Eclogues

Virgil

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

  • of yellow saffron, teach his fleece to shine.
  • While clothed in natural scarlet graze the lambs.
  • “Such still, such ages weave ye, as ye run,”
  • sang to their spindles the consenting Fates
  • by Destiny's unalterable decree.
  • Assume thy greatness, for the time draws nigh,
  • dear child of gods, great progeny of Jove!
  • See how it totters—the world's orbed might,
  • earth, and wide ocean, and the vault profound,
  • all, see, enraptured of the coming time!
  • Ah! might such length of days to me be given,
  • and breath suffice me to rehearse thy deeds,
  • nor Thracian Orpheus should out-sing me then,
  • nor Linus, though his mother this, and that
  • his sire should aid—Orpheus Calliope,
  • and Linus fair Apollo. Nay, though Pan,
  • with Arcady for judge, my claim contest,
  • with Arcady for judge great Pan himself
  • should own him foiled, and from the field retire.
  • Begin to greet thy mother with a smile,