Eclogues

Virgil

Vergil. The Poems of Vergil. Rhoades, James, translator. London: Oxford University Press, 1921.

  1. no hope of freedom, and no thought to save.
  2. Though many a victim from my folds went forth,
  3. or rich cheese pressed for the unthankful town,
  4. never with laden hands returned I home.
MELIBOEUS
  1. I used to wonder, Amaryllis, why
  2. you cried to heaven so sadly, and for whom
  3. you left the apples hanging on the trees;
  4. 'twas Tityrus was away. Why, Tityrus,
  5. the very pines, the very water-springs,
  6. the very vineyards, cried aloud for you.
TITYRUS
  1. What could I do? how else from bonds be freed,
  2. or otherwhere find gods so nigh to aid?
  3. There, Meliboeus, I saw that youth to whom
  4. yearly for twice six days my altars smoke.
  5. There instant answer gave he to my suit,
  6. “Feed, as before, your kine, boys, rear your bulls.”
MELIBOEUS
  1. So in old age, you happy man, your fields
  2. will still be yours, and ample for your need!
  3. Though, with bare stones o'erspread, the pastures all
  4. be choked with rushy mire, your ewes with young