“ He was brought up by the nymphs, or by shepherds, and became the owner of flocks and herds, which he tended while playing on the syrinx. When in the first bloom of youth, he won the affection of a nymph, who made him promise to love none but her, threatening that, if he proved unfaithful, he would lose his eyesight. He failed to keep his promise and was smitten with blindness. Daphnis, who endeavoured to console himself by playing the flute and singing shepherds’ songs, soon afterwards died. ”

“ See F. G. Welcker, Kleine Schriften zur griechischen Litteraturgeschichte, i. (1844) ; C. F. Hermann, De Daphnide Theocriti (1853) ; R. H. Klausen, Aeneas und die Penaten, i. (1840) ; R. Reitzenstein, Epigramm und Skolion (1893) ”