Second Idyll by Theocritus Lyrics
Where are my bay leaves? Bring them, Thestylis. Where are my charms?
Surround the jar with choicest crimson wool
So I can charm the man I love, though harsh,
Who mis'rably, for twelve days now, comes not to me
And knows not whether I have died or am alive,
Nor has the scoundrel knocked upon my door. Indeed with him
Went fickle-hearted Love and Aphrodite somewhere else.
I'll go to Tímagétus' wrestling-school
Tomorrow as to see him. I'll complain how he treats me.
But I'll for now charm him with burning spells. So shine,
Selene, well, for I shall softly sing to you, goddéss,
To nether Hecate withal, whom even hell-hounds fear,
As she walks 'mid tombs of the dead and darksome blood.
Hail, dreadful Hecate, and be my escort to the end,
Concocting these in no way worse than Circe's drugs,
Nor still Midea's, nor gold-haired Perimede's.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
First barley grains are baked by flame, you see, so spread
Them, Thestylis. You louse! Where have your senses flown?
To even you, vile girl, have I become a joke?
Now sprinkle, saying meanwhile these words: “I spread Delphis' bones.”
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Me Delphis grieves, and over him I burn
A bay-leaf, and it crackles, mightily ablaze,
Ignited suddenly, nor can we see its ash:
Just so may Delphis' flesh cloy in my flame.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
As this bee's-wax I melt with goddess' aid,
Let straightaway Myndian Delphis melt with love,
And as this bronzen wheel roams on, from Aphrodite's side
Let that man roam toward my very door.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Now I'll add husks. You, Artemis, can move in Hades' realm
The adamantine gate, and aught though else immovable.
O Thestylis, my dogs howl in the town;
The goddess' at the crossroads. Sound the bronze, quick as you can.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Behold, the sea is silent; silent are the winds,
But not the sorrow that's within my chest.
I wholly burn for him who's made me be
A wicked wretch, instead of wife– no more a maid.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
I pour libation thrice, and thrice shall I speak, mistress, thus:
If that man's wife repents, and he himself,
Let him forget as much as they say Theseus
Forgot of fair-haired Ariadne, at Zeus' games.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Among th' Arcadians is the apple, for whose taste
All colts are maddened, and swift chargers on the mounts;
Let me see Delphis thus, and let him charge toward this house
Like one gone mad, from out the oily palestra.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
From off his cloak my Delphis tore this fringe,
Which now I, plucking it, throw down in savage fire.
Alas, o grievous Love! Why have you drained all dark blood from
My body, just as marshy leech would suck, enwrapped?
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Tomorrow I'll thresh lizard and bring you an evil drink.
Now, Thestylis, take you these herbs and slather them above
His lintels while the night is still around,
And spitting whisper, “I smear Delphis' bones.”
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Alone now, how shall I bewail my love?
From where shall I begin? Who was it bore me this malaise?
Eubulus' daughter, our Anaxo, went with basket to
The grove of Artemis. There many different beasts
Paraded all around, a lioness among them, too.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
Theumarides' nurse, Thracian, newly passed away,
Once neighbor to the folks, would beg and beg for me
To look on the parade, and I, most wretched, went
Along; the linen dress I wore hung down behind,
And I drapped all around me Cleariste's robe.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
I, passing mid the road near Lycon's house,
Saw Delphis and Eudamippus together walk.
Their beards were golder than helichrysum,
Their breasts agleam far more, Selene, than you are,
As they'd just quit the noble toil of wresting then.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
And as I saw him, I went mad; thus was my piteous heart
Consumed by fire. My beauty paled, nor did I pay at all
Attention to that show. I knew not how to home
Return, but some dry sickness wore me down.
I lay upon my couch ten days and nights.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
My skin would often be like fustic bark,
And all my locks would leave my head. The only thing
Remaining was my flesh and bones. To whom did I not go,
Or what old woman's house did I not see– that could cast spells?
But this was no light matter, and time fleeting passed.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
And so I gave my servant true command:
“Come, Thestylis, find me some cure for harsh disease.
Me fully that Myndian saddens, so go and
Keep watch of Tímagétus' wrestling-school,
For there he roams and likes to spend his time.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
When you deem him to be alone, nod to him quietly
And say, 'Simethe summons you,' and lead him here.
I thus spoke, so she went and led that Delphis, shiny-skinned,
To my abode. And, as I noticed him,
I, just then pacing with light foot before the entryway,
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
Was chilled more wholly than the snow, and from my brow
Sweat kept on pouring down like rainy dew.
I could not say as much as does a child,
Who sleeping whimpers near his mother, making fuss.
But my fair skin was stiff on all sides, like a doll's.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
And, seeing me, the heartless man sat on my couch,
His eyes fixed on the ground, and sitting he told me a tale:
“Indeed, Simethe, you outran me just as much as I
Outran the handsome Philinus the other day.
