GORGO. Look here, Praxinoe! Mark that fine embroidery! Of more than mortal fingers. PRAXINOE. Great Minerva ! What limner What nature What weaver could have made this stuff? I swear Well! well! Man is a wondrous creature. Oh how beautiful Dearest Adonis ! Thee the very shades Look kindly on. SECOND MAN. Nay, hold your clacking, gossips! A pair of chattering pies! I can't abide GORGO. Heyday, man! Who made thee our task-master? Magpies are we? Syracusans! Catch us, then, if you'd cage us! PRAXINOE. Well answer'd, sweet-heart! we'll not be brow-beaten. I wish the rogue may not prove mischievous. GORGO. Hush! hush! Praxinoe! for the Grecian girl Prepares to sing. 'Tis she that led so lately A sweet, ingenious ditty! Let me tell thee, 493 THE EXILE'S LAMENT. IMITATED FROM THE FIRST ECLOGUE OF VIRGIL. [Boston Miscellany, September, 1842.] AFTER the close of the civil wars, which ended in the acknowledgment of Augustus as Emperor of Rome, the territory of several of the Italian cities was confiscated, and distributed in lots among his disbanded soldiers. Among these cities was Cremona, and the territory not having held out as well as was expected, a portion of that of the neighboring city of Mantua was taken sans cérémonie to make up the deficiency. Hence, the well known verse in another Eclogue, Mantua, va misera nimium vicina Cremona! Among the occupants of the Mantuan territory thus invaded was the poet Virgil; but on his personal application to Augustus for redress, his property was restored to him and secured in his possession. These incidents form the subject of the poet's first and best eclogue, in which he introduces himself in the character of a shepherd under the name of Tityrus; describes his journey to Rome for the purpose of laying his case before the emperor; expresses his gratitude for the protection afforded him, and condoles with his neighbor Melibœus, who laments very bitterly the necessity of quitting his paternal property. The personage of Melibœus is rather more prominent than the other, and suggested the title, which has been prefixed to the imitation. CHARACTERS. FIRST SHEPHERD, called in the original, MELIBŒUS. SECOND SHEPHERD, TITY RUS. The former having quitted his cottage on his way into exile, accompanied by his flock, passes the house of his neighbor representing the Poet, whom he finds reclining under a beech-tree, and holds the following dialogue with him. First Shepherd. While you, my friend! beneath your beech-tree laid, 、 And make the woods resound with your Aminta's praise; Second Shepherd. Oh Melibœus! sure a god bestow'd The blessing on me; he shall be a god Shall often bleed some tender lamb of mine, First Shepherd. Oh, blest with all a shepherd need desire! Your happy fortune, thus to hold your ground The For this the lightning struck so many an oak; On yon old holm-tree :—signs, that might have taught. No more of this, nor let my selfishness By such complaints your faithful heart distress |