Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

CALPLRNIUS SICl LISmc, fountains lose their taste and wine as I drinkturns sour. But if you come, lilies will grow whiteagain, fountains taste aright and wine be sweet todrink. I am that Lycidas at whose singing youused to declare your joy, to whom you gave many atender kiss, whose strains half-sung you did nothesitate to interrupt by seeking my lips as theystrayed o'er the reed-pipe. O sorrow! and, afterthat, have you been pleased by the harsh voice ofMopsus, his lifeless song and the shriek of hisstrident pipe ? Whom do you follow ? and whom,Phvllis, do vou avoid ? I am called more comelythan he, and that is but what you were wont to sayto me on oath. Besides, I am richer ; let him viein pasturing as many kids as there are bulls of minecounted at even-tide. Why should I rehearse toyou what you know? You are aware, darlingPhyllis, how many heifers are milked over mypails, and how many have calves clinging to theirteats. But when you are gone, I can weave noslender basket-work out of willow-withes : no milkquivers in its curdled form. But if even now,Phyllis, you are afraid of cruel blows, see, I surrendermy hands : let them, if you choose, be boundwith twisted osier and the tough vine-twig behindmy back, as Tityrus once bound the knavish armsof your night-prowler Mopsus, and strung the thiefup inside his sheepfold. Take them, be not slow;both hands have earned their punishment. Yetwith these, yes, these same hands, have I many atime put turtle-doves or a frightened hare into yourlap, after snaring their mother ; through me it wasyour luck to get the earliest lilies and the earliestroses ; scarce had the bee well partaken of theVOL. I.R241