With pleasure Argus the musician heeds, But wonders much at those new vocal reeds. “And whosoe’er thou art, my friend,” said he, “Up hither drive thy goats, and play by me; This hill has browse for them and shade for thee.” The god, who was with ease induced to climb, Began discourse to pass away the time; And still, betwixt, his tuneful pipe he plies, And watch’d his hour, to close the keeper’s eyes. With much ado, he partly kept awake, Not suffering all his eyes repose to take; And ask’d the stranger who did reeds invent; And whence began so rare an instrument?
Syrinx, a nymph of Arcadia, escapes from the solicitations of the god Pan, and is changed into a reed, called Syrinx, with which the god makes himself a pipe.