PASTORAL POEMS

(BUCOLICA)

PASTORAL POEMS.

THESE ten short pieces, the earliest authentic works of Virgil, treat of pastoral subjects, the loves and songs of herdsmen (Bovкóλot), and hence are called BUCOLICS. They were published under the title of ECLOGUES (Ekλoyaí, selections). In form they are chiefly imitations, often translations, of the IDYLS (ɛiðíñña, or picture poems) of Theocritus and the other Greek pastoral poets; but the scenes often belong to Italy, the occasions to the history of the time, and the incidents to the poet's own life.

In a highly artificial period, such as that under the Empire, or in the lull after great convulsions like those which marked the downfall of the Roman Republic, the simplicity and quiet of rustic life have often, by a kind of affectation, been admired and celebrated in song, by persons very far removed from a rustic condition. These first poetic essays-though in the highest degree artificial, and imitations of far superior originals — have, by their perfection of form, delicacy of treatment, and charm of diction, taken rank, in the judgment of every age since, as models in their kind.

ECLOGUE I.

In this poem Virgil sings his gratitude to Augustus for restoring the farm of which he had been robbed to reward the soldiery of the triumvirs (see Life). The poet himself, however, is only dimly shadowed in the person of Tityrus, a herdsman, in dialogue with another, Melibous, who represents Virgil's less fortunate neighbors. The whole scene with its incidents, thus removed to the mythical domain of pastoral poetry, gives a peculiar delicacy to the praise.

ITYRE, tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi
silvestrem tenui Musam meditaris avena;

nos patriae fines et dulcia linquimus arva :

nos patriam fugimus; tu, Tityre, lentus in umbra
formosam resonare doces Amaryllida silvas.
T. O Meliboee, deus nobis haec otia fecit:
namque erit ille mihi semper deus; illius aram
saepe tener nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus.
Ille meas errare boves, ut cernis, et ipsum
ludere, quae vellem, calamo permisit agresti.

M. Non equidem invideo; miror magis: undique totis
usque adeo turbatur agris. En, ipse capellas
protinus aeger ago; hanc etiam vix, Tityre, duco :
hic inter densas corylos modo namque gemellos,
spem gregis, ah, silice in nuda conixa reliquit.
Saepe malum hoc nobis, si mens non laeva fuisset,
de caelo tactas memini praedicere quercus :
[saepe sinistra cava praedixit ab ilice cornix.]
Sed tamen, iste deus qui sit, da, Tityre, nobis.

T. Urbem, quam dicunt Romam, Meliboee, putavi
stultus ego huic nostrae similem, quo saepe solemus
pastores ovium teneros depellere fetus :

sic canibus catulos similis, sic matribus haedos
noram, sic parvis componere magna solebam:
verum haec tantum alias inter caput extulit urbes,
quantum lenta solent inter viburna cupressi.
M. Et quae tanta fuit Romam tibi causa videndi?
T. Libertas; quae sera, tamen respexit inertem,
candidior postquam tondenti barba cadebat ;
respexit tamen, et longo post tempore venit,
postquam nos Amaryllis habet, Galatea reliquit:
namque, fatebor enim, dum me Galatea tenebat,
nec spes libertatis erat, nec cura peculi :
quamvis multa meis exiret victima saeptis,
pinguis et ingratae premeretur caseus urbi,

non umquam gravis aere domum mihi dextra redibat.

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