Virgil · a new plain-English translation from the Latin
1| The shepherd Corydon burned for handsome Alexis, his master's darling, and had nothing to hope for. All he could do was come again and again among the dense beeches with their shady tops. There, alone, he would fling these artless words to the mountains and woods in vain longing:
6| "Cruel Alexis, do you care nothing for my songs? Do you have no pity for me? Will you drive me to death in the end? Now even the cattle look for shade and coolness, now even the thickets hide the green lizards, and Thestylis pounds garlic and thyme, pungent herbs, for the reapers worn out by the scorching heat. But with me, as I track your footsteps, the orchards ring under the blazing sun with the hoarse cicadas. Would it not have been better to put up with Amaryllis' sullen anger and her proud disdain? Or with Menalcas, dark though he was, fair though you are? Lovely boy, do not trust too much to your coloring: white privet flowers fall, dark hyacinths are gathered.
19| You despise me, Alexis, and do not ask who I am, how rich in flocks, how well supplied with snow-white milk. A thousand lambs of mine wander on the hills of Sicily; I am never short of fresh milk, summer or winter. I sing the songs Dircaean Amphion used to sing when he called his herds on Attic Aracynthus. Nor am I so ugly: I saw myself on the shore recently, when the sea lay still and calm under the winds. I would not fear Daphnis, with you as judge, if reflections never lie.
28| If only you would be willing to live with me in the humble countryside and lowly cottages, to shoot deer and drive a flock of kids with a green switch of mallow! With me in the woods you will imitate Pan in song. Pan first taught men to join several reeds with wax; Pan cares for sheep and for the masters of sheep. And do not be sorry to have rubbed your lip on the reed: to know these same skills, what did Amyntas not do? I have a pipe made of seven hemlock stalks of unequal length, which Damoetas once gave me as a gift; and as he died he said: 'Now it has you as its second master.' So said Damoetas; foolish Amyntas was envious. Besides, I have two young roe deer I found in a dangerous valley, their hides still spotted with white; they drain a ewe's udders twice a day; I am keeping them for you. Thestylis has long been begging to take them from me; and she will, since my gifts mean nothing to you.
45| Come here, lovely boy: look, the Nymphs bring you lilies in full baskets; for you a fair Naiad, plucking pale violets and poppy heads, joins narcissus and the flower of sweet-smelling dill; then, weaving them with cassia and other fragrant herbs, she sets off the soft hyacinths with yellow marigold. I myself will pick quinces, pale with tender down, and chestnuts, which my Amaryllis loved; I will add waxy plums — this fruit too shall have its honor — and I will pluck you, laurels, and you, myrtle, next to them, since, placed together, you blend your sweet scents.
56| You are a bumpkin, Corydon: Alexis cares nothing for gifts, and if you competed in gifts, Iollas would not give way. Alas, alas, what have I wanted, wretch that I am? I have let the south wind in on my flowers, ruined man, and boars into my clear springs.
60| Whom are you running from, madman? The gods too have lived in the woods, and Dardan Paris. Let Pallas live in the citadels she has founded; let the woods please us above all else. The grim lioness follows the wolf, the wolf himself follows the goat, the playful goat follows the flowering clover, and Corydon follows you, Alexis: each is drawn by his own desire.
66| Look, the bullocks are bringing home the ploughs hung from the yoke, and the setting sun doubles the lengthening shadows; yet love burns me still: for what limit can there be to love? Ah, Corydon, Corydon, what madness has seized you? Your vine is half pruned on the leafy elm. Why not rather at least set about weaving something you need, out of osiers and soft rushes? You will find another Alexis, if this one scorns you."
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