Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/141

Thou, Varlet, dost thy Master's gains devour:
Thou milk'st his Ewes, and often twice an hour;
Of Grass and Fodder thou defraud'st the Dams:
And of their Mothers Dugs the starving Lambs.

DAMÆTAS.

Good words, young Catamite, at least to Men:10

We know who did your Business, how, and when.
And in what Chappel too you plaid your Prize;$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
And what the Goats observ'd with leering Eyes:
The Nymphs were kind, and laught, and there your safety lyes.

MENALCAS.

Yes, when I crept the Hedges of the Leys;15

Cut Micon's tender Vines, and stole the Stays.

DAMÆTAS.

Or rather, when beneath yon ancient Oak,

The Bow of Daphnis and the Shafts you broke:
When the fair Boy receiv'd the Gift of right;
And but for Mischief, you had dy'd for spight.20

MENALCAS.

What Nonsense wou'd the Fool thy Master prate,

When thou, his Knave, canst talk at such a rate!
Did I not see you, Rascal, did I not!
When you lay snug to snap young Damon's Goat?
His Mungril bark'd, I ran to his relief,25
And cry'd, There, there he goes; stop, stop the Thief.
Discover'd and defeated of your Prey,
You sculk'd behind the Fence, and sneak'd away.