436 THEOCRITUS
Slung o'er liis shoulder was a ruddy hide
Torn from a he-goat, shaggy, tangle-haired,
That reeked of rennet yet : a broad belt clasped 20
A patched cloak round his breast, and for a staff
A gnarled wild-olive bough his right hand bore.
Soon with a quiet smile he spake — his eye
Twinkled, and laughter sat upon his lip :
" And whither ploddest thou thy weary way 25
Beneath the noontide sun, Simichidas?
For now the lizard sleeps upon the wall.
The crested lark folds now his wandering wing.
Dost speed, a bidden guest, to some reveller's board ?
Or townward to the treading of the grape? 30
For lo I recoiling from thy hurrying feet
The pavement-stones ring out right merrily."
Then I : " Friend Lycid, all men say that none
Of haymakers or herdsmen is thy match
At piping : and my soul is glad thereat. 35
Yet, to speak sooth, I think to rival thee.
Now look, this road holds holiday to-day :
For banded brethren solemnize a feast
To richly-dight Demeter, thanking her
For her good gifts : since with no grudging hand 40
Hath the boon goddess filled the wheaten floors.
So come. The way, the day, is thine as mine :
Try we our woodcraft — each may learn from each.
I am, as thou, a clarion-voice of song ;
All hail me chief of minstrels. But I am not, 45
Heaven knows, o'ercredulous : no, I scarce can yet
(I think) outvie Philetas,^ nor the bard
Of Samos, champion of Sicilian song.
They are as cicadas - challenged by a frog."
^ Poet of Cos, and teacher of Theocritus. 2 See page 435, note 1.
