IDYL XXI. THE FISHERMEN. THE nurse of industry and arts is want; Two fishers old lay in their wattled shed, Near them the tools wherewith they plied their craft, All else seemed vanity: they could not mend Their poverty — which was their only friend. They had no neighbours; but upon the shore ASPHALION. The summer-nights are short, when Zeus the king And can we have a long, long night in July? FRIEND. Do you the summer blame? The seasons change, From care, that frightens sleep, much longer seems ASPHALION. Can you interpret dreams? I've seen a bright one, which I will declare, To whom should you in mother-wit defer? We've leisure, and to spare: what can one do, Without a lamp? they say the town-hall ever FRIEND. Well let us have your vision of the night. ASPHALION. When yester-eve I slept, outwearied quite Sat watching for the fish-so eagerly! And from the reed the tripping bait did shake, He hugged the hook, and then his blood did flow; I stretched both arms, and had a pretty bout, To take with hook so weak a fish so stout. I gently warned him of the wound he bore; "Ha! will you prick me? you'll be pricked much more." But when he struggled not, I drew him in; The contest then I saw myself did win. I landed him, a fish compact of gold! I loosed him gently from the hook, for fear It from his mouth some precious gold might tear, And swore that I on sea no more would roam, And there my gold, like any king, command. FRIEND. Fear not you swore not, saw not with your eyes Hunt for the foodful fish that is, not seems, For fear you starve amid your golden dreams. IDYL XXII. CASTOR AND POLLUX. ARGUMENT. This hymn is divided into two parts, in the first of which Pollux, and in the second Castor is celebrated. The pugilistic contest of Pollux with Amycus is described. When the good ship Argo arrived at the Bebrycian shores, Castor and Pollux went to a spring for water, and found Amycus there guarding it, like a giant in the romances. He allows no one to draw water without first doing battle with him. On this occasion poetical justice is duly observed, and Amycus is beaten within an inch of his life. In the second part the battle of Castor with Lynceus is described. The daughters of Leucippus, already betrothed to the two brothers Lynceus and Idas, are carried off by Castor and Pollux. The injured brothers pursue the ravishers, and overtake them at the tomb of Aphareus. Lynceus first tries to persuade the Dioscuri to restore their captives; but failing in this attempt, he challenges Castor to decide the question of right by a trial of might in single combat with himself. Contrary to all justice, might is here right; Lynceus is slain by Castor, and his brother Idas is smitten with a thunderbolt by Zeus. |