With beard untrimmed, and dry straight hair you're seen.
But lately one, in seeming much the same,
Who called himself Athenian, hither came,
A barefoot, pale Pythagorean oaf,
In love, methought, and longing—for a loaf.
You'll have your jest: Cynisca flouts me so,
That I shall madden unawares, I know
There's but a hair's-breadth now 'twixt me and madness.
Extreme in changes ever brooding sadness,
Or moody violence—as the whim makes you
Sport of the time: but what new care o'ertakes you?
The Argive, I, and the Thessalian knight
Good Apis, and Cleunicus, brave in fight,
Were drinking at my farm. We had for fare
Two pullets and a sucking pig; and rare
Rich Biblian wine (near four years old), I drew,
And fragrant still, as from the wine-press new.
A Colchian onion gave the brewage zest;
As mirth with drink advanced, we thought it best
To quaff the wine's pure juice, each to his flame,
And every one was bound to tell her name.
So said, so done: we drank to them we loved :
But she, my she! by all my love unmoved,
Said nothing, though I then and there named her.
Think what a tempest did my temper stir!
"Won't speak?" I said: " or, as the wise man spoke,
"Hast seen a wolf?" another said in joke.
From her red burning face (it kindled so)
You might have lit a lamp. Lycus, you know,
Is name for wolf; and there is such an one,
Tall, delicate, my neighbour Laba's son;
And many think him handsome: for this youth,
And his fine love my damsel pined in sooth.
I heard a whisper, nor I sifted it,
Having a man's beard without manly wit.
But Apis-we were at our cups again—
Sang out" My Lycus!" a Thessalian strain.
Then sudden into tears Cynisca burst-
The girl of six years for the breast, that nurst
Her tender infancy, not so much weeps.
You know me, how no bound my temper keeps ;
With doubled fist once and again I struck
Both of her cheeks. She thereat did up-tuck
Her skirts and quickly bolted through the door.
"Do I not please thee? hast a paramour
Nearer thy heart! plague o' my life! go, go!
Hug him for whom your tears, like beads, thick flow.
As for her callow brood, that nested lies
Under the roof, the swallow swiftly flies
To bring them food, and flies for more again:
From her soft couch more swift she fled amain,
Through hall, court, gate, as fast as she was able:
"The bull into the wood," as runs the fable.
Add two to this, the eight and fiftieth day,
"Twill be two full months since she went away;
And since we parted, as a sign of wo
My hair has, Thracian-like, been left to grow.
But only Lycus is her sole delight;
For him her door is open e'en at night.
But hapless I, with the Megarian lot,
Am held in none account, and quite forgot.
All would be well, could I my love restrain;
But mice, they say, the taste of pitch retain.
I cannot cure myself, howe'er I try;
For hapless love I know no remedy;
Except that Simus sailed across the water,
When smitten with old Epichalcus' daughter,
And came back whole. I too will cross the wave,
Nor best nor worst of soldiers, but a brave.
THYONICHUS.
wish, my Æschines!
But if you will depart beyond the seas,
Gladly king Ptolemy brave hearts engages,
Best man of all that gives the soldier wages.
What sort of man is he in other things?
To brave and noble souls the best of kings;
Has a discerning spirit; takes delight
In all the Muses; courteous to the height;
Who loves him and who loves him not, he knows;
And many gifts on many men bestows.
When asked a boon, he king-like not denies ;
But oft to ask is neither right nor wise.
Then if you wish a martial cloak to fold
Around your shoulders, and in station bold,
Firm on both feet, abide the shielded foe
On-rushing-instantly to Egypt go.
Soon we grow old, and Time steals on apace,
Whitening the hair, and withering the face.
We ought to do what us behoves, I ween,
While yet our knee is firm, our strength is green.
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