ℹ️ This corpus has no morphological tagging. Glosses are matched by word form against a dictionary — a match does not prove it is the same word (an inflected form can coincide with another word’s lemma). Verify against the original and a specialist lexicon where precision matters.
ℹ️ The Chinese and English alongside are this site's own translation, made directly from the original text on this page (not the CUV or the WEB, which follow the Masoretic Text and a different textual tradition).
Suddenly all the shepherds of the flocks gather from the high mountains in the spring light, beneath the shade of trees, to celebrate together the joyful Muses. Young Daphnis was present too, and elder Palaemon: all these were preparing to sing praises to the cuckoo. Spring also came, girt with a flowery garland; cold Winter came, shaggy with stiff hair. Among these there was a great contest about the song of the cuckoo. Spring first sported three verses in measure. Spring: 'I wish my cuckoo would come, that dearest of birds. To all he is wont to be the most welcome guest beneath the roofs, fashioning good songs with his ruddy beak.' Winter: Then icy Winter answered with stern voice: 'Let not the cuckoo come, but let him sleep in black caverns. He is always wont to bring famine along with him.' Spring:
'I wish my cuckoo would come with joyful sprouting, to drive away the cold, a kindly companion of Phoebus for ever. Phoebus loves the cuckoo when the light grows serene.' Winter: 'Let not the cuckoo come, for he perchance breeds toils, redoubles battles, sunders beloved rest, throws all into confusion; sea and land are in travail.' Spring: 'Why do you, sluggish Winter, sing reproaches against the cuckoo, you who lie hidden in shadowy caverns in heavy sloth, after the banquets of Venus, after the cups of foolish Bacchus?' Winter: 'Mine are riches, mine too are joyful feasts, mine is sweet rest, and a warm fire is in my hall. These the cuckoo knows not, but he toils amid treacheries.' Spring:
'The cuckoo brings flowers in his mouth and ministers honey, builds houses and sails the calm waves, begets offspring and clothes the joyful fields.' Winter: 'These things that seem joyful to you are hateful to me. But it pleases me to count my longed-for treasures through my chests, and to rejoice in food and likewise to rest forever.' Spring: 'Who, sluggish Winter, ever ready to sleep, heaps up riches for you, or gathers any treasures, if neither spring nor summer labour for you beforehand?' Winter: 'You speak the truth: since many labour for me, there are also servants subdued under our dominion, now keeping for me as their lord whatever they labour for.' Spring: 'No lord to them, but a poor and needy man, yet proud.'
'Nor can you any longer feed yourself by yourself so much, unless the cuckoo who is coming furnishes you sustenance.' Palaemon: Then Palaemon answered rejoicing from his lofty seat, and Daphnis alike, and the throng of devout shepherds: 'Cease your words, Winter: you prodigal and savage one. And let the cuckoo come, the shepherds' sweet friend; let joyful sprouts burst forth on our hills, let there be pasture for the flock and sweet rest in the fields, and let the green branches furnish shade for the weary, and let the she-goats come to the milking-pails with full udders, and let the birds with varied voice greet Phoebus. Wherefore now, behold, let the cuckoo come more swiftly! You are now sweet love, the most welcome guest to all. All things await you — the sea, the earth, and the sky. Hail, sweet glory; cuckoo, hail through the ages!'