THYSIS [_sings_]. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. The voice of Thyrsis. Ætna's Thyrsis I. Where were ye, Nymphs, oh where, while Daphnis pined? In fair Penëus' or in Pindus' glens? For great Anapus' stream was not your haunt, Nor Ætna's cliff, nor Acis' sacred rill. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. O'er him the wolves, the jackals howled o'er him; The lion in the oak-copse mourned his death. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. The kine and oxen stood around his feet, The heifers and the calves wailed all for him. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. First from the mountain Hermes came, and said, "Daphnis, who frets thee? Lad, whom lov'st thou so?" _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. Came herdsmen, shepherds came, and goatherds came; All asked what ailed the lad. Priapus came And said, "Why pine, poor Daphnis? while the maid Foots it round every pool and every grove, (_Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_) "O lack-love and perverse, in quest of thee; Herdsman in name, but goatherd rightlier called. With eyes that yearn the goatherd marks his kids Run riot, for he fain would frisk as they: (_Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_): "With eyes that yearn dost thou too mark the laugh Of maidens, for thou may'st not share their glee." Still naught the herdsman said: he drained alone His bitter portion, till the fatal end. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. Came Aphroditè, smiles on her sweet face, False smiles, for heavy was her heart, and spake: "So, Daphnis, thou must try a fall with Love! But stalwart Love hath won the fall of thee." _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. Then "Ruthless Aphroditè," Daphnis said, "Accursed Aphroditè, foe to man! Say'st thou mine hour is come, my sun hath set? Dead as alive, shall Daphnis work Love woe." _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. "Fly to Mount Ida, where the swain (men say) And Aphroditè--to Anchises fly: There are oak-forests; here but galingale, And bees that make a music round the hives. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. "Adonis owed his bloom to tending flocks And smiting hares, and bringing wild beasts down. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. "Face once more Diomed: tell him 'I have slain The herdsman Daphnis; now I challenge thee.' _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. "Farewell, wolf, jackal, mountain-prisoned bear! Ye'll see no more by grove or glade or glen Your herdsman Daphnis! Arethuse, farewell, And the bright streams that pour down Thymbris' side. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. "I am that Daphnis, who lead here my kine, Bring here to drink my oxen and my calves. _Begin, sweet Maids, begin the woodland song_. "Pan, Pan, oh whether great Lyceum's crags Thou haunt'st to-day, or mightier Mænalus, Come to the Sicel isle! Abandon now Rhium and Helicè, and the mountain-cairn (That e'en gods cherish) of Lycaon's son! _Forget, sweet Maids, forget your woodland song_. "Come, king of song, o'er this my pipe, compact With wax and honey-breathing, arch thy lip: For surely I am torn from life by Love. _Forget, sweet Maids, forget your woodland song_. "From thicket now and thorn let violets spring, Now let white lilies drape the juniper, And pines grow figs, and nature all go wrong: For Daphnis dies. Let deer pursue the hounds, And mountain-owls outsing the nightingale. _Forget, sweet Maids, forget your woodland song_."