21

WHO is the same which at my window peepes?

Or whose is that faire face that shines so bright?

Is it not Cinthia1, she that neuer sleepes,

But walkes about high heaven al the night?

O fayrest goddesse, do thou not enuy

My love with me to spy:

For thou likewise didst loue, though now unthought2,

And for a fleece of woll3, which privily,

The Latmian shephard once unto thee brought,

His pleasures with thee wrought,

Therefore to us be fauorable now;

And sith of wemens labours thou hast charge4,

And generation goodly dost enlarge,

Encline they will t’effect our wishfull vow,

And the chast wombe informe with timely seed,

That may our comfort breed:

Till which we cease our hopefull hap5 to sing,

Ne let the woods us answere, nor our Eccho ring.

注释：1.Cinthia：月亮女神辛西娅。恩底弥翁是位风度翩翩的青年牧羊人，他在小亚细亚的兰特慕斯山（Mount Latmus）牧羊。有时，当羊群在四周茂盛的草地上逍遥自在地吃草时，他就在草地上沉睡，丝毫不受人世间悲伤与忧虑的侵扰。一个皓月当空的夜晚，当辛西娅驾着马车穿越天空时，无意中看到一位漂亮青年正在下面静谧的山谷中睡觉，于是对他产生爱慕之情。她从月亮马车中滑翔而下，匆忙而深情地偷吻了一下他的脸。熟睡中的恩底弥翁睁开双眼看到仙女时，有点神魂颠倒。但眼前的一切很快消失，以致他误以为这是一场梦幻。每天夜间，辛西娅都从空中飘下偷吻熟睡中的牧羊人。然而女神偶尔一次的失职引起了主神宙斯的注意。众神与人类之父决定永远清除人间对女神的诱惑。他将恩底弥翁召到身边令他作出选择：要么死；要么在永远的梦幻中青春常驻。牧羊人选择了后者。

2.unthought：没想到的。

3.woll：羊毛。

4.wemens labours thou hast charge：辛西娅和朱诺都是司生育的女神。

5.hopefull hap：我们希望的命运。