By calling me to this, your house, you beat my coming here.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
For I'd myself have come, by sweet Love, I'd have come,
The third or fourth friend being, at first hour of night,
Protecting Dionysus' apples with my breast,
And wreathed in poplar branch, the holy bough of Heracles,
It twisting all around with rosy belts.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
Had you received me and my gifts, it'd have been good– for fit
And handsome am I called among the other unwed youths–
And I'd sleep well if I could only kiss your lovely lips.
But had you pushed me elsewhere and your door been bolted shut,
Torch-fires and axes would have no doubt visited your house.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
My thanks, I say, to Cypris first are due
But after Cypris you took me from out the fire of love,
My lady, since you called me to this place of yours,
Albeit I'm half-burnt. How Eros even Liparan
Hephestus' greatly-burning flame does burn.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
With wicked ravings he scares from the bedchamber
The maiden nymph, her having left the warm bed of
Her husband.” When he said this, I was quick to yield to him;
In my hand taking his, I lay down on the supple bed,
And soon my skin was warmed on his, and our cheeks were
Becoming warmer than before; we whispered sweetly, too.
Let me no longer thus to chat you up, Selene dear;
The greatest things were done, and both of us came to desire.
And neither has he censured me at all since yesterday,
Nor have I him, but came to me the mother of
Philiste, our flute-player, and of Melixo,
Today, when to the sky were racing steeds
Who Dawn, the rosy-skinned, from Oceanus bore.
She told me many things, that Delphis was in love.
And whether he'd desire of wife or lad,
She did not say she knew for sure, but so much: always did
He swear to Love in unmixed wine, and in the end he fled
And said he'd wreathe the house of one in garland folds.
These things the stranger told me, and she's right.
Indeed he'd come by three or four times in the past
And often put his Doric oil-flask by my side.
Now I for twelve days have not seen him since.
Does another pleasure hold him not? Has he forgotten me?
Now I shall bind him with these charms, and if he grieves me still,
He'll by the Fates knock on the gates of Hades' home.
Such evil drugs I bear him in this basket, which from an
Assyrian stranger, o my Queen, I learned to make.
Farewell. Now toward Oceanus turn your steeds,
O Mistress. I withal shall bear my toils, just as I have.
Farewell, o sleek-skinned Moonlit God. Farewell,
You other stars, attendants 'long the brim of silent night.
Surround the jar with choicest crimson wool
So I can charm the man I love, though harsh,
Who mis'rably, for twelve days now, comes not to me
And knows not whether I have died or am alive,
Nor has the scoundrel knocked upon my door. Indeed with him
Went fickle-hearted Love and Aphrodite somewhere else.
I'll go to Tímagétus' wrestling-school
Tomorrow as to see him. I'll complain how he treats me.
But I'll for now charm him with burning spells. So shine,
Selene, well, for I shall softly sing to you, goddéss,
To nether Hecate withal, whom even hell-hounds fear,
As she walks 'mid tombs of the dead and darksome blood.
Hail, dreadful Hecate, and be my escort to the end,
Concocting these in no way worse than Circe's drugs,
Nor still Midea's, nor gold-haired Perimede's.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
First barley grains are baked by flame, you see, so spread
Them, Thestylis. You louse! Where have your senses flown?
To even you, vile girl, have I become a joke?
Now sprinkle, saying meanwhile these words: “I spread Delphis' bones.”
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Me Delphis grieves, and over him I burn
A bay-leaf, and it crackles, mightily ablaze,
Ignited suddenly, nor can we see its ash:
Just so may Delphis' flesh cloy in my flame.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
As this bee's-wax I melt with goddess' aid,
Let straightaway Myndian Delphis melt with love,
And as this bronzen wheel roams on, from Aphrodite's side
Let that man roam toward my very door.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Now I'll add husks. You, Artemis, can move in Hades' realm
The adamantine gate, and aught though else immovable.
O Thestylis, my dogs howl in the town;
The goddess' at the crossroads. Sound the bronze, quick as you can.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Behold, the sea is silent; silent are the winds,
But not the sorrow that's within my chest.
I wholly burn for him who's made me be
A wicked wretch, instead of wife– no more a maid.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
I pour libation thrice, and thrice shall I speak, mistress, thus:
If that man's wife repents, and he himself,
Let him forget as much as they say Theseus
Forgot of fair-haired Ariadne, at Zeus' games.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Among th' Arcadians is the apple, for whose taste
All colts are maddened, and swift chargers on the mounts;
Let me see Delphis thus, and let him charge toward this house
Like one gone mad, from out the oily palestra.
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
From off his cloak my Delphis tore this fringe,
Which now I, plucking it, throw down in savage fire.
