Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

XEMRSIANUSBut now tlie sun is driving his steeds downfrom the arch of heaven and prompting us togive our flocks the river waters.ECLOGUE IIIdas :AlcoxYoung Idas and young Alcon had a burning passionfor the fjiir Donace : both, ablaze in theirinexperienced years, rushed with frenzied spirit intotheir love for Donace. Her they assailed together,when she was gathering flowers in the neighbouringgarden vales and filling her lap with soft acanthus.Then first initiated, they both snatched the joys ofVenus by a sweet robbery. Hence came love,*^ andthe boys felt longings beyond their boyish age.Their years were only fifteen winters, yet they hadthe pangs of early manhood. But after her sternparents had imprisoned Donace, because her voicehad lost its fine music, and its thickened sound causedanxious thought, because her neck grew coarse,and spreading blushes came and went and her veinsshowed larger, ^ then truly the youths made readyto relieve the burning heat of a love-enflamed heartwith the sweet plaint of their minstrelsy—both ofthem equal in age and song, of well-matched comeliness,both smooth in cheek, both of unshorn locks.And beneath a plane-tree— Idas on the flute followedby Alcon in his verse—they poured out this solacefor their sad plight." Cf. Grattius, Cyneget. 283-284.* The reasons given are traditional signs of lost maidenhood.VOL. I.H H465