136 THEOGN1S

broken off by him in bitterness at the Megarian flirt's " love for every one." Such, at least, seems to be the interpretation of four lines which may be closely ren- dered, ' While only I quaffed yonder secret spring, 'Twas clear and sweet to my imagining. "Pis turbid now. Of it no more I drink, But hang o'er other stream or river-brink." (D.) He was determined, it seems, to be more discursive in his admiration for the future. How that plan suc- ceeded does not appear, though in several passages he arrogates to himself a degree of experience as regards women, and match-making, and the like. In the^epd we have his word for it, that he proved his own maxim, " Of all good things in human life, Nothing can equal goodness in a wife." (F.) But this could not have been till long after he had suffered rejection of his suit for a damsel whose parents preferred a worse man i.e., a plebeian and had carried on secret relations with her after her "mating to a down." His own account of this is curious, as its opening shows that he vented his chagrin on himself : " Wine I forswear, since at my darling's side A meaner man has bought the right to bide. Poor cheer for me ! To sate her parents' thirst She seeks the well, and sure her heart will burst tn weeping for my love and lot accurst. I meet her, clasp her neck, her lips I kiss, And they responsive gently murmur this :