And what the Goats observ'd with leering Eyes: The Nymphs were kind, and laught, and there your safety lyes.
MENALCAS.
Cut Micon's tender Vines, and stole the Stays.
DAMÆTAS.
The Bow of Daphnis and the Shafts you broke: When the fair Boy receiv'd the Gift of right; And but for Mischief, you had dy'd for spight.20
MENALCAS.
When thou, his Knave, canst talk at such a rate! Did I not see you, Rascal, did I not! When you lay snug to snap young Damon's Goat? His Mungril bark'd, I ran to his relief,25 And cry'd, There, there he goes; stop, stop the Thief. Discover'd and defeated of your Prey, You sculk'd behind the Fence, and sneak'd away.
DAMÆTAS.
The Goat was mine, by singing fairly won.30 A solemn Match was made; He lost the Prize,$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ Ask Damon, ask if he the Debt denies; I think he dares not, if he does, he lies.
MENALCAS.
Was so profan'd to touch that blubber'd Lip:35 Dunce at the best; in Streets but scarce allow'd To tickle, on thy Straw, the stupid Crowd.
DAMÆTAS.
Our Pipes, our Skill, our Voices to compare? My Brinded Heifer to the Stake I lay;40 Two Thriving Calves she suckles twice a day: And twice besides her Beestings never fail To store the Dairy, with a brimming Pail. Now back your Singing with an equal Stake.
MENALCAS.
You know too well I feed my Father's Flock: What can I wager from the common Stock? A Stepdame too I have, a cursed she, Who rules my Hen-peck'd Sire, and orders me. Both number twice a day the Milky Dams;50 And once she takes the tale of all the Lambs.
But since you will be mad, and since you may Suspect my Courage, if I should not lay; The Pawn I proffer shall be full as good: Two Bowls I have, well turn'd of Beechen Wood;55 Both by divine Alcimedon were made; To neither of them yet the Lip is laid. The Lids are Ivy, Grapes in clusters lurk, Beneath the Carving of the curious Work. Two Figures on the sides emboss'd appear;$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$60 Conon, and what's his Name who made the Sphere, And shew'd the Seasons of the sliding Year, Instructed in his Trade the Lab'ring Swain, And when to reap, and when to sow the Grain?
DAMÆTAS.
The Wood the same, from the same Hand they come: The kimbo Handles seem with Bears-foot carv'd; And never yet to Table have been serv'd: Where Orpheus on his Lyre laments his Love, With Beasts encompass'd, and a dancing Grove:70 But these, nor all the Proffers you can make, Are worth the Heifar which I set to stake.
MENALCAS.
I prophecy before-hand I shall win. Palæmon shall be Judge how ill you rhime,75 I'll teach you how to brag another time.
DAMÆTAS.
I fear not you, nor yet a better Man. With Silence, Neighbour, and Attention wait: For 'tis a business of a high Debate.80
PALAEMON.
The Trees are cloath'd with Leaves, the Fields with Grass; The Blossoms blow; the Birds on bushes sing; And Nature has accomplish'd all the Spring. The Challenge to Damætas shall belong,85 Menalcas shall sustain his under Song: Each in his turn your tuneful numbers bring; In turns the tuneful Muses love to sing.
DAMÆTAS.
My Muse begins; for all is full of Jove;90 To Jove the care of Heav'n and Earth belongs; My Flocks he blesses, and he loves my Songs.
MENALCAS.
And in her Songs, the warmth he gave, requires. For him, the God of Shepherds and their Sheep,95 My blushing Hyacinths, and my Bays I keep.
DAMÆTAS.
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Then tripping to the Woods the Wanton hies: And wishes to be seen, before she flies.
MENALCAS.
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And offers Love; and sits upon my knee: Not Delia to my Dogs is known so well as he.
DAMÆTAS.
Her Swain a pretty Present has design'd: I saw two Stock-doves billing, and e'er long105 Will take the Nest, and Hers shall be the Young.
MENALCAS.
And stood on tip-toes, reaching from the ground; I sent Amyntas all my present Store; And will, to Morrow, send as many more.110
DAMÆTAS.
And all she said and did was full of Charms. Winds on your Wings to Heav'n her Accents bear; Such words as Heav'n alone is fit to hear.
MENALCAS.
To call you mine, when absent from my sight! I hold the Nets, while you pursue the Prey; And must not share the Dangers of the Day.
DAMÆTAS.
At Sheering-time, Iolas, you may come.120
MENALCAS.
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Her Sorrow did my parting-steps pursue: Adieu my Dear, she said, a long Adieu.
DAMÆTAS.
Storms to the Wheat, to Budds the bitter Cold;125 But from my frowning Fair, more Ills I find, Than from the Wolves, and Storms, and Winter-wind.
MENALCAS.
The Show'rs are grateful to the swelling Grain: To teeming Ewes the Sallow's tender tree;130 But more than all the World my Love to me.
DAMÆTAS.
A Heyfar, Muses, for your Patron breed.
MENALCAS.
With spurning Heels, and with a butting Head.135
DAMÆTAS.
Let Pollio's fortune crown his full desires. Let Myrrh instead of Thorn his Fences fill: And Show'rs of Hony from his Oaks distil.
MENALCAS.
(Dead Mævius) damn'd to love thy Works and thee:
The same ill taste of Sense wou'd serve to join Dog Foxes in the Yoak, and sheer the Swine.
DAMÆTAS.
Beware the secret Snake, that shoots a Sting.145
MENALCAS.
The Ground is false, the running Streams are deep: See, they have caught the Father of the Flock; Who drys his Fleece upon the neighb'ring Rock.
DAMÆTAS.
Anon I'll wash 'em in the shallow Brook.151
MENALCAS.
In vain the Milk-maid tugs an empty Teat.
DAMÆTAS.
But Love that drains the Herd, destroys the Groom.155
MENALCAS.
Their bones are barely cover'd with their Skin. What magick has bewitch'd the woolly Dams, And what ill Eyes beheld the tender Lambs?
DAMÆTAS.
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To three short Ells on Earth our sight restrains:161 Tell that, and rise a Phœbus for thy pains.
MENALCAS.
A Flow'r, that bears inscrib'd the names of Kings: And thou shalt gain a Present as Divine165 As Phœbus self; for Phillis shall be thine.
PALAEMON.
That both have won, or both deserv'd the Prize. Rest equal happy both; and all who prove The bitter Sweets, and pleasing Pains of Love.170 Now dam the Ditches, and the Floods restrain: Their moisture has already drench'd the Plain.