lift the pine. And at the same time he took up his bow and arrows, his
lion skin and club, and started on his return.

Meantime Hylas with pitcher of bronze in hand had gone apart from the
throng, seeking the sacred flow of a fountain, that he might be quick in
drawing water for the evening meal and actively make all things ready in
due order against his lord's return. For in such ways did Heracles
nurture him from his first childhood when he had carried him off from
the house of his father, goodly Theiodamas, whom the hero pitilessly
slew among the Dryopians because he withstood him about an ox for the
plough. Theiodamas was cleaving with his plough the soil of fallow land
when he was smitten with the curse; and Heracles bade him give up the
ploughing ox against his will. For he desired to find some pretext for
war against the Dryopians for their bane, since they dwelt there
reckless of right. But these tales would lead me far astray from my
song. And quickly Hylas came to the spring which the people who dwell
thereabouts call Pegae. And the dances of the nymphs were just now being
held there; for it was the care of all the nymphs that haunted that
lovely headland ever to hymn Artemis in songs by night. All who held the
mountain peaks or glens, all they were ranged far off guarding the
woods; but one, a water-nymph was just rising from the fair-flowing
spring; and the boy she perceived close at hand with the rosy flush of
his beauty and sweet grace. For the full moon beaming from the sky smote
him. And Cypris made her heart faint, and in her confusion she could
scarcely gather her spirit back to her. But as soon as he dipped the
pitcher in the stream, leaning to one side, and the brimming water rang
loud as it poured against the sounding bronze, straightway she laid her
left arm above upon his neck yearning to kiss his tender mouth; and with
her right hand she drew down his elbow, and plunged him into the midst
of the eddy.