Eclogues

Virgil

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

  • tastes sweetest, when, on his smooth shepherd-staff
  • of olive leaning, Damon thus began.
    • DAMON
    1. “Rise, Lucifer, and, heralding the light,
    2. bring in the genial day, while I make moan
    3. fooled by vain passion for a faithless bride,
    4. for Nysa, and with this my dying breath
    5. call on the gods, though little it bestead—
    6. the gods who heard her vows and heeded not.
    7. Ever hath Maenalus his murmuring groves
    8. and whispering pines, and ever hears the songs
    9. of love-lorn shepherds, and of Pan, who first
    10. brooked not the tuneful reed should idle lie.
    11. Nysa to Mopsus given! what may not then
    12. we lovers look for? soon shall we see mate
    13. griffins with mares, and in the coming age
    14. shy deer and hounds together come to drink.
    15. Now, Mopsus, cut new torches, for they bring