IN PRAISE OF GARDENS 



A Grecian Garden 



(Translated by Andrew Lang.) 



Then he bent his way to the left, and took the 

 road to Pyxa, while I and Eucritus, with beau- 

 tiful Amyntas, turned to the farm of Phrasi- 

 demus. There we reclined on deep beds of 

 fragrant lentisk, lowly strewn, and rejoicing we 

 lay in new stript leaves of the vine. And high 

 above our heads waved many a poplar, many an 

 elm tree, while close at hand the sacred water 

 from the nymphs' own cave welled forth with 

 murmurs musical. On shadowy boughs the 

 burnt cicadas kept their chattering toil, far off 

 the little owl cried in the thick thorn brake, the 

 larks and finches were singing, the ring-dove 

 moaned, the yellow bees were flitting about the 

 springs. All breathed the scent of the opulent 

 summer, of the season of fruits; pears at our 

 feet and apples by our sides were rolling plenti- 

 ful, the tender branches, with wild plums laden, 

 were earthward bowed. 



Theocritus, Idyl XII. 



[66] 