Alas, o grievous Love! Why have you drained all dark blood from
My body, just as marshy leech would suck, enwrapped?
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Tomorrow I'll thresh lizard and bring you an evil drink.
Now, Thestylis, take you these herbs and slather them above
His lintels while the night is still around,
And spitting whisper, “I smear Delphis' bones.”
O magic wheel, draw to my house that man.
Alone now, how shall I bewail my love?
From where shall I begin? Who was it bore me this malaise?
Eubulus' daughter, our Anaxo, went with basket to
The grove of Artemis. There many different beasts
Paraded all around, a lioness among them, too.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
Theumarides' nurse, Thracian, newly passed away,
Once neighbor to the folks, would beg and beg for me
To look on the parade, and I, most wretched, went
Along; the linen dress I wore hung down behind,
And I drapped all around me Cleariste's robe.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
I, passing mid the road near Lycon's house,
Saw Delphis and Eudamippus together walk.
Their beards were golder than helichrysum,
Their breasts agleam far more, Selene, than you are,
As they'd just quit the noble toil of wresting then.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
And as I saw him, I went mad; thus was my piteous heart
Consumed by fire. My beauty paled, nor did I pay at all
Attention to that show. I knew not how to home
Return, but some dry sickness wore me down.
I lay upon my couch ten days and nights.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
My skin would often be like fustic bark,
And all my locks would leave my head. The only thing
Remaining was my flesh and bones. To whom did I not go,
Or what old woman's house did I not see– that could cast spells?
But this was no light matter, and time fleeting passed.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
And so I gave my servant true command:
“Come, Thestylis, find me some cure for harsh disease.
Me fully that Myndian saddens, so go and
Keep watch of Tímagétus' wrestling-school,
For there he roams and likes to spend his time.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
When you deem him to be alone, nod to him quietly
And say, 'Simethe summons you,' and lead him here.
I thus spoke, so she went and led that Delphis, shiny-skinned,
To my abode. And, as I noticed him,
I, just then pacing with light foot before the entryway,
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
Was chilled more wholly than the snow, and from my brow
Sweat kept on pouring down like rainy dew.
I could not say as much as does a child,
Who sleeping whimpers near his mother, making fuss.
But my fair skin was stiff on all sides, like a doll's.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
And, seeing me, the heartless man sat on my couch,
His eyes fixed on the ground, and sitting he told me a tale:
“Indeed, Simethe, you outran me just as much as I
Outran the handsome Philinus the other day.
By calling me to this, your house, you beat my coming here.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
For I'd myself have come, by sweet Love, I'd have come,
The third or fourth friend being, at first hour of night,
Protecting Dionysus' apples with my breast,
And wreathed in poplar branch, the holy bough of Heracles,
It twisting all around with rosy belts.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
Had you received me and my gifts, it'd have been good– for fit
And handsome am I called among the other unwed youths–
And I'd sleep well if I could only kiss your lovely lips.
But had you pushed me elsewhere and your door been bolted shut,
Torch-fires and axes would have no doubt visited your house.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
My thanks, I say, to Cypris first are due
But after Cypris you took me from out the fire of love,
My lady, since you called me to this place of yours,
Albeit I'm half-burnt. How Eros even Liparan
Hephestus' greatly-burning flame does burn.
Perceive my love, whence it came, Mistress Moon.
With wicked ravings he scares from the bedchamber
The maiden nymph, her having left the warm bed of
Her husband.” When he said this, I was quick to yield to him;
In my hand taking his, I lay down on the supple bed,
And soon my skin was warmed on his, and our cheeks were
Becoming warmer than before; we whispered sweetly, too.
Let me no longer thus to chat you up, Selene dear;
The greatest things were done, and both of us came to desire.
And neither has he censured me at all since yesterday,
Nor have I him, but came to me the mother of
Philiste, our flute-player, and of Melixo,
Today, when to the sky were racing steeds
Who Dawn, the rosy-skinned, from Oceanus bore.
She told me many things, that Delphis was in love.
And whether he'd desire of wife or lad,
She did not say she knew for sure, but so much: always did
He swear to Love in unmixed wine, and in the end he fled
And said he'd wreathe the house of one in garland folds.
These things the stranger told me, and she's right.
Indeed he'd come by three or four times in the past
And often put his Doric oil-flask by my side.
Now I for twelve days have not seen him since.
Does another pleasure hold him not? Has he forgotten me?
Now I shall bind him with these charms, and if he grieves me still,
He'll by the Fates knock on the gates of Hades' home.
Such evil drugs I bear him in this basket, which from an
Assyrian stranger, o my Queen, I learned to make.
Farewell. Now toward Oceanus turn your steeds,
O Mistress. I withal shall bear my toils, just as I have.
Farewell, o sleek-skinned Moonlit God. Farewell,
You other stars, attendants 'long the brim of silent night.