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n, The forest paths are glad." "Oh! creature of the wood and wild You may not know my name, It was forgotten long ago For it was one of shame. Therefore I made a vow to dwell Upon this forest brink And take the ripened nuts for food And catch the rain for drink, To scrape wild honey from the rocks And make my bed on leaves Because of the hot sins of my youth Whereat my spirit grieves." "Not such as you, Oh! ancient man, Our joyous Satyrs here: Old men are they all laughter-mad Who wallow in good cheer. Amid lush grasses soft and cool They make their feasting ground, With smilax and with bryony Their rosy pates are crowned. You see them thro' the forest trunks Great rolling gladsome shapes, Who prop themselves on skins of wine By purple piles of grapes. Their huge brown bellies quake with mirth, Their ancient eyes are bright, And there they sit and roar old tales Far, far into the night. Then tipsy with the heady juice Each falls into a heap, Till white-horned morning bids him wake With all the land from sleep." "Oft lying in this lonely hut On panting summer nights I watched the stars like silver lamps Hung from those purple heights, And heard the forest-depths behind Fill with disquieting noise Like frightened cries of flying girls And shouts of eager boys, And saw white shapes go flitting past Like runners in a race And caught faint murmurs, sighs and laughs From all the forest place. And oft a distant sound of shouts Came with the soft night airs, And I ... lest evil might befall Got swiftly to my prayers." "And tell me now, Oh! ancient man, The God to whom you pray, These woods know none but mighty Pan Whom all our folk obey. His altar stands by yonder plane And there the shepherds bring, Toiling up from the fields below, Each day an offering, A lamb or else a yearling kid, A bud-horned lusty fellow, Great cheeses, grapes, or bursting figs, Or apples red and yellow, Or melons ripened in the sun A foot from end to end. Such gifts the shepherds bring to Pan That he may be their friend. "He is our Father, Lord of all, From the meadow to the Pass, So ... pray you to a painted bird, Or green snake in the gras
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