Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/138

---

---

The Third Pastoral.

OR,

PALÆMON.

Menalcas, Damætas, Palæmon.

The ARGUMENT.

Damætas and Menalcas, after some smart strokes of Country Railery, resolve to try who has the most Skill at a Song; and accordingly make their Neighbour Palæmon Judge of their Performances: Who, after a full hearing of both Parties, declares himself unfit for the Decision of so weighty a Controversie, and leaves the Victory undetermin'd.

MENALCAS.

O, Groom, what Shepherd owns those ragged Sheep?

DAMÆTAS.

Aegon's they are, he gave 'em me to keep.

MENALCAS.

Unhappy Sheep of an Unhappy Swain,$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

While he Neæra courts, but courts in vain,
And fears that I the Damsel shall obtain;5