Eclogues

Virgil

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

  1. their pastoral ditties, will I tell the tale.
  2. Thou, whether broad Timavus' rocky banks
  3. thou now art passing, or dost skirt the shore
  4. of the Illyrian main,—will ever dawn
  5. that day when I thy deeds may celebrate,
  6. ever that day when through the whole wide world
  7. I may renown thy verse—that verse alone
  8. of Sophoclean buskin worthy found?
  9. With thee began, to thee shall end, the strain.
  10. Take thou these songs that owe their birth to thee,
  11. and deign around thy temples to let creep
  12. this ivy-chaplet 'twixt the conquering bays.
  13. Scarce had night's chilly shade forsook the sky
  14. what time to nibbling sheep the dewy grass
  15. tastes sweetest, when, on his smooth shepherd-staff
  16. of olive leaning, Damon thus began.
    17. 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