VIRGIL'S BUCOLICS.

ECLOGUE I.

Vigil, in this Eclogue, celebrates the praises of Augustus, for restoring to him his lands, of which he had been dispossessed, having been bestowed upon the veteran soldiers who had fought in the cause of Augustus, at the battle of Philippi, B. c. 42. Tityrus personates Virgil, or probably his father, and Melibaus, his less fortunate neighbours, the Mantuans.

MELIBUS, TITYRUS.

M. You, Tityrus, reclined under the covert of a full-spread beech, practise a woodland lay on a slender oaten pipe: We leave the bounds of our country, and our pleasant fields; we fly our country; you, Tityrus, stretched at ease in the shade, teach the woods to re-echo beauteous Amaryllis.'

T. O Melibus, a god hath vouchsafed us this tranquillity; for to me he shall always be a god; a tender lamb from our folds shall often stain his altar [with its blood]. He permitted my heifers to range at large, as you see, and myself to play what I wished on my rural reed.

M. I envy you not indeed; I rather marvel; to such an extent is there confusion in the lands. Lo, myself, sick at heart, am driving forth my tender she-goats: this, too, O Tityrus, I drag along with difficulty: for here just now among the thick hazels having yeaned twins, the hope of a flock, she left them, alas! on the naked flinty rock. This calamity, I remember, my oaks stricken from heaven often presaged to me, had not my mind been infatuated: [often the ill-boding crow from a hollow oak presaged.2] But tell me, Tityrus, who

is this god of yours?

'Amaryllis, the name of a country girl. poet spoke of Rome under that name.

Some have supposed that the

This line properly belongs to Ecl. ix. 15. 'Memini' is elegantly used with respect to ill omens. Cf. Ter. Phorm. i. 2, 24.

B

B.

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T The city, Melibus, which they call Rome, I foolish imagined to be like this our [Mantua 3], whither we shepherds oft are wont to drive down 5 the tender offspring of our ewes. So I had known whelps like dogs, so kids [like] their dams: thus was I wont to compare great things with small. But that city hath raised its head as far above others, as the cypresses are wont among the limber shrubs.6

M. And what so great a reason had you to visit Rome? T. Liberty; which, though late, yet kindly looked upon me although indolent, after my beard began to fall off with a whitish hue when I shaved; yet [on me] she looked, and after a long time came, when Amaryllis began to sway me, and Galatea had cast me off. For I will not disown it, while Galatea ruled me, I had neither hopes of liberty, nor concern about my stock. Though many a victim went from my folds, and fat cheese was pressed for the ungrateful city, my right hand never returned home heavy with money.

M. I used to wonder, Amaryllis, why disconsolate you were invoking the gods; and for whom you suffered the apples to hang on the tree. Your Tityrus hence was absent The very pines, O Tityrus, the fountains, these very copses called for thee.

T. What could I do? It was neither in my power, while I staid here, to deliver myself from servitude, nor elsewhere to experience gods so propitious. Here, Melibus, I saw that youth, to whom for twice six days our altars yearly smoke [with incense]. Here first he gave this entreating answer to me: "Swains, feed your heifers as formerly, and yoke your steers."

M. Happy old man, your lands then will remain [still in your possession], and large enough for you. Though the naked flint, and marsh with slimy rush, overspread all the pasturegrounds; yet no unaccustomed fodder shall harm thy languid.

3 Mantua, a city in the north of Italy on the Mincio, in the neighbourhood of which Virgil was born.

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"" ad quam.” Quo This is a common usage in poetry, but is scarcely to be imitated in prose. See Muncker on Hyginus, Fab. 3. B. Depellere." It must be remembered, that Virgil's village, Andes stood on high ground, and hence the road to the city lay downwards. B "Viburnum is properly the "wayfaring tree.' "B.

7 Urbs is emphatically applied to Rome. So Tibull. i. 9, 6] "To canet agricola, e magna cum venerit urbe." B.

pregnant ewes; nor noxious diseases of the neighbouring flock shall hurt them. Happy old man! here, among wellknown streams and sacred fountains, you will enjoy the cool shade. On this side, a hedge planted at the adjoining boundary, whose willow blossoms are ever fed on by Hyblæan bees, shall often court you by its gentle hummings to indulge repose. On the other side, the pruner beneath a lofty rock shall sing to the breezes: nor meanwhile shall either the hoarse wood-pigeons, thy delight, or the turtle from his lofty elm, cease to coo.

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T. Sooner therefore shall the fleet stags pasture high in the air, and the seas leave the fish naked on the shore; sooner, the bounds of each being traversed, shall the Parthian9 exile drink the Arar, or Germany the Tigris, than his countenance be effaced from my breast.

M. But we must go hence; some to the parched Africans,10 some of us shall visit Scythia, and Oaxes the rapid [river] of Crete, and the Britons totally separated from all the world. Ah! shall I ever hereafter, after a length of time, with wonder behold my native territories, and the roof of my poor cot, piled up with turf; some ears of corn," my [only] kingdom? Shall a ruffian soldier possess these well-cultivated fields?—a barbarian, these my fields of standing corn? See! to what extremity discord hath reduced us wretched citizens. for whom we have sown our fields. Now, Melibœus, graft your pear trees; in order range your vines. Begone, my

See!

8 Hyblæan bees, from Hybla, a mountain of Sicily, celebrated for its excellent honey.

9 Parthian, &c. Parthia, now part of Persia, a country of Asia. The Arar, or Saone, a river of France, which falls into the Rhone at Lyons. Germany, a large country of Europe, to the north of Italy. The Tigris, a river of Asia, forming a junction with the Euphrates.

10 Africans, &c. Africa, one of the three divisions of the ancient world. Scythia, a general name given by the ancients to the extreme northern parts of Europe and Asia. Oaxes, a river in the southern part of the island of Crete. The Britons, the inhabitants of Britain, which some of the ancients believed was once joined to the continent of Europe. 11 So the later commentators; but I am still inclined to follow Servius in interpreting aristas corn seasons." He observes, quasi rusticus per aristas numerat annos." See my note on Soph. Ant. 340. Dind. So Silius It. viii. 61, "Dum flavas bis tondet messor aristas." Ausonius, however, probably understood it the other way, if we may judge from his imitation, Id. 3, "Salve hærediolum majorum regna meoruin. B

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goats, once a happy flock, begone: no more shall I, stretched out in my verdant grot, henceforth behold you hanging far above me from a rock with bushes overgrown. No carols shall I sing; no more, my goats, as I feed you, shall you browse the flowery cytisus and bitter willows.

T. Yet here this night you may take up your rest with me on green leaves. We have mellow apples, soft chestnuts, and plenty of fresh-pressed curd. And now the high tops or the villages afar smoke, and larger shadows fall from the lofty mountains.

ECLOGUE II.

The subject of this Eclogue is copied from Theocritus. The shepherd Corydon is deeply enamoured of Alexis, an ungrateful youth of great beauty.

ALEXIS.

THE shepherd Corydon burned' for beauteous Alexis, the darling of his master; nor had he any thing to hope. Only among the thick beeches, high embowering tops, he continually came there, in solitude, with unavailing fondness, he cast forth to the mountains and the woods these undigested [complaints]:

Ah, cruel Alexis, for my songs hast thou no care? on me hast thou no pity? thou wilt surely at last2 compel me to die. Even the cattle now pant after shades and cool retreats; now the thorny brakes shelter even the green lizards; and Thestylis pounds the garlic and wild thyme, strong-scented herbs, for the reapers spent with the violent heat. But to the hoarse grasshoppers in company with me the thickets resound, while under the scorching sun I trace thy steps. Was it not better to endure the rueful spite and proud disdain of Amaryllis? Would it not [have been better to endure] Menalcas, though he was black, though thou wast fair? Ah, comely boy, trust not too much to complexion. White privets fall neglected; the purple hyacinths are gathered. By thee, Alexis, I am neglected; nor dost thou inquire who I am; how rich in

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1 For this Grecism compare Hermesianax, 37, καίετο μὲν Ναννοῦς. Nemes. Ecl. ii. 1, Formosam Donacen puer Idas et puer Alcon ardebant." B.

The full force of "denique" seems to be, "What then? will you force me," &c. B.