Classic Poem

With limbs out-stretcht along the thymy ground
The dog Lampùros slumbers in the shade,
While tender ewes unchecked by warning sound
Go wandering idly thro the sylvan glade,
In guileless ignorance all undismayed
By cruel beasts that hold the copse around
And make the herd Menalcas half-afraid—
The boyish herd who cries: “O heedless hound,
Is this thy helping of my timorous youth—
To let the flock disperse the woods among,
With no preventing feet, no faithful tongue?
The very wolves might show a deeper ruth,
And spare to raven with ensanguined tooth,
Seeing the shepherd of the sheep is young.”