[296] That is, of short continuance.
PASTORAL III.
OR,
PALÆMON.
MENALCAS, DAMŒTAS, PALÆMON.
ARGUMENT.
Damœtas and Menalcas, after some smart strokes of country raillery, resolve to try who has the most skill at song; and accordingly make their neighbour, Palæmon, judge of their performances; who, after a full hearing of both parties, declares himself unfit for the decision of so weighty a controversy, and leaves the victory undetermined.
MENALCAS.
Ho, swain! what shepherd owns those ragged sheep?
DAMŒTAS.
Ægon's they are: he gave them me to keep.