Classic Poem

( The Shepherd tells of the conversation between Daphnis and Acrotime )

ACROTIME

'Twas a neatherd like you carried off the wise Helen.

DAPHNIS

Helen is more willing now, for she kisses her neatherd.

ACROTIME

Soft, my satyr-boy, be not so sure; there's a saying " nought goes to a kiss. "

DAPHNIS

Even in an empty kiss there's a sweet delight.

ACROTIME

Look ye, I wipe my mouth o' your kiss and spit it from me.

DAPHNIS

Wipe thy lips, quotha? then give them hither again and have thee another.

ACROTIME

'Twere rather becoming you to kiss your heifers than a maiden woman like me.

DAPHNIS

Soft you, be not so sure; your youth passes you by like a dream.

ACROTIME

But the grape's in the raisin, and dry rose-leaves may live.

DAPHNIS ( kissing her cheek )

Shall this be suffered to grow old, that is my milk and honey? Pray you come hither under those wild-olives: I would fain tell you a tale.

ACROTIME

Nay, I thank you; you beguiled me before with your pretty tales.

DAPHNIS

Then pray you come hither under those elms and let me play you my pipe.

ACROTIME

Nay; that way you may pleasure yourself; scant joy comes of a sorry thing.

DAPHNIS

Alackaday! you likewise, honey, must e'en fear the wrath of Dame Paphian.

ACROTIME

Dame Paphian may go hang for me; my prayers are to Artemis.

DAPHNIS

Hist! or she'll have at thee, and then thou'lt be in the trap.

ACROTIME

Let her have at me; Artemis will help me out.

DAPHNIS

No other maiden escapes Love, nor dost thou escape him.

ACROTIME

'Fore Pan, that do I; as for you, I only pray you may ever bear his yoke. ( he puts his arm about her and makes to kiss her again ) Unhand me, man; I'll bite thy lip yet.

DAPHNIS

But I fear if I let thee go a worser man will have thee.

ACROTIME

Many the wooers have been after me, but never a one have I had to my mind.

DAPHNIS

Well, here am I come to add one more to those many.

ACROTIME

O friend, what is to do? marriage is all woe.

DAPHNIS

Nay; a marriage is a thing neither of pain nor grief but rather of dancing.

ACROTIME

Aye, but I'm told the wives do fear their bed-fellows.

DAPHNIS

Nay; rather have they ever the upper hand; what should wives fear?

ACROTIME

'Tis the throes I fear; the stroke of Eileithyia is hard to bear.

DAPHNIS

But thou hast Artemis to thy queen, and she lightens the labour.

ACROTIME

Ah! but I fear lest the childbirth lose me my pretty face.

DAPHNIS

But if thou bear sweet children, thou'lt see a new light in thy sons.

ACROTIME

And if I say thee yea, what gift bring'st thou with thee worthy the marriage?

DAPHNIS

Thou shalt have all my herd and all the planting and pasture I possess.

ACROTIME

Swear thou'lt never thereafter leave me all forlorn.

DAPHNIS

Before great Pan I swear it, even if thou choose to send me packing.

ACROTIME

Buildest me a bower and a house and a farmstead?

DAPHNIS

Yea, I build thee a house, and the flocks I feed are fine flocks.

ACROTIME

But then my gray-headed father, O what can I say to him?

DAPHNIS

He'll think well o' thy wedlock when he hears my name.

ACROTIME

Then tell me that name o' thine; there's often joy in a name.

DAPHNIS

'Tis Daphnis, mine, and my father's Lycidas and my mother's Nomaei.

ACROTIME

Thou com'st of good stock; and yet methinks I am as good as thou.

DAPHNIS

Aye, I know it; thou art Acrotime and thy father Menalcas.

ACROTIME

Come, show me thy planting, show me where thy farmstead is.

DAPHNIS

Lo! this way it is; look how tall and slender my cypress-tress spring!

ACROTIME

Graze on, my goats; I go to see the neatherd's labours.

DAPHNIS

Feed you well, my bulls; I would fain show the maid my planting.

ACROTIME

What art thou at, satyr-boy? why hast put thy hand in my bosom?

DAPHNIS

I am fain to give thy ripe pippins their first lesson.

ACROTIME

'Fore Pan, I shall swoon; take back thy hand.

DAPHNIS

Never thou mind, sweet; what hadst thou to fear, little coward?

ACROTIME

Thou thrustest me into the water-conduit and soilest my pretty clothes.

DAPHNIS

Nay; look ye there! I cast my soft sheepskin under thy cloak.

ACROTIME

Out, alack! thou hast torn off my girdle, too. Why didst loose that?

DAPHNIS

This shall be my firstlings to our Lady of Paphos.

ACROTIME

Hold, ah hold! sure somebody's e'en coming. There's a noise.

DAPHNIS

Aye, the cypress-trees talking together of thy bridal.

ACROTIME

Thou hast torn my mantle and left me in my shift.

DAPHNIS

I'll give thee another mantle, and an ampler.

ACROTIME

You say you'll give me anything I may ask, who soon mayhap will deny me salt.

DAPHNIS

Would I could give thee my very soul to boot!

ACROTIME

O Artemis, be not wroth with a transgressor of thy word.

DAPHNIS

Love shall have a heifer of me, and great Aphrodite a cow.

ACROTIME

Lo, I came hither a maid and I go home a woman.

DAPHNIS

Aye, a mother and a nursing-mother, maiden no more.
Thus they prattled in the joy of their fresh young limbs. The secret bridal over, she rose and went her ways for to feed her sheep, her look shamefast but her heart glad within her; while as for him, he betook himself to his herds of bulls rejoicing in his wedlock.

THE UMPIRE

Here, take the pipe, thou happy shepherd; 'tis thine once more; and so let's hear and consider another of the tunes of the leaders o' sheep.