Hushedintheshadow, whilethesunishot,
Watchedbytheherdsman, whouponhisstaff
Isleaning, andinleaningtendeththem;
Andastheshepherd, lodgingoutofdoors,
Passesthenightbesidehisquietflock,
Watchingthatnowildbeastmayscatterit,
Suchatthathourwerewe, allthreeofus,
Ilikethegoat, andliketheherdsmenthey,
Begirtonthissideandonthatbyrocks.
Littlecouldtherebeseenofthingswithout;
ButthroughthatlittleIbeheldthestars
Moreluminousandlargerthantheirwont.
Thusruminating, andbeholdingthese,
Sleepseizeduponme,—sleep, thatoftentimes
Beforeadeedisdonehastidingsofit.
Itwasthehour, Ithink, whenfromtheEast
FirstonthemountainCithereabeamed,
Whowiththefireofloveseemsalwaysburning;
Youthfulandbeautifulindreamsmethought
Isawaladywalkinginameadow,
Gatheringflowers; andsingingshewassaying:
"Knowwhosoevermaymynamedemand
ThatIamLeah, andgomovinground
Mybeauteoushandstomakemyselfagarland.
Topleasemeatthemirror, hereIdeckme,
ButneverdoesmysisterRachelleave
Herlooking-glass, andsittethalldaylong.
Toseeherbeauteouseyesaseagerisshe,
AsIamtoadornmewithmyhands;
Her, seeing, andme, doingsatisfies."
Andnowbeforetheantelucansplendours
Thatuntopilgrimsthemoregratefulrise,
As, home-returning, lessremotetheylodge,
Thedarknessfledawayoneveryside,
Andslumberwithit; whereuponIrose,
SeeingalreadythegreatMastersrisen.
"Thatapplesweet, whichthroughsomanybranches
Thecareofmortalsgoethinpursuitof,
To-dayshallputinpeacethyhungerings."
Speakingtome, Virgiliusofsuchwords